Young centre ‘needs games’

Baby of the Oldham dressing room Edwin Okanga-Ajwang has what it takes to make a name for himself in senior rugby league says Roughyeds boss Scott Naylor.

The coach has lauded the teenage centre’s potential in the build-up to Sunday’s big test at Bradford Bulls in the fourth round of the Tetley’s Challenge Cup.

At 19, the dual-registration capture from Salford Red Devils is Oldham’s youngest player by eight months from London-born prop Paddy Mooney.

Even so he is one of only two players in the Oldham squad who has had experience of playing at the highest level in the domestic game.

Edwin has played twice for Salford in Super League, while prop Alex Davidson, not much older at 21, can boast three appearances at that level, also for Salford.

Naylor said: “I know what Edwin is capable of. He is full of potential and he is at Oldham to show us that he can perform at the next level. He just needs a run of games and he’ll get better week by week. Edwin is a very talented lad.”

Naylor confirmed after last night’s training session that everybody is fit apart from the three long-term casualties — Adam Files, David Cookson and Liam Thompson, giving him a squad of 20. The Oldham tie will be Bradford’s first game at the Provident Stadium since new owner Marc Green took over last week.

Bradford have won two of their seven Super League games to date, but are bottom of the league on minus two because of a six-point penalty for going into administration.