Duo arrive on loan ahead of Whitehaven clash

Rochdale Hornets have brought in two new players on loan ahead of Sunday's Betfred Championship trip to Whitehaven.

Widnes Vikings prop forward Jack Houghton has joined the club on a one-month loan, while hooker Reiss Butterworth has arrived on a one-week loan from Sheffield Eagles.

Prior to joining Widnes at the start of 2026, Houghton spent a number of seasons at North Wales Crusaders, where he made 118 appearances between 2017-25.

A former Widnes academy graduate, Houghton, now 29, has featured twice off the bench for the Vikings this season in all competitions.

Butterworth, meanwhile, featured heavily for Sheffield last year, making 24 appearances for the club.

He has been brought in ahead of this week's trip to the Ortus Rec to cover for captain Ross Whitmore, who has travelled to Las Vegas to represent Scotland in an international fixture against the USA.

Rochdale Hornets chairman Andy Mazey said: "It's been a bruising and pretty relentless start to the new season, and we have suffered several injuries which are limiting Gary Thornton’s options.

"In addition to the injuries, our captain Ross Whitmore is also away this week representing Scotland in Las Vegas.

"With the above in mind, we have been hard at work and have gone out to the loan market and are extremely grateful to Sheffield Eagles for allowing a quality player in Reiss Butterworth to join us on a short-term basis.

"Furthermore, our gratitude extends to Allan Coleman and the Widnes club for allowing Jack Houghton to join us. 

"Jack is a big, strong, experienced middle unit who has played with the likes of Jamie Dallimore at North Wales, so we know what we are getting.

"He will help bolster our pack as we make the tough trip to Whitehaven this weekend looking to bounce back from last Sunday's defeat."