Hooker Hughes happy to stay

HOOKER Kenny Hughes has joined his second-row colleagues Josh Crowley and Danny Langtree in signing a new one-year contract with Oldham RL Club.

Oldham coach Scott Naylor said: “As a replacement hooker coming off the bench, he has been one of the main reasons for us having such a successful season. He can change a game, step up the speed of the game and defend well for long periods.

“He always does his best and on top of all that he is a great lad to have around the dressing room because he likes a laugh and a joke.

“It was typical of Kenny that when we asked him last year to play out of position at half-back, he gave it his best shot and made a good job of it.”

Hughes (24) was inconsolable after Oldham’s Grand Final defeat by Hunslet in extra time, but is now looking forward to being part of an Oldham squad that will go into battle in the restructured Kingstone Press League One.

“That final defeat was a bitter pill to swallow,” he said. “But we have to move on and get ready to play in an exciting new division which is going to test each of the 14 clubs that are in it.”