YORK City Knights have boosted their forward line-up with the capture of Doncaster Dragons' uncompromising front-rower, Dean O'Loughlin.

The 18st, 6ft 4in product of Hull FC's Academy, who follows Craig Farrell in making the move from Belle Vue, comes on a one-year deal and will add considerable size to the Knights' pack.

The 23-year-old played 28 times at prop for the Dragons last season and while he therefore brings LHF National League One experience, the Knights believe he also has potential for further improvement.

"He played pretty much all season and he comes highly recommended," said Knights assistant-coach Jason Ramshaw.

"Paul Broadbent (Knights assistant-coach) worked with him when he was at the Hull Academy and was expecting a big future from him. Injuries set him back but he's still relatively young and we feel there is a lot of potential still to fulfil."

The move for O'Loughlin will fill a hole in the pack made by the departure to Leeds of 6ft 5in second-row star Ian Kirke, especially if his bid to break into the Rhinos' first-team squad proves successful.

"We're always looking for quality and added size in the pack does help," added Ramshaw. "At this stage we don't know if Ian Kirke is coming back to us and we will miss the size he added to our pack last year."

O'Loughlin broke into Hull's full-time first-team squad as a youngster but had few chances with the Super League side as injuries hindered his progress.

He joined Doncaster at the back end of the 2004 season and made seven appearances that term, scoring one try.

Broadbent said: "He's a big, strong lad and if people are going to tackle him they're going to have to work hard.

"He picked up injuries early in his year with Hull's first team and did not get that much opportunity. He's had chance to develop a bit since then and I think he will mature into a pretty sound player.

"He's a solid lad and plays pretty physical stuff and in Division One we've got to have guys who will front up and I think he's one of them."

LHF National League One Grand Finalists Castleford and Whitehaven have both parted company with their coaches.

Cas have dispensed with the services of Australian Dave Woods just a week after he guided them back to the engage Super League, while Steve McCormack, the league's Coach of the Year for the past two seasons, has left Whitehaven for relegated Widnes.

Updated: 11:02 Tuesday, October 18, 2005