Hough happy to lend a hand

CHRIS HOUGH: Keen to help with coaching

NEW signing Chris Hough hopes the switch to his former club will be beneficial to all concerned.

The experienced 27-year-old scrum-half, who has played for Rochdale Hornets, Doncaster, Swinton, Blackpool and Leigh in the past, has been brought back to the Roughyeds in order to lend a guiding hand to the club’s up-and-coming stars.

After agreeing a one-match deal last week in time to play in the reserve team’s first win of the season at Dewsbury, Hough enjoyed himself enough to commit to the rest of the season.

Having represented Oldham in both the 2005 and 2006 seasons, Hough retains as much enthusiasm for playing as ever, though he hopes that this switch from Spotland will also form the basis of an eventual move into coaching.

“I got my release at Rochdale as I wasn’t really figuring in the coach’s plans,” said the cousin of reserves coach John Hough. “I was injured but when I got back fit they had signed Liam McGovern and another kid on loan from Widnes, Brett Robinson.

“At Rochdale it is pay-as-you-play so with a young family I couldn’t justify training three or four times a week and then not getting a game.

“On top of that, I really enjoy playing and just wanted to be involved.

“I spoke to John (Hough) and then Chris (Hamilton) asked if I would like to come and help with the reserves to help the young lads along.

“I also spoke to Swinton where I have a lot of ties, but Oldham is on my doorstep and it was the best option for me and my family.

“The plan is to play and also lend a hand with the coaching. John and Leo (Casey) are both forwards so I will be helping the backs out.”

Hough has suffered with sciatic nerve problems in recent times which have held him back, but he is currently fit and raring to get another appearance under his belt in tomorrow’s reserves clash with Barrow at Sedgley Park (2.30pm kick off).

“Barrow will be tough, though you don’t always know what sort of side they will travel with,” Hough added.

“As far as we are concerned, it is clear that there are a lot of good up and coming players here who would run through a brick wall for you, which is excellent for the club, and it is just a few individual errors that have proven costly over the past couple of years.

“I have been involved in the game for a while now and hopefully I can pass on the benefits of that experience and also learn plenty myself in the process.”

While some may speculate about involvement in first-team affairs, Hough is playing down such talk.

“We haven’t even spoken about it,” he said. “All I am concentrating on is the reserves.”


GATESHEAD Thunder, conquerers of Oldham in the last round of the competition, are without the services of star hooker Andrew Henderson for their home Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-final clash with holders St Helens tomorrow.

The 29-year-old club captain has flown out to Australia following the death of his father.

In the other three all-Super League ties, Wigan are at home to Salford tonight, Hull KR play host to Warrington tomorrow and Castleford visit Huddersfield on Sunday.