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YORK City Knights face missing out on signing Castleford second-row Tom Haberecht after the player surprisingly stalled on his proposed move to Huntington Stadium.

The Knights had anticipated recruiting the 22-year-old Australian for the rest of the year, either on loan or in a permanent switch, following progressive talks last week.

However, he did not sign up to the move as expected yesterday and is thought to be contemplating the knock-on effects of stepping out of the full-time Super League environment.

It could be a second blow in two days for the Knights, after they saw key man David March limp off in the second half of Monday's defeat to Doncaster.

Haberecht impressed for Cas in the Dwain Chambers reserve friendly against York ten days ago.

He has played four times in Super League this season after signing from Balmain Tigers in the winter, but has dropped down the pecking order at The Jungle after the Tigers brought in Ned Catic and Brendan Hlad.

Cas would be happy to let him go to open up room in their squad, and the Knights hoped his signing would send a message to other players in the camp and their National League Two rivals, as well as boost chances of reaching the play-offs.

However, he is contracted for the rest of the season at Cas and is in his right to stay.

A step down to the National League's part-time environment would affect his wages - as well as leave him needing a day job - and The Press believes this could be a sticking point if he cannot come to an agreement regarding his current deal.

Knights player-boss Paul March said the ball remained in Haberecht's court, but the club would not be pushing the matter.

"The player needs to get his head around the fact he's coming out of Super League," he explained. "We're not going to push him into a decision.

"He's under contract at Cas and he could stay there and get paid."

Castleford's football manager, Mick Robinson, said the move was not dead in the water. "The Knights came to us after the trial game," he said. "The player went across and had a look and he hasn't made a decision yet about what he wants to do.

"He has got to want to go, so, at the moment, nothing has happened. He needs to be playing first-team football, but he needs to make a conscious decision about whether he wants to go."

Meanwhile, it is thought David March suffered a calf tear on Monday, not just a pulled muscle.

The in-form loose-forward - who was named in the NL2 Team of the Month for April - has been beset by calf problems for much of the season and, although he has previously managed to play through it, this latest recurrence is likely to rule him out at least for this Sunday's trip to Swinton Lions.

His twin brother, player-coach Paul, said: "He couldn't really walk on it yesterday morning but it felt easier after he began walking. We will see how it goes, but I very much think he will miss Swinton , which would be a massive blow."

8:08am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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