WHEN Liam Bent was nine his step father took him to Wigan St Jude’s for his first training session and his love of rugby league began there and then.
Six years on, aged 15, he joined Salford’s under-19s team and that was his early grounding for a rise through the ranks to becoming a full-time member of the first-team squad while still in his teens.
Aged 21, he is one of the Roughyeds’ youngest players, but no longer the ‘baby’ of the outfit given that Titus Gwaze will celebrate his 20th birthday this Saturday, June 8.
Harry Maders and Jamie Greenwood, both aged 20, are also younger than ‘Benty’, whose claim to fame is his amazing wok ethic and the number of tackles he makes in every match. He is a one-man tackling machine, writes JENNY McGRANE, a member of our media team who is doing a brilliant job in her efforts to interview as many players, staff members and fans as she can.
Liam first came to Oldham from Salford on loan. He loved every minute of his time here, so much so that when he got the opportunity to sign permanently he “massively appreciated the contract offer” which, he said, meant a lot to him.
He is now in his second full season at the Roughyeds and the fans love him for his determination in every game.
Off the field and in his own time, Liam likes to do extra training on his own and he goes to the gym whenever he can.
He describes himself as quiet, focused and a person who sometimes thinks too much about things instead of taking them at face value.
Liam has several rugby league heroes, headed by Sam Burgess, Paul Gallen and Micky Mcllorum.
His favourite opponent was Huddersfield Giants hooker Kruise Leeming, whom he played against at under-19s level.
If he had to take a couple of Oldham players for a stay on a desert island it would be Zack McComb, a ‘good laugh to be around’, and Phil Joy who is ‘clever and observant’.
Following a slow start to the season Liam said: “We need to keep improving and going onwards and upwards with everything we do. Relentless”.
Asked where he felt Oldham would finish this season, he said: “Our goal is top spot and that’s what we’re aiming for.”
