DAVE HADFIELD

London Broncos have released their former Australian international full- back, Paul Hauff, because he has failed to settle in England. Hauff, who also played for the Brisbane Broncos and Queensland, had been seen as one of London's key players for the Super League.

"He has become unhappy here and has asked for his release and been granted it," the club's chairman, Barry Maranta, said. By way of consolation, they have the Sydney Tigers full-back, Greg Barwick, due to arrive before the start of the Super League, along with the Brisbane forward, Gavin Allen, and Parramatta's Tulson Tollett.

Bradford Bulls are set to sign the 26-year-old utility player James Lowes from Leeds, who have been warned by St Helens - along with other clubs - that they would be wasting their time trying to prise away Bobbie Goulding. "He is on a four-year contract and is not going anywhere," Saints' chief executive, David Howes, said.

The brewers, Stones, who have sponsored the game for a decade, have agreed a three-year deal worth pounds 1.7m to sponsor the Super League. The end of season play-offs, formerly known as the Stones Premiership, will now become the Stones Cup Final, a rechristening that will do nothing to calm fears that the Silk Cut Challenge Cup is being downgraded.