Take the Bull by the horns, says Naylor

UP FOR THE CUP: Scott Naylor, pictured during his Bradford Bulls days, celebrates lifting the Challenge Cup after a 22-20 win over Leeds at the Millennium Stadium in 2003.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

SCOTT Naylor has challenged his young Oldham players to show what they are made of against Super League opposition in Sunday’s cup-tie at Bradford Bulls.

“This cup-tie is all about my lads going to Bradford, testing themselves, playing to the best of their ability and showing the opposition what they are made of.

“We are Championship One part-timers up against full-time Super League professionals who will be stronger, fitter, faster and more skilful. Our job is to go there, play the best we can and try to put them off their game. If my lads give it everything they’ve got, and I’m sure they will, I can’t ask for more.”

Oldham are unbeaten in three league games and a cup-tie this season, but Naylor believes his side hasn’t performed to its full potential.

He added: “We need, among other things, to be a bit tougher and more physical. I might change things round a bit at Bradford, go ‘big’ and go with five props.”

From a senior squad of 23, Steven Nield and the dual-registered ‘Okanga’ are the two to miss out on the club’s big day at the Provident Stadium, given that David Cookson, Adam Files and Liam Thompson are injured.

That leaves Scott Naylor with the following 18 for a Tetley’s Challenge Cup fourth-round tie against his old club which gets underway at 2pm:

In finalising his line-up at training tomorrow, Naylor will have to find a replacement for Okanga-Ajwang and it would be no surprise if Sam Gee was selected at centre with Mark Hobson starting at loose-forward.