LEIGH have made one swoop on Cougar Park - and they hope to make it a double.

They signed New Zealand scrum-half Latham Tawhai from Keighley and then immediately turned their sights on another unwanted Cougar in Carlos Hassan.

Tawhai and Hassan are among the victims of cash-strapped Keighley's clear out and are free agents.

But Tawhai, an Aucklander with experience in the Lion Red Cup competition in New Zealand, must wait for work permit clearance before he can resume his career.

Leigh have applied for a work permit but have their hands tied until authorisation comes through from the Department of Employment.

"Latham has bags of experience in the First Division," said chairman Mike Higgins. "He has also played to a high level in New Zealand. That experience will hopefully be beneficial to our squad."

Tawhai, 25, has tipped Leigh off about the availability of former Bradford Bulls and Keighley centre Hassan.

"We hope to talk to him in the next few days and see if we can come up something suitable," added Higgins.

Leigh have still been unable to strike a deal with Swinton Lions for the permanent transfer of Steve Gibson and John Gunning when their loan period expires.

Said Higgins: "We've not made any progress so far, but we're still talking and it might be that we extended the loan arrangement while negotiations continue."

But they are likely to lose Aussie full-back Gibson after tomorrow's top four clash at Lancashire Lynx.

Gibson needs keyhole surgery to correct a knee injury. He will play against the Preston-based side but is then likely to be missing for two or three weeks.

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