Naylor’s sights on fresh face

Scott Naylor: looking for another player

WITH nine games left to the play-offs Scott Naylor is planning to bolster his Oldham RL squad with at least one addition.

Naylor has an abundance of forwards but a shortage of backs following Tom Whitehead’s departure and the return to Salford for treatment of Edwin Okanga-Ajwang.

Hooker Adam Files, a long-term injury victim, was due to see his consultant today amid growing fears that he will be out for the season.

“That’s the verdict I’m expecting — it looks like serious knee ligament damage,” said the 21-year-old former Salford youngster.

Files had a highly-impressive first season at Whitebank on long-term loan from Salford; his capture as a full Oldham player was a major coup. But the season was still young when Files went down injured during training.

Naylor still has 15 forwards in a squad of 23, but only eight backs. Of those centre Jon Ford (dual reg) and half-back Steve Roper (long-term loan) can be recalled by Salford and Rochdale at any time.

Naylor went on: “I’m well off with six props, three hookers and six back-row men, but it’s a different situation entirely with the backs and one I hope to address with a new signing. There is nothing imminent.”



SCOTT Giles, the South Wales Scorpions prop who was seriously injured at Whitebank on Sunday, is back home in Wales.

The game was held up for 10 minutes until he was carried off and taken by ambulance to Hope Hospital, Salford. He had suffered severe concussion and sprained ligaments in his neck, but he was discharged from hospital late on Sunday night and driven home by his parents.