When a club chairman makes the grand gesture of declaring free admission to the next home game and states that during half-time he will make “probably the biggest announcement in the club's modern-day history”, speculation is intended to be rife. Much of it yesterday centred on Darren Lockyer and whether the Australia captain and one of the greats of the sport is coming to Huddersfield.

Whatever Ken Davy, the Huddersfield Giants chairman, has to announce is of sufficient magnitude for him to declare that the engage Super League match against Catalans Dragons on Saturday night will be free entry to all “to watch a game and hear an announcement that they will never forget”.

The boldness of the statement by Davy, not one normally for hyperbole, coincided with a declaration in Australia by Lockyer, who is out of contract at Brisbane Broncos at the end of next season, that, unlike Mark Gasnier and Sonny Bill Williams in recent weeks, he would not be leaving the NRL for rugby union. However, a move to the Super League is a genuine possibility for 2010, which is where Huddersfield could come in, although Hull Kingston Rovers declared earlier this year that they are definite candidates for Lockyer's signature.

If the birthplace of the sport is to be his eventual destination, Lockyer, 31, a two-times world player of the year, was not giving anything away yesterday. “I wouldn't give [my future] too much thought until probably midway through next year, when we have to decide what my next contract will be,” he said.

Messageboards were buzzing with fevered speculation about other possible signings, an alternative ground and a cut-price season ticket scheme at the Galpharm Stadium similar to one that has resulted in more than 16,000 sales for Huddersfield Town FC. The club, though, were remaining tight-lipped about the precise nature of the development until Saturday's game - “an important day for the club and one which I'm extremely excited about,” Davy added.

The club have already announced the arrival of Nathan Brown, from St George-Illawarra Dragons, as coach from next season on a three-year deal to replace Jon Sharp, who was dismissed in June but is to rejoin Hull, for whom he played for ten years, as football operations manager from December.

A friend of Sharp's from childhood, Richard Agar, the Hull coach, said: “This is a groundbreaking appointment and a vital position within the coaching team. Jon's skill and knowledge will be invaluable in creating the required structures and environment to assist in maximising the development of our players at every level.”

Wakefield Wildcats denied a report that John Kear had left the club in the wake of the team's seventh successive loss, at home to Castleford Tigers on Sunday, and said in a statement: “He will remain in charge and is working hard with the coaching staff and players to get the season back on track. Kear is not one to walk away from a challenge and he remains very much dedicated and committed to the club.”

Catalans Dragons have banned a fan who hurled beer at Steve Ganson, the referee, as he left the pitch in Perpignan after Saturday's 16-16 draw with Wigan Warriors. The RFL is studying a report by David Campbell, the match commissioner, as to whether to reprimand or fine the French club.

Michael Platt, the Bradford Bulls full back, faces a potential five-match ban by the RFL disciplinary committee today after he was cited for an alleged head-butt and punch during Friday's 28-18 defeat by Leeds Rhinos. Gareth Raynor, the Hull and Great Britain wing, has been cited for an alleged reckless tackle during his side's 30-24 defeat by Huddersfield on Sunday.