Bingham not eager to hang around
Date published: 21 January 2009
ANTHONY Bingham marked his first senior appearance in an Oldham shirt with a try against Huddersfield — but isn't about to rest on his laurels.
The 23-year-old (pictured, right and below) is a relative newcomer to the rugby league world, spending most of his sporting life up to now playing soccer and American Football.
Having opted to take up the offer of a two-year contract with the Roughyeds following a successful stint in the reserves last year, the Halifax-born player doesn't want to waste any time at all.
“I’m a bit older than the other reserves players and so my objectives are different in that I want to get into the side as quickly as possible,” said the confident and articulate Bingham, who rounded off a highly promising personal performance on the left wing against the Giants with a second-half score.
“Friday night was my first game and I was happy with how it went, but I know that I have got a lot of work to do. I have given up American Football to play so I want to learn quickly and be successful in the first team.”
Anyone who saw Bingham operate in Oldham’s reserves at full-back last year will know just how quick and elusive a runner he can be.
But while most professionals of similar age will have learnt to dodge tackles in the junior ranks, Bingham picked up such skills in gridiron.
Interestingly, he came close to rubbing shoulders with another athlete to have tried both American Football and league, sprinter Dwain Chambers, before the collapse of the NFL Europa league did for both their chances. Instead, Bingham was recruited to spend a year playing for the Dresden Monarchs in German domestic gridiron in 2008.
There, he operated mainly as a short receiver — a mixture of running back and wide receiver — while also performing as a special teams kicker and a kick returner. Quite a mixture of skills, but there is plenty of crossover when it comes to his new career.
“It is quite funny really,” said the multi-talented Bingham, who has also played semi-professionally as a striker for Bradford Park Avenue, Altrincham and Mossley, having also spent time in the United States on a soccer scholarship.
“American Football players will ask me how rough rugby league is, while rugby league players wonder the same about American Football.
“The truth is you can’t really compare the two. After a game of league you end up battered and bruised, whereas in American Football the one-off hits have a bigger impact as the players use helmets and pads as weapons. It is quite brutal.”
Back on rugby league, Bingham admits his preferred position is at full-back but also that he is simply keen to absorb as much knowledge as he can, wherever he can.
“I just want to move forward as quickly as I can and it is a case of ‘so far, so good’,” added Bingham, who is currently in the process of setting up a multi-sports academy south of Manchester.
“There are a lot of experienced players at the club to learn from. I speak to Marcus St Hilaire constantly and he is a great help taking me through things in great detail, while someone like Paul O’Connor is a great full-back as well.
“Sometimes is it a bit overwhelming. You can get 20 or 25 players all pecking at your head, but it is great that everyone is trying to help me and I really appreciate it.”
Roughyeds coach Tony Benson, preparing his squad for a friendly at Leigh this weekend, is also clearly excited at the potential he sees within Bingham.
"He is like a sponge," Benson said. "He is very keen to learn and physically, he is as good as a Super League player.
"He is very quick, has great agility and his footwork is superb. He is an exciting player to watch and his handling skills are very good too, as he showed by the way he took a high ball against Huddersfield with no problems at all.
"The try he scored wasn't one that just any player could have got either. He had a lot to do and not much space to do it in.
"He has made the squad now and it is a case of progressing from here."
