Fitness guru Kane vital to the cause

Date published: 03 March 2015


Oldham bosses are delighted at the way the link is developing between Roughyeds and Super League club Huddersfield Giants.

Oliver Roberts and Oldham-born Josh Johnson, two 20-year-old forwards, were the latest Giants players to turn out for the Roughyeds on dual registration in Sunday’s 42-6 win against Coventry.

Prop Nathan Mason (21), another young Giant who lives in Oldham, is at Whitebank on long-term loan.

And Roughyeds coach Scott Naylor backs his side’s fitness and stamina against any team in the league thanks to the work of his new strength and conditioning coach Kane Daniels - a full-time member of the Giants’ backroom staff.

“Kane is doing a great job,” said Naylor. “He has introduced a lot of new stuff and taken our fitness to new levels.”

Giants have also expressed their satisfaction at the way things are going.

The Oldham chairman and coach have confirmed that the final decision on the use of dual registration players is down to one man – Naylor.

Each of the 14 clubs in League One is now linked to either a Super League or leading Championship club.

Said Hamilton: “It’s down to each pair of clubs to make it work, but the crux lies in the word ‘partnership’. It’s got to be of mutual benefit.”

Naylor said the benefit to Giants was in exposing young players to open-age rugby against men in the lower divisions – a toughening process that couldn’t be replicated elsewhere.

Oldham’s second-round tie at Barrow in the iPro Sport League One Cup will be played on March 15