Head coach Sean Long is without two wingers this weekend, but has confirmed that Super League rising star Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e will make his Roughyeds debut at Hunslet.
Buoyed by their biggest home league crowd in 16 years at Easter Sunday’s home thrashing of rivals Rochdale, Oldham head to Hunslet bidding to make it three wins from three at the start of the Betfred League One season.
PLT will make his debut for the club off the bench in South Leeds, but Long has revealed that both wingers Ben O’Keefe and Mo Agoro – who scored his third length-of-the-field try of the season against Rochdale – are sidelined through injury.
“Mo picked up a foot injury and Ben took an injury to the side of the knee, so they are getting scans done then we will find out more,” Long told Roughyeds TV.
“They won’t be playing this week so Jack Johnson comes back in, he was unfortunate to miss out, and Mackenzie Turner too.
“Rochdale was a physical game and the boys were really sore, with a couple of injuries. We have dusted ourselves down and ramped it up since.
“Phoenix is on the bench and he will cover the outside back position, the number 14 position wherever we need.”
Former New Zealand international Elijah Taylor returned to contact training with the rest of the squad on Thursday and, although Hunslet comes too soon, he is expected to be fit for the next home game against Cornwall next weekend.
“Elijah is not far off, we want to give him a couple of weeks training so that he is ready to go,” said Long, who believes his team is improving each week in the early stages of the season.
“We are getting there, I’m still never happy but Rochdale was a really good step in the right direction. We are not getting carried away, we know that if we don’t turn up with the right attitude and drop our standards then we will cop a hiding.
“I’m expecting a physical game from Hunslet. They flew out of the blocks against Keighley, and it is a bit of a narrow pitch so we are going to have to earn the right to play. If we go there with the right standards and mentality I think we will be okay.”
The Oldham boss also paid tribute to the development of the club’s pathway system, with two Year 10 sides winning games against Leeds Rhinos and Halifax at Kirkstall this week.
“It is outstanding to go to Leeds and for the 15’s and 16’s to beat teams in Leeds. They have some quality youth and you know the quality in Oldham but it kind of gets grabbed elsewhere. We want to keep hold of it.”
Tickets for our next home game against Cornwall are on sale now and can be purchased on our ticketing page.
