MIKE Ford has confirmed that new-signing Jamie Ellis will not play against Cornwall away on Sunday because of the hamstring injury he received in one of his first training sessions at Oldham.
“No chance,” said Ford when asked about Ellis’s prospects for the long haul to Penryn, which will start on Saturday and involve an overnight stay, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.
Ellis (33), signed on a deal to the end of next season, from York City Knights, has played for St Helens, Hull, Leigh, Huddersfield, Castleford and Hull KR.
He was due to make his Oldham debut at Hunslet, but he had to be withdrawn after damaging a hamstring in training, resulting in Kian Morgan’s switch to half-back from centre to partner club skipper Martyn Ridyard in the side’s spine.
With Jordan Paga still suspended, Ellis not yet ready and Lewis Sheridan injured against his former club, Rochdale Hornets, in pre-season (Law Cup), unlucky Roughyeds have brought in Wigan youngster Kieran Tyrer on loan to the end of the season and it remains to be seen what change, if anything, Ford might make at half-back for this one.
Talking of Ellis, who has made more than 130 Super League appearances, Ford said:
“You can’t be too careful with hamstring injuries. They are delicate parts of our anatomy. Jamie needs more time. We won’t be taking short cuts or taking chances.”
With 1,217 career points, Jamie is also an accomplished goal-kicker, but Oldham fans will have to wait a little longer to see him in action.
Elsewhere in the backs, Joe Hartley is back at Oldham after going to London Skolars on a two-week loan (didn’t play); Andy Gabriel has been recalled by Dewsbury and Patrick Ah Van is due back for Oldham after being unavailable at Hunslet due to an arrangement the club had known about well in advance.
It’s signing deadline day today (Thursday) so that might have had a bearing on Gabriel’s return.
The rules also change on dual-reg. The only players we can use now this season on DR are those who have already played six games for us. Young Wigan prop Harvey Wilson, Ken’s grandson, has done seven, so he’s okay, but he’sthe only one and even he is not available this weekend because he’s playing for Wigan reserves.
Tyrer had only done four so he would not have been allowed to come to us on DR. By signing him on loan 48 hours before the deadline, we were able to get him.
In the forwards we’ll be without Luke Nelmes, who was sin-binned near the end of the Hunslet game for striking (grade C) and later given a one-match ban.
Deane Meadows was also sin-binned — for a professional foul — and Oldham were briefly down to 11 men, but no further action was taken against Meadows, so he is available for selection.
