Gareth thrilled to be home

Date published: 29 July 2014


GARETH Owen may have 36 Super League appearances on his CV, but he is still thrilled to bits to be playing in Championship One for his home-town team.

"As a kid I used to dream of playing for Oldham one day, and now I've made it," said the latest Salford Red Devils player to join Roughyeds on loan.

Owen (right) is at Whitebank for the rest of the season, having made an impressive debut at hooker in the stunning 24-23 win against third-placed Hunslet Hawks on Sunday.

Just 22, he signed for Salford from Waterhead when he was 16 and made his Super League debut against Hull KR at The Willows in August, 2010 as an 18-year-old.

His latest, and 36th appearance at the highest level of the domestic game, was in Salford's final match of last season against Widnes Vikings when he was in the starting line-up and picked up a man-of-the-match award.

This season, he has played eight games for Sheffield Eagles, on loan, in the Championship.

But when the opportunity arose to join the large contingent of Salford or ex-Salford personnel at Oldham – the club he supported as a boy – he jumped at it.

"I'll tell you, this is a massive move for me," he said. "I've always been an Oldham fan.

" I used to watch them play regularly when I was a boy - Lucas Onyango was my favourite player - and I was chuffed to wear the jersey for the first time on Sunday.

"I just hope I can add something to the team."