Sealing the deal

SUCCESS STORY . . . Nathan Mason (front).

FORMER Bradford Bulls team mayes Scott Naylor and Paul Anderson will next week discuss Oldham’s partnership with Huddersfield Giants in the 2016 season.

As head coaches of Roughyeds and Giants respectively they are in regular contact and have been since their clubs first formed a relationship more than a year ago.

But next week’s head to head will put into detail how the dual-registration partnership will work in its second year.

Year one was acclaimed by both clubs as a perfect match. Several young Giants, most notably Nathan Mason, Oliver Roberts and Josh Johnson, helped Oldham to win promotion, while gaining experience of senior rugby with which to advance their full-time careers at Super League level.

Giants later expressed their satisfaction at how well their rising players were developed at Whitebank.

The big difference this year is that Roughyeds will be playing at a much higher level.

Naylor, who believes the partnership can develop even further, said: “Championship rugby will be even more appealing to Huddersfield because they will see it as more beneficial to their young players.

“The partnership worked well for us last season and provided the help we needed and this year I think it will work even better for both clubs.

“We’ll get out of it what we need to and I’m sure Paul and Huddersfield will as well. There’s no

reason why it can’t run just as smoothly this time round.”