Costin salutes young charges

YOUNG GUNS... players in the Oldham Roughyeds scholarship scheme line up behind Phil Costin at the Whitebank Stadium

OLDHAM RL youth-team coach Phil Costin has hailed the efforts of his young charges.

Costin, formerly of Saddleworth Rangers, was appointed by Roughyeds to train the influx of new talent who arrived after the club signed up for the RFL’s Championship Scholarship scheme.

It helps players who have not been offered deals elsewhere to earn a second chance in the sport.

Costin has so far moulded a squad of 21, most of whom were released by Super League sides, and will have his final group of 24 by the start of next month.

He said: “I am delighted with the way in which the players have adapted to their new surroundings.

“They have shown a brilliant attitude and have gelled together extremely well, which is obviously a big boost.

“In a few weeks I will be able to make it a 24-man squad, which is what the RFL require. I am just waiting for a few people to fulfil their amateur commitments, as some of the lads who have trained with us play in the National Premier Division, which is just about to come to an end.

“There are groups within the squad who were at Wigan, Bradford and Salford but everyone is mixing well.”

The scholarship team will get the opportunity to show what they can do in a match environment when they face Keighley academy, with the date yet to be confirmed.

Costin’s team are also lining up summer games against Hunslet, York, Workington and Leigh.