Naylor facing tough calls

OLDHAM RL boss Scott Naylor will have tough decisions to make this week as he selects his 17 for Sunday’s opening game of the season in Wrexham.

In warm-up wins against a young Salford City Reds squad and Rochdale Hornets for the Law Cup, he has been able to use every one of his 22-man squad.

But the squad must now be cut to 18, counting the travelling reserve, and Naylor admits selection will give him a sore head.

Naylor said: “My hookers are giving me a real headache because I have three very good players in that position and all three are playing well in a very good pack.”

He also has front-row options either side of the hookers, and can choose between Jason Boults, Liam Gilchrist, Phil Joy, Callum Marriott and Chris Tyrer for the two starting props with at least one more, maybe two, on the bench.

Fans may be given a pointer in the choice of the squad to play Leigh Centurions at Leigh East on Friday night in the first of 14 games for the new under-20s side.

There is the possibility Roughyeds may field a stronger, more experienced side than that beaten by York at Whitebank in their only pre-season run-out.



Naylor and his assistant Lee Spencer hope to meet lots of fans at Whitebank on Wednesday night when first-team squad members will be presented with their squad numbers for the season.

The meet-and-greet launch to the Roughyeds’ season, in which promotion to the Championship will be their ultimate goal, starts at 7.30pm and admission is free.