Whitmore returns to Oldham

North Wales Crusaders v Oldham Rugby League Club. Danny Whitmore 4th try.

SCOTT Naylor has brought Danny Whitmore home to Whitebank - this time as a fully-fledged Oldham player on a one-year contract.

Oldham-born Whitmore (24) hasn't played since he broke an arm playing for Roughyeds last May, on a month's loan from Batley Bulldogs.

The Oldham boss, who coached him at Salford, brought him in to partner Lewis Palfrey at half-back.

Whitmore played his first game for Naylor in a 30-12 win at Hemel Stags on May 12, looking comfortable alongside his old Salford academy teammate. Naylor said at the time he wanted to talk to Batley about keeping Whitmore more permanently.

But in the first few minutes of the next match against Gateshead on May 26, the former Waterhead junior suffered the injury that ended his season.

Now fully fit and looking forward to pre-season training from November, Whitmore said: "I'm out of contract at Batley so I've signed for Oldham on a one-year deal.

"I had a few offers but I think of Oldham as home-from-home, having had three years at Whitebank under Tony Benson. In any case I wanted to link up again with Lewis and the other lads I know from Salford days, including Scott and Lee Spencer.

Whitmore left Whitebank to join Championship club Batley at the end of last season, before Naylor and Spencer were appointed.

“I’ve been out injured for four months, but I’m fully fit again now although I haven’t yet done any contact work. It seems ages since I handled a rugby ball. I can’t wait to get started again.”