OLDHAM have today (Tuesday, April 10) announced the signings on a month’s loan of two young players from Wakefield Trinity, Luke Hooley and Lee Kershaw.
Luke (19), a goalkicking full-back, is no stranger to the Roughyeds, or the fans, having played six Championship Shield games on loan for Scott Naylor’s men at the end of last season.
Lee (18), a winger, has been at Trinity since he was 15 after previously playing age-group rugby union for West Yorkshire and then amateur rugby league with Keighley Albion and Eastmoor Dragons.
Both teenagers are full-time professionals at Trinity and are named in the Betfred Super League club’s first-team squad.
They start training with Oldham on Thursday and both will be in contention for Sunday’s home game against Keighley Cougars at the Vestacare Stadium and available for the following Sunday’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fifth-round tie against Hull KR at Bower Fold, Stalybridge.
Said Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton:
“We welcome both Luke and Lee to Oldham and we are looking forward to having them with us.
“We know Luke well, of course, because of the time he spent with us towards the end of last season. He will be an excellent addition to the squad, as he was last year.
“Lee is a strong-running winger, highly rated by Wakefield, and we are looking forward to seeing him in action at League 1 level.”
Hooley played in six of Oldham’s seven Championship Shield games at the back end of last season, kicking 18 goals (from 21 attempts) and scoring a match-winning try at Rochdale after following David Hewitt and taking the scrum-half’s final pass.
In his six outings for Oldham he was twice named Roughyeds’ man of the match by League Express — in a 22-22 draw at Batley Bulldogs and in a 24-18 defeat by Toulouse Olympique at Bower Fold.
“I really enjoyed my time at Oldham. It was great experience for me and it’s good to be back,” said Hooley. “I’m really looking forward to playing some regular rugby again, week in and week out.”
Said Kershaw:
“I’m still eligible for the under-19s, but playing open-age rugby against men will be a new challenge. I’m looking forward to it.”
