Joe back to lend a helping hand

JOE McNicholas, who ran in the last try ever scored at the old Watersheddings ground, is back in Oldham RL circles after an absence of more than a decade.

Now 35 and preparing to launch a coaching career with NRL club Wests Tigers in Sydney, he has linked up with his former Roughyeds team-mate Neil Roden to help with the under-20s squad for the rest of the season.

The former winger will return to Australia in September, this time permanently - but not before he has spent five months at the club where he planted his rugby roots.

"It's great to be working alongside Neil again," said McNicholas, who scored the winning try against Swinton Lions in a friendly to mark the closure of Watersheddings in January 1997, and played his only competitive game at senior level as an 18 year old in the Bears' final game at Leeds in September that year.

Three months later he signed for the new Oldham club and over the next six seasons played 106 games, scoring 36 tries.

Since then he has spent a lot of time in Sydney, forging links with the coaching staff at Wests. He plans to emigrate with his family later this year.

He added: "I've learned a lot at Wests and I'm really looking forward to giving Neil a lift.”