JOHNNY Openshaw is out with a knee injury, but hard-working loose-forward Emmerson Whittel, who also went off injured at Swinton, is included in Stu Littler’s 21-man squad for the crucial game at the Vestacare Stadium tomorrow (Sunday).
Eighty minutes of hugely competitive rugby league will determine whether the fifth and final play-off spot goes to Oldham or Hunslet.
With Openshaw out and Sean Slater suspended for two games, Roughyeds include their latest young loan signing from Wigan Warriors, 18-year-old hooker Lewis Pinder, a Welsh boy from Wrexham originally.
Squad: Butterworth, Cameron, Cooke, Copland, Coventry, Ferry, Field, Hartley, Hewitt, Holcroft, Morgan, Muranka, Nelmes, Newton, Pinder, Restall, Ridyard, Spencer, Thornton, Whittel, Yarrow.
Hunslet: Render, Mossop, Hallas, Whiteley, Jordan-Roberts, Summers, Syme, O’Hanlon, Paga, Carr, Moran, Hallett, Doyle, Walker Jones, Beharell, Hird, Oakley, Greenwood, Stroud, Milthorpe.
Both teams have their injury problems, Hunslet missing Waye Reittie, Ross Peltier, Duane Straughier, Jimmy Watson and Cam Berry,
To us, best-known of the Hunslet players are hooker Jamie Greenwood, who played for us three years ago; forward Josh Jordan-Roberts, whose dad, Robert Roberts (Two Bobs) was our captain many moons ago; veteran centre Jason Mossop, once of Whitehaven and Workington; and half-back Matty Beharrell, formerly of Dewsbury, Doncaster and Newcastle Thunder.
A relative unknown, but an exciting young player nevertheless, is injured Jimmy Watson’s full-back replacement, namely Jordan Paga, a 20-year-old former England Colleges captain, who played for Halifax ERA (Elite Rugby Academy), Huddersfield Giants Reserves and Coventry before joining Hunslet on a one-year deal.
Hunslet coach Alan ‘Killer’ Kilshaw, formerly of Rochdale Hornets, said:
“Matches like this are what we all work towards and look forward to throughout the year.”
