AS Oldham prepare for Sunday’s clash with unbeaten Championship leaders Toulouse Olympique of France at Bower Fold (3pm kick-off), the club’s medical team is working hard on several players who were injured in last week’s bruiser against Sheffield Eagles.
New boys Fenton Rogers (concussion) and Brad Jinks (shoulder) will be assessed at training tonight (Wed) as well as half-back James Barran, who suffered a knee injury in a tackle when Roughyeds were pressing hard for an equalising try and goal late in the second half.
After the game, which ended in a 25-18 loss after a late drop goal saw Sheffield safely home, Barran was hobbling around on crutches.
Danny Bridge, who didn’t play at The Keepmoat Stadium because he was unwell, will also be checked out.
Neither prop Rogers, only 18 and on loan from Huddersfield Giants, nor hooker Jinks (20), on trial from Waterhead after four years at Castleford Tigers, looked out of place in a fierce and physically demanding battle against bigger opponents.
Brian McDermott has since heaped praise on the squad for its commitment, work ethic and honesty, while stressing that ball retention and set completion still leave a lot to be desired.
Experienced prop Liam Kirk will be out for three weeks after taking a series of head knocks and play-anywhere on-loan back Lloyd Roby has had to go back to his parent club, Widnes Vikings, because of player shortages there.
There is better news, however, on Jack Spencer, who hasn’t played since May because of a hip/back problem. The results of a scan indicate he doesn’t need surgery and that he could be involved in the run-in to the end of the season with the use of cortisone injections.
Happily, it’s another prop who is stealing all the current limelight, his powerful and abrasive running causing defences to put two or three defenders on him at every opportunity.
Tyler Dupree, only 21, has scored at least one try in each of the Roughyeds last SIX outings and his total of nine tries in 13 appearances this year, most of them off the bench, have placed him within striking distance of a club record.
Since the formation of Oldham RLFC only one of its props has scored more than nine tries in a season and that was former Roughyed Michael Ward, who totalled ten in 2015 and 2017.
The French table-toppers are involved in a rugby league renaissance across the Channel, which sees both Olympique and Catalans Dragons heading their respective divisions and leading the move to take the 2025 World Cup to the country where it all began in 1954 — France.
Dupree, meanwhile, will be out to continue his habit of scoring tries.
Under-16s go free to this one, while adults from community clubs or other organisations can go for £10 if they contact the club as soon as possible on 07904 898177 or by email to: enquiries@roughyeds.co.uk
Fans can sit or stand for £12 if they pay online before midnight on Saturday. Turnstiles will be open on Sunday, but normal match prices will apply.
