Iestyn clings to hope of return

FEATHERSTONE’S midfield organiser Iestyn Harris could play against his home-town team on Thursday night after all.

The 32-year-old stand-off had been initially ruled out for the whole season after rupturing a bicep in a game against Barrow 10 days ago.

But the dual-code international has recovered well and after undergoing a scan should know by tonight if he can take to the field against the Roughyeds in the televised Northern Rail Cup quarter-final tie at Leigh.

“I’m keeping fingers crossed,” said Harris, who last lined up against an Oldham side for Leeds Rhinos against the Bears in the Super League season of 1997.

“I would love to play against Oldham — it’s a long time since I did that — and at this stage I would say I have a chance. It is a slim one, but a chance.

“To be honest I’m not expecting to be right, but I’m not ruling it out either. A lot will depend on the results of the scan, but the arm feels a lot better than it did a week ago so here’s hoping.”

Should Harris fail to make the game, he will take his place on the bench alongside Featherstone coach Daryl Powell in plotting the Roughyeds’ downfall.

As for his Rovers’ side’s chances against lower-division opposition in Oldham, Harris isn’t counting any chickens.

“They have a lot of good, attack-minded players,” added the former Warrington, Leeds and Bradford man.

“If there is a flaw Oldham are perhaps a little bit fragile in defence. We’ll be looking to pose questions with our attacking structures and hoping they can’t come up with the answers.

“When we are defending they will be difficult to handle. They have some dangerous individuals and defensively we will have to be on our mettle.

“Oldham seem to be a side who believe they will always outscore the opposition, while I think defence is the main thing and that if you get that right you will win a lot more games than you lose.

“They are certainly scoring a lot of points, but they seem to be leaking a few as well. We expect it to be a great game and, as a last-eight tie in a cup competition, it is very important for both clubs.”

Victory on Thursday night will secure a place in the semi-finals of the competition, with last-four ties taking place on the weekend of Sunday, June 21.