Refreshed Neal raring to go again

Photo: VINCENT BROWN

BACK IN THE GAME . . . new signing Adam Neal (left) receives a warm welcome from Scott Naylor.

ADAM Neal, a prop with 45 super league games for Salford on his CV, has become Oldham’s second new boy for 2015.

Whitehaven and Swinton were among Roughyeds’ rivals chasing Neal (24), who left Salford after the 2013 season for a year out.

Eager to get back into rugby league, he has signed a one-year contract to bolster a Whitebank squad again expected to fight for promotion in the new-look league.

Oldham coach Scott Naylor said: “The break has done him a world of good. The old hunger is back. He has lots of Super League experience and once he has done a full pre-season with us I’m sure he’ll emerge as one of our pack leaders.

“He’s another player we are very lucky to have at Oldham.”

By the time he turned his back on the sport, Neal had played 48 times for Salford’s first team, all but three of them in Super League.

“When I was ready to start again I had a few offers, some of them from clubs in the Championship,” said Neal. “Lewis Palfrey and Adam Clay sold Oldham to me, then I was impressed when I spoke to Scott.

“I liked his honesty, and he convinced me that the environment at the club was one into which I would fit comfortably.”