Onyango signs deal

SPEED merchant Lucas Onyango will get another chance to showcase his talents in an Oldham jersey after signing a new one-year deal.

Injury meant the 26-year-old Kenyan was restricted to 18 appearances for the Roughyeds in 2008 out of a possible 37 games.

But with a solid pre-season build-up behind him, Oldham officials are hoping he can make up for lost time.

Club chief executive Chris Hamilton said: “Lucas had a disappointing campaign with injuries and such like and he will be looking to put that right.

“He can really excite fans when he runs with the ball — he has pace in abundance — and that’s what people pay their money to see.

“A lot of the groundwork is done in pre-season and he is determined to come back stronger and fitter.”

Onyango first signed for Oldham in March 2007 after a spell playing rugby union for Leigh.

The flying winger had a full-time contract at Widnes in 2006, but was sidelined with a serious knee injury just half-a-dozen games into the season.

He got himself fit at Leigh RU, but jumped at the chance of kick-starting his rugby league career at the Roughyeds.

He became an instant hit with his explosive runs and ended the season with 18 tries from 23 appearances.

Much was expected of Onyango this time round, but he was struck down with a shoulder problem which was operated on at the turn of the year.

He missed all of pre-season and was left playing catch-up when he returned to fitness. This, according to Mr Hamilton, knocked his confidence.

Meanwhile, a report in a trade paper has linked rugby league legend Paul Sculthorpe to his home-town club.

It said that the St Helens and Great Britain star, who retired earlier this year through injury, had been apparently asked to look at a coaching role with a variety of clubs, including the Roughyeds.

But Mr Hamilton said: “It’s rubbish. We don’t comment on speculation, we only make announcements and that’s been the case for the past 11 years.”