Youngsters offered deals
Reporter: Roughyeds latest by MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 10 September 2008
UP to six young players from last season’s reserves team squad are to be offered professional contracts by Oldham, with talks commencing today.
Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton said that the deals on the table, which follow on from the first season since the re-introduction of a second team, reflect the good progress that a very raw group of players made over the course of the campaign.
“A lot of the lads would have been eligible for junior, never mind senior, academy teams,” said Mr Hamilton.
“Having played out an amateur season with their clubs before joining us, it really was a big ask for them.
“The enthusiasm shown was one of the big plusses and there were a number of consistent performers.”
The club is making no comment on the identity of the players to be offered a pro deal.
But one likely to be involved in talks is full-back Anthony Bingham, who excelled with his pace and elusive running — though a complicating factor is his involvement with the American Football scene in Germany.
Under-18s BARLA tour duo Mark Smith and Steven Fisher could also come into the reckoning, along a number of impressive youngsters who have now returned to play in the winter season for their amateur clubs.
As for this weekend’s game, Ian Hodson’s chances of recovering in time to play in the Doncaster play-off clash are rated as “slim to none”.
The second row forward suffered a hyper-extension of his elbow during the final game of the season against Workington three weeks ago.
The club are still seeking a specialist medical opinion on the injured knee of Jason Boults, though the problem isn’t likely to stop the dependable prop forward from taking to the field at Boundary Park on Sunday afternoon.
Coach Steve Deakin is likely to chose his line-up from a squad of 21 players.
Luke Menzies, whose loan spell from Hull KR was extended to take in the remaining play-off matches, has since been granted a release from his contract by the Super League club and is likely to be a Roughyeds target for next season.
