DYLAN Turner, of Oldham St Anne’s (pictured), one of the best young forwards in the amateur game, is heading off to Australia to follow a well-trodden path by English players wishing to develop their skills and gain vital experience.
A big prop, 18-year-old Dylan will join Kincumber Colts, a Country Club on the Central Coast of New South Wales with a reputation for producing NRL players, and others who have gone on to become household names in the sport, including his fellow Oldhamers Barrie McDermott and Leo Casey.
The Oldham link is provided by the well-known Deakin family, which has lots of rugby league contacts both here and in Australia,
Turner made 22 appearances last season for the Saints first team, who play in the National Conference, and also played for England Community Lions under-19s which won the European Championship in Italy, beating hot favourites France in the final.
Waterhead’s Scott Parnaby and Callum Murphy also helped England to win that European title, Turner and Parnaby having previously played for the Lions as under-17s and Turner having played for Kincumber Colts as a guest on the Australian team’s tour of France in 2019.
Said Dylan, who has been at St Anne’s since he was six:
“This is a dream come true. I’d like to thank Kincumber for giving me this opportunity and thank St Anne’s and Killan Construction, my employers, for being so understanding.
“Covid stopped a trip to Australia by Saints under-16s, but my move out there next month will be a fantastic experience. Chances like this don’t come round all that often.”
