Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
114	106	8	16	0	0	64

When George Pieniazek was appointed Featherstone coach in 1985 he immediately realised that a main requirement was to strengthen the pack and his first venture into the transfer market was to Bramley, where he acquired a young prop, Karl Harrison, for £15,000. Pieniazek only remained for one year, but in Harrison Rovers fans watched the development of a future Great Britain international over the next four years.

Harrison's senior debut was at home to Warrington on 22 December 1985, and with the return of Peter Smith after a long lay-off shortly afterwards, the Rovers pack received a timely boost. The team was struggling to remain in the First Division, but a run of six victories in eight matches from March 1986 revived their flagging hopes and a 13-13 draw at Halifax on 20 April 1986 ensured their safety. Harrison played his part in this escape act, but whilst his development continued the following season, Rovers were relegated to the Second Division.

Another excellent season for Harrison in 1987/88 saw the club finish second in the Second Division to Oldham, to seal an immediate return to the First Division. Their attempts to land the Second Division Premiership Trophy were, however, also dashed by Oldham. Rovers beat Wakefield in the semi-final in which Harrison scored a vital try, in the 20-16 victory. In a thrilling final, Oldham snatched victory in the last minute to win 28-26 after Rovers had striven manfully with Harrison to the fore, to pull back a 22-0 deficit and take the lead before losing.

With five tries (including a hat-trick at home to Barrow in April 1987) in 30 appearances Harrison was now attracting attention from other clubs. When Peter Fox signed Jeff Grayshon at the beginning of 1988/89, the Rovers had two commanding props as the mainstay of their pack and rose to a respectable sixth position upon their return to the First Division. Harrison was still going from strength to strength, finishing his season in the play-off at Hull on 7 May 1989. The Rovers were now reluctantly, resigned to losing their powerful prop and he moved to Hull in August 1989. After two seasons there, during which he commenced his impressive international career, he transferred to Halifax, and after retiring as a player he turned to coaching. 

His son James, a promising back row forward, followed a similar path to Featherstone this time signing from Batley in 2019.  Karl certainly fulfilled the promise which Featherstone saw in him originally, even if he peaked after he had left the club.

Biography by Ron Bailey