Starlet Crowley back in business

BARGING THROUGH: Josh Crowley in full flow against Gateshead Thunder.

JOSH Crowley, Oldham RL Club's exciting young forward, has revealed that he owes Roughyeds a big thank-you for rescuing his broken career.

After two years at Warrington and three at Widnes Vikings released him and he found himself on rugby league's scrap heap.

"It was over. I had quit. I never wanted to see a rugby ball again," recalled Crowley after scoring a super hat-trick of tries for Roughyeds in their 34-16 win over Gateshead Thunder.

Widnes's decision to let me go devastated me because I felt I was on the verge of breaking through. I thought I was so close to making it.

"Then I got a call from (Oldham chairman) Chris Hamilton and he persuaded me to have a chat.

"Chris and Scott Naylor were full of enthusiasm and optimism and I agreed to give it one more go."

He hasn't looked back since.

On his Whitebank debut against a Salford select side, Naylor described him as "the best player on the field bar none."

He played consistently well over the next three games in Oldham's second-row and then walked off with the club's official man-of-the-match award with his first three-try performance in senior rugby against the men from Tyneside.

He was more nervous about receiving his award and being required to say a few words to sponsors than he was about going into battle all afternoon with Gateshead's big forwards.

"I'm not a very confident person," he said. "It was an ordeal for me to walk into that room, but now I've done it once I wouldn't mind doing it a few more times over the course of the season!

"I'm happy in my rugby again and for that I have to thank Oldham and their fans"