Oldham put their trust in Wood

Ben Wood

A PLAYER who left Oldham RL Club two years ago “under a cloud” has been reunited at Whitebank with his former Salford coaches Scott Naylor and Lee Spencer.

Tony Benson was Roughyeds’ coach in 2011 when Ben Wood, then a strapping 21-year-old, arrived from Salford.

He had been at the Super League club since he was 15, having spent most of the next six years coached by either Naylor or Spencer.

The fast, mobile second-row forward scored six tries in 16 appearances for Roughyeds before leaving mid-season.

At the end of an impressive 2013 season in Australia, he returned to the UK a fortnight ago and has signed a one-year deal at Oldham.

Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton: “When Ben was with us in 2011 he left under a cloud. By giving him a second chance we have placed a lot of trust in him.”

“I left last time for personal reasons, but I’ve had long talks with Chris Hamilton, Scott and Lee and I know what’s expected of me. I’m up for it.”