FOLLOWING the extension of Dane Windrow’s loan to the end of the season, Roughyeds can today announce the capture of two more forwards as we look ahead to consecutive away games at North Wales Crusaders and London Skolars, followed by a visit to the Vestacare Stadium of derby rivals Swinton Lions on June 5.
Nyle Flynn (24), a tough forward from Batley Bulldogs, arrives on a season-long loan with a 48-hour call-back clause.
Billy Yarrow, a hooker from Dewsbury Celtic who has already made two Oldham appearances while on trial forms, has now signed on contract to the end of the season.
Said Roughyeds boss Stu Littler:
“We’re on the look-out all the time to see who becomes available. We’ll keep on tweaking the squad until we get it right.
“I’m delighted to welcome Nyle, who had a great season for Batley last year before picking up an injury, from which he is now fighting his way back. Batley needed him to have some game time now he is fully fit again and that’s the only reason they’ve let him come to us.
“As Adrian Flynn’s son, he’s been brought up in the game. He’s got a high work ethic and he can play anywhere in the ‘middles’ from prop to loose-forward.
“Batley want to get him back into their squad, but they know he needs game time first and that’s how and why he has come to us. At Batley, he’s an unsung hero, no mistake about that.”
Turning the spotlight on the scrum-capped Yarrow, Littler said:
“Billy is like a breath of fresh air. His enthusiasm alone is second to none. He came to us from Dewsbury Celtic on trial forms and he has grasped his opportunity with both hands.
“I’m delighted to work with Billy in order to progress the opportunities that lie ahead of him and I’m certainly excited about his prospects and about his future at Oldham.”
While Nyle Flynn was growing up as a boy, his father Adrian, now aged 47, was playing as an outside back for Wakefield, Castleford, Dewsbury, Featherstone and Batley. He was one of rugby league’s best-known players, especially on the Yorkshire circuit.
Nyle, heavier and bigger than his Dad, made 19 appearances as a ‘middle’ for Batley last season, 18 of them in the Championship, including a play-off semi-final at Toulouse.
Over the season, Batley won 13 of their 21 games in the Championship and Flynn played in most of them as the Bulldogs finished fourth behind Toulouse, Featherstone and Halifax.
In a play-off Eliminator, he was at loose-forward in the 23-10 win over Bradford Bulls, but he was in the second-row in the semi-final at Toulouse where the French side, now in Super League, triumphed 51-12 before going on to beat Fev 34-12 in the Million Pound game.
He hasn’t played since then because he damaged his knee ligaments near the end and he has spent the last six months on treatment and rehab.
“I’m fully fit now though, 100 per cent, and I’ll just be glad to get back on the field again,”
said Flynn, who trained with his new teammates last night (Tuesday) and is thought to be in contention to make his game-day comeback against unbeaten league leaders North Wales Crusaders in Colwyn Bay on Saturday (5.30pm).
Tickets for the Cup Final Double-Header
These are available from Roughyeds at the bargain price of £20, down £10 from their face-value asking price of £30.
Club officials are hoping for a faster take-up now the double-header finalists are known – Featherstone Rovers v Leigh Centurions in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, which will then be followed by Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Challenge Cup Final.
This year, both showpiece finals will be played at the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, May 28, the day after Roughyeds take on London Skolars at the New River Stadium in North London on Friday, May 27, kick-off 7pm.
Some Oldham fans have already made arrangements to watch the Roughyeds game and then to stay down there overnight to take in the cup finals at Tottenham on the Saturday.
