Hooker Hoyle keen to stay

HOOKER Simeon Hoyle is the latest player to pledge his allegiance to Oldham for next season.

With his existing two-year deal due to officially expire at the end of this month, the former Halifax and Keighley man was only too keen to sign a one-year deal to commit himself to the Roughyeds’ cause for a third consecutive season.

“Simeon has shown his worth to the club in the two years that he has been here and was keen to make sure he stayed at the club,” said chief executive Chris Hamilton.

“I don’t think he even spoke to anyone else as he made it clear that leaving didn’t interest him.”

The 29-year-old becomes the 20th first team player in new coach Tony Benson’s first-team squad for 2009.

Hoyle managed a total of 22 appearances for the club in 2008, scoring five tries, though his progress was hampered on two separate occasions by an Achilles injury.

With Matty Brooks now having left the club, Hoyle is likely to compete for the number nine shirt with new men Gary Sykes and Thomas Coyle and the re-signed Phil Joseph.

The players’ meeting with management which signalled the start of the pre-season programme took place last night and this evening the squad will be submitted to tests which will determine their individual fitness regimes.

Mick Nanyn, who has left the club to try his arm in Super League with Harlequins, has been promoted from the bench to starting centre for Scotland — who need to win by 28 points to progress — in tomorrow morning’s crunch World Cup pool B clash with Fiji at Gosford.

Oldhamer Eamon O’Carroll of Wigan Warriors starts in the front row for Ireland in pool C against Samoa, with Andy Kelly’s side needing to win by six points to top their group and make it into the semi-final qualifier.

Oldham’s National League Two rivals Hunslet Hawks have signed Dwaine Nelson, the former Bradford Bulls academy winger who played in Oldham’s reserves team last season.