THE close relationship between York City Knights and Castleford Tigers has paid dividends with the loan signing of prop Nathan Massey.

The 18-year-old front-rower has moved to Huntington Stadium until the end of the season, having recently enjoyed a brief loan stint in National One with Featherstone Rovers.

Mick Robinson, Castleford’s football manager, said Massey had a bright future at The Jungle, but the Tigers were keen for him to gain first team experience.

“One of the reasons we have let him go to York is that they helped us out with the Dwain Chambers friendly earlier in the season,” he said. “This is a payback for that.”

The Knights have already signed Australian second-rower Tom Haberecht on loan from Castleford and player-coach Paul March was delighted to double his Tigers contingent.

“Nathan is a young lad who impressed me in the Dwain Chambers reserve game earlier in the season and we’ve kept tabs on him,” he said.

“He went on loan to Featherstone a few weeks ago but we made a call and we’ve got him so he can get experience in the National Leagues.”

Massey has been named among the substitutes for tomorrow’s Huntington Stadium clash with Oldham.