New Roughyeds deal for Wayne

WAYNE KERR: Finished last season strongly for the Roughyeds.

IRISH international prop forward Wayne Kerr will bid to pick up where he left off for the Roughyeds next season.

The 25-year-old Dubliner has signed a one-year deal to stay on at the club after ending an in-and-out season as a regular starter in Tony Benson’s side.

Kerr signed off the 2009 season in style, racing home for a long-distance try in the agonising 28-26 play-off final defeat to Keighley which kept the Roughyeds in contention right up until the final hooter.

And further big things are now expected from the former London Skolars man, who went to the World Cup in Australia as a member of the Ireland squad in 2008.

“He has a terrific turn of pace for a prop,” said Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton. “And he’s pretty good too at putting in big hits and making the hard yards.

“It was Wayne’s first year with us in 2009 and I think he will be the first to admit that he learned a lot.

“We expect to see further improvement from him this time round, and I am sure we will see exactly that.”

Only four players — Chris Baines, Paul O’Connor, Jamie I’Anson and Thomas Coyle — made more appearances in Oldham colours than Kerr’s 24 last season, though the first 14 of those were off the bench as an impact forward.

It wasn’t until the infamous Dewsbury crisis at the end of July, when the club was forced to field a team without the newly-departed Dave Allen, James Coyle, Andy Ballard and Danny Halliwell, that Kerr was chosen to start.

Kerr kept hold of his shirt for the final 10 matches of the season, including play-off victories over Swinton, Hunslet and York and the Keighley play-off final at Warrington in October.

He and Ben Mellor are the only specialist prop forwards in the Oldham squad for next season.

However, Craig Robinson can double up as both a front row and second row man if necessary.