Whitehead is a man on a mission

Tom Whitehead

TOM Whitehead, Oldham RL Club’s latest signing, is a young man in a hurry.

With only four games left of the regular season, he’s got to get a move on if he is to win a place in the Roughyeds’ table-topping line-up.

Oldham-born Tom (21) played his first game for his hometown club at under-20s level against Salford City Reds last Friday and he is lined up for a second run-out against Hemel Stags at Whitebank on Saturday (2pm kick-off).

The under-20s have only two games left after that, South Wales having withdrawn from the competition, so it isn’t difficult to deduce that Roughyeds have bigger things in mind for talented Tom, who can play full-back, stand-off, loose-forward and hooker.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind period for Whitehead, who was playing stand-off for Old Bar Pirates in New South Wales until he came home for his sister’s wedding and decided to stay.

Tom said: “Oldham talked to me when I was leaving Salford, but I had already decided to go to Australia.

“I found it very quiet out there and I missed all my mates in Oldham. When Roughyeds heard I was back they got in touch. It's a boyhood dream come true.

“It’s all happened quickly and it seems to have come out of nothing, but I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to the next few weeks.”

Whitehead moved from Waterhead to Saddleworth Rangers when he was 17; had a brief spell with Huddersfield Giants; and was then courted by Salford where he stayed for three years.