Shoel’s delight at home-club link

OLDHAM RL Club have made their fifth new signing of the close season with the capture of local boy Jake Shoel, a young centre from Huddersfield Giants.

The 19 year old is the third of the five newcomers from Oldham, having played all his junior rugby at Waterhead before attracting the attention of Super League clubs.

He spent a year on scholarship at St Helens and then, aged 16, signed a three-year deal with Huddersfield. Having been released by the Giants at the end of last season, he has signed a one-year contract with Oldham.

Like many of his new Whitebank team mates, he is keen to show there is life outside Super League.

Jake was a regular town-team player in his Waterhead days, progressing to county honours at under-15 level.

Super League clubs were soon knocking on the door of his home in Royton and for the last four years he has progressed at that elite level, spending most of the time gaining experience in Huddersfield's under-18s side and later in the reserves.

Like many young players with Super League clubs, he was a victim of RFL restructuring below first-team level.

After release he is ready to start afresh in Oldham as a part-time rugby pro and a full-time apprentice tiler.

"I'm looking forward to a new start with Oldham and to the challenges that lie ahead," said Shoel, who will have his first training run with his new team-mates tonight.