Roughyeds in swoop for Rovers prop

LUKE MENZIES, who spent two spells on loan at Oldham last season, has signed permanently for the club until the end of November 2009.

The young prop was not offered a new deal by Hull KR, and the National League Two outfit moved in quickly when they realised he would become a free agent on December 1.
Menzies (pictured), who made 12 appearances for club last season, has bags of potential, according to Oldham officials.

Chief executive Chris Hamilton said: “At 21, Luke is still a baby for a prop forward, but he has all the attributes to make it.

“He was here in May and we wanted to extend his loan period, but he was called back to his club.

“He played in a couple of early-season Super League games and also in the Challenge Cup, so we were glad to get him back again in July.

“Luke is another young player and, with youth, he’ll have the hunger and passion to try to make a name for himself. The experienced players have that too, as well as the know-how in a match-day situation.”

The initial deal to bring Menzies to the club on loan came about through the then Oldham coach Steve Deakin’s close link with Rovers counterpart Justin Morgan.

The tie-up suited both the player, who wanted experience at first-team level, and the Roughyeds, who were struggling for numbers at the time.

Menzies impressed in his short stay and when the opportunity to sign him again on another short-term deal arose, Oldham snapped him up.

He scored his only try in the 30-28 win over Keighley at the end of July, while his strong-running performances from the replacements’ bench became a feature of the Roughyeds’ run to the NL2 Grand Final.

Meanwhile, Ian Hodson’s second stint at Oldham is over after contract talks between the two parties broke down.

Hodson, like Adam Robinson and Matty Brooks before him, could not agree terms on a new deal.