Hewitt salutes ideal move

BIG CHANCE: new Oldham RL loan signing David Hewitt.

ST HELENS youngster David Hewitt has described his move to Oldham on loan as a “brilliant opportunity” to further his career.

The 19-year-old former England Schools and England Academy stand-off has signed for a month, with the option to extend the contract to the full season.

His long-term ambition is to play Super League with Saints, who signed him from local amateurs Bold Miners when he was 16. He believes a stint in League One will be a stepping stone in that direction.

Said Hewitt: “I’m hoping to prove myself at that level and I can’t wait to get started. Oldham came in for me at the start of the year, but Saints back then didn't think it was the right time for me to go.

“It’s good Oldham have given me a second chance.- It will be a brilliant opportunity for me to get first-team experience. A few people whose opinions I respect have told me that joining Oldham will be a good move for me.”

Hewitt trained with Roughyeds for the first time last Thursday and was named in the provisional 19-man squad for the Oxford game.

Born in St Helens, Bold was part of the junior set-up at Knowsley Road from the age of 11 and became an under-15s and under-16s scholar before accepting part-time terms when he was 16.

Hewitt twice played for England Schoolboys in France and last season was England's stand-off in an Academy (under-19s) international against France at Castleford.

He said the biggest influence on his career up to now was his coach for three years at Bold Miners, Mark Saunders.

Saunders is now a Wigan Warriors’ scout with Jack Roden, father of former Oldham half-back Neil, and ex-Roughyeds scout John Jackson, who was at Whitebank on Sunday to watch the Oxford game.

Added Hewitt: “Mark converted me from a full-back to a half-back.

“He guided me through the process over a long period of time. He was a massive influence.”