McNally bolsters promotion drive

MAC ATTACK . . . Gregg McNally in celebratory mood with his Oldham team-mates.

GREGG McNally is back at Oldham Rugby League Club as the Roughyeds' prepare for the season’s run-in which they hope will end in promotion.

The young Huddersfield Giants ace recently completed an impressive one-month loan spell at the Whitebank Stadium, after which he rejoined Giants in line with the initial agreement between the clubs.

Roughyeds, however, always hoped to bring the teenager back for a longer stay and the clubs have since struck a new loan deal in which the goalkicking half-back will spend the rest of the season at Oldham.

McNally (19) said after the fourth and final game of his first spell here that he would like to come back.

And his hopes were realised last night when Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton successfully concluded talks with the Giants for McNally to assist Oldham in their promotion quest, either automatically by finishing top of Championship One or via the play-offs.

"This is another statement of our intent," said Hamilton. "Gregg showed what a good player he is during his month here when he became increasingly influential.

"Over the course of the next few weeks, during the run-in, we are going to need a lot of players and to have Gregg available to us will be a huge plus.

"My thanks go to Huddersfield Giants for their help and co-operation in making this possible.

“Hopefully, it will be a move that will work out satisfactorily for all concerned."

Coach Tony Benson said Roughyeds now had three of the best half-backs in the division in long-serving Neil Roden, Kiwi Matty Ashe and McNally.

He said: “I am happy to have Gregg back as part of a squad that is looking forward to big challenges ahead.

"With three of the best halves in the division here there will be stiff competition for places, but that will apply throughout the team, not just at half-back."

Roughyeds return to action against bottom-club Gateshead Thunder on Tyneside on Sunday, but before that the reserves are at home to Dewsbury Rams on Friday at Whitebank (kick-off 7.30pm).