Shane steps up to the Rangers plate

SADDLEWORTH TASK AWAITS . . . Shane Tupaea.

RUGBY:

SHANE Tupaea has picked up the coaching baton at Saddleworth Rangers following the resignation of Emmerson Jackman and assistant Paul Ashton.

The move followed Rangers’ 52-22 home defeat to Oulton Raiders.

Former Oldham RL player Tupaea (49), a Kiwi who lives in Grotton, has been asked by chairman Shane Wilson to save the club from a second successive relegation, this time from division one of the National Conference League. The Greenfield club sits next to the bottom of the table with three wins from 12 games.

“Emmerson is a real stalwart, every club needs someone like him,” said Tupaea of the former coach.

“I hope I can bring a new outlook.”

After leaving Oldham, Tupaea worked with Phil Larder for two years at Keighley before returning to Rochdale Hornets as a coach.

Since then his business interests have taken precedence over rugby. So why come back now?

As coach of the club’s under-11s side — his son is a member, Tupaea felt he couldn’t refuse the task.

“I am very optimistic by nature,” he said. “As far as skill levels go, by and large, there is a good calibre of player here and a good youth system. But there is no miracle cure. It is one step at a time.”

Chairman Wilson was keen to pay tribute to outgoing coach Jackman’s work: “Emmerson just felt it was the right time for someone else to take the team,” he said. “I would like to thank Emmerson and Paul for everything they have done. They have done a great job with the players available.

“We feel Shane will be able to pick the team up from where Emmerson left off. For someone to come in with 12 games left is better than if there were only four matches remaining.

“Our aim is quite simply to stay up.”