Milner signing another major boost

THE signing by Oldham of former Super League giant Adam Milner, following that of Gil Dudson, is further proof that the Roughyeds Revolution is well and truly under way.

Fans already know that Milner (32) is here, but I wonder if they recall that this Wakefield-born play-anywhere forward played more games for Castleford in the Super League era than everybody other than Michael Shenton and Nathan Massey.

Fans voted him their player of the match in the televised 2017 play-off semi-final golden-point win against St Helens.

He played in the Old Trafford Grand Final, too, and a year or two later he made it an Old Trafford and a Wembley double when he was on the Cas bench in the 2021 Challenge Cup Final against Saints.

In total he played more than 300 games for Cas, mainly under Daryl Powell, and in 2018 England called when he played against France and twice against New Zealand.

His reference on Roughyeds TV to his friendship with Matty Wildie was interesting but not as relevant as Sean Long’s hugely positive comments and his view of Milner as a “great leader” and his capture as “a massive coup”

Arriving here via Huddersfield Giants, his only other club, Milner was a Cas ever-present in 2016 when he was named directors’ player of the year and came second in the choice of overall player of the year – clearly a player who knows his onions, who knows the meaning of hard work and who will further enhance our exciting prospects in the Championship.

This brings me on to the social media message from Dave Thomas which has caused quite a stir on Facebook and which is worthy of some comment. To paraphrase, Dave is saying the current management has done a top job since taking over and does not deserve negativity in messages from supporters.

Most fans back Dave, some think otherwise. What do I think ? Well, fans have different views and are entitled to express those views, but facts speak for themselves and the fact is that current management has changed the club from top to bottom in less than two years and is still signing quality players like Gil Dudson and Adam Milner as we look forward to life in the Championship with eager anticipation.

Furthermore, might I add that if this is the Dave Thomas I think it is, living in Moorside, Roughyeds-mad and a “big shot” in the YEDS Supporters’ Group, we have here views that deserve to be taken on board.

Our Dave is no fool. He is honest, he calls a spade a spade, he speaks his mind (good or bad) and if Dave Thomas has something to say, only an idiot would dismiss the content.

In brief, Dave goes through all that has been achieved in recent times, says promises have been kept, advances made on and off the field, and poses the question: Have they made mistakes?

He concludes: “Yes, they have because they’re human like the rest of us. Let’s put these glitches into perspective and get behind the club. The new directors are doing their best to accommodate ALL fans and to provide us with a club we can be proud of!”

You can say that again!

Actually, I wouldn’t expect Dave Thomas to say anything else. As I say, when he speaks you listen.

Looking at things other than Roughyeds, Midlands Hurricanes have lost interest in the League One play-offs, leaving Keighley, Rochdale and Hunslet still in it with a shout.

This coming Sunday, September 29, Hornets play Hunslet at the Crown Oil Arena with the winners going to Keighley on October 6.

October 13 sees the team finishing 12th in the Championship at home to the Betfred League One play-off winners to determine which team plays in the Championship.

It isn’t something that directly affects Roughyeds because we are in the Championship for certain – and the fact that we have already announced the signings of Dudson and Milner, with more big-name signings to come, clearly indicates that we mean business in tier two.

Nominations for individual 2024 League One awards also reflect our domination of that league with Danny Craven and young PLT put forward as two of three in the player-of-the-year category; Sean Long put forward with Mark Dunning (Midlands) and Dean Muir (Hunslet) as a possible for coach-of-the-year; and PLT, a sizzler with natural pace and sensational footwork, also in the frame for Young Player of the Year. Winners will be named at the League dinner in Leeds shortly.

Nearer to home, our very own player of the year will be announced tonight (Friday) at a glittering £60-a-head awards dinner at Smokies. Half-back Danny Craven is sure to be there or thereabouts, and understandably so, but my personal choice would be a guy in our engine room, a worker, a grafter, a middle, an unsung hero, call him what you will.

You need the PLTs, of this world and players like Ben O’Keefe, Logan Astley, Jumah Sambou, Mo Agoro. Cian Tyrer and Kieran Dixon for their razzle-dazzle and their ability to put bums on seats or to lift them out of them, but all that entertainment stuff would count for nothing if it wasn’t for the lads who did the hard yards week in and week out.

It’s tough and demanding all over a rugby league pitch, but nowhere quite like close proximity to the ruck. That’s where the battle is most fierce; that’s where it hurts; that’s where you toil the hardest for least reward in terms of plaudits from the terraces; and that’s why I nominate Owen Farnworth as our outstanding player in a year that will always be talked about.

I give you 2024 – the year the sleeping giant turned over, stirred and announced it was back on the march to better and more rewarding things.