Welcome dual-reg tonic for Oldham

Sam Gee

THE return of dual-reg players from Huddersfield Giants will boost Oldham at Bradford Bulls on Sunday and help to compensate for the loss of injured quartet Gareth Owen, Scott Turner, Danny Grimshaw and Richard Lepori.

Sammy Gee will be ready to play again after a wrist injury, while new loan signings Kameron Pearce-Paul, a winger, and Sadiq Adebiyi, a prop, will also be in contention.

The 20-year-old Londoners, both full-time members of the Broncos' first-team squad, have signed initially for a month with a view to extending their stays if it suits both parties.

Confirming the Giants involvement via dual-registration, an arrangement that wasn't on offer for the midweek game against Dewsbury Rams, coach Scott Naylor said it was important that Roughyeds approached this third game in eight days with self-belief and positivity.

Both teams are desperate to put an end to losing runs - seven games for Oldham, nine for Bradford, who are bottom of the league on minus-two points (ten behind Dewbury Rams who are just above them in the table) after starting on minus-12 as an insolvency penalty.

Their last win was 48-16 at home to Sheffield Eagles in early April.

Added Naylor: "All we need to start winning is a bit of luck or the bounce of the ball.

"But when we get in front we've got to learn how to close games out. We've got one point (at Rochdale) from games in which we've had the lead."

Apart from Owen, Turner and Grimshaw, the other 14 players who were on duty in the unlucky home defeat by Dewsbury Rams are said to be fit and available.

Naylor will pick from those plus Gee, four loan players in Liam Bent, Brad Hill, and the London Broncos boys and whoever is available to him from the Giants.

The latest update on Owen's foot injury, meanwhile, is better than was first feared.

X-rays have shown there is no fracture; just a badly sprained ankle and foot.

He said: "It's still swollen and I can't put any weight on it, but it's great news that I haven't suffered a break.

"I'm hoping I won't be out too long, but I'll know more when I see the club physio on Saturday."

The same applies to Grimshaw, who has suffered a hamstring tear.

Turner, who was concussed for the third time this season, will see a specialist before he can play again to conform with protocol relating to head injuries.