Ward happy to sign new Oldham deal

MICHAEL WARD (right) is the latest Oldham player to commit for 2015.

AS the saying goes, it's good to talk: but Michael Ward didn't think so when other clubs wanted to approach the out-of-contract Oldham forward about his plans for next season.

"I decided not to talk to anybody else because Oldham is the club I want to play for,” said the 23-year-old prop, who first put on a Roughyeds jersey as a 16-year-old winger.

Michael is going to be around for a lot longer after becoming the latest member of last season's squad to extend his stay at Whitebank.

Several Oldham men who have already agreed new deals were courted by other clubs - a clear indication that Roughyeds are more than holding their own in the new marketplace.

By re-signing Ward, they have kept hold of a player described by coach Scott Naylor as "one of our best forwards last season.

"We're a 17-man game now and it worked well for us to have a strong bench from which Wardy played a huge and very important role. He's played a lot of first-team rugby now but there's still more to come from him."

Maths teacher Ward, who has played in every position in the pack bar hooker, sees himself as a prop and expects to be used in the front row again next season.

"I don't think I'll be going back to the wing," he quipped, tongue in cheek, then added: "I like to play in the middle and get involved.”