Performances are what it's about

HE'S THE NUMBER ONE . . . Oldham flyer Scott Turner (left)

SCOTT Turner will wear Oldham RL Club's No 1 shirt in the coming season, adding popular weight to the notion that the former North Wales Crusaders' winger will be departed Richard Lepori's successor at full-back.

Turner played the odd game at full-back while on loan with the Roughyeds towards the end of last season and he was there again in the friendly at Swinton last week at the start of his first full year as a contracted Oldham player.

But what's in a number?

When asked if allocated digits on shirts provided any sort of clue as to the selection process, coach Scott Naylor said they were totally irrelevant in terms of position and pecking order.

Roughyeds will be numbered like this: Scott Turner 1, Adam Clay 2, George Tyson 3, Nathan Chappell 4, Jamel Chisholm 5, Scott Leatherbarrow 6, David Hewitt 7, Phil Joy 8, Sammy Gee 9, Adam Neal 10, Jack Spencer 11, Danny Langtree 12, Liam Thompson 13, Ben Davies 18, Joe Burke 19, Gareth Owen 20, Kenny Hughes 21, Danny Grimshaw 22, Craig Briscoe 23, Michael Ward 24, Keiran Gill 25.

Said Naylor: "When squad numbering was first introduced, a lot was made of the perceived significance of shirt allocation, but those days are long gone.

"I don't pick a player because of the number on his shirt; I pick a team I consider to be the strongest for any specific match.

"In my playing days at Bradford I was No 20, but I was always in the team. Some members of the current Oldham squad have had the same number since we first started together on our Roughyeds journey four years ago.

"It isn't numbers that count, it's performances."

A £180 JACKPOT will be up for grabs when ORSA (Oldham Roughyeds Supporters Association) stage a joint quiz night with Higginshaw ARLFC next Thursday, January 19 (8pm), at the amateur club's HQ, St Stephen's Street, Oldham. Entry is £1, maximum of six in a team.

Three days later, on Sunday, January 22, ORSA are putting on a pre-match buffet at Bower Fold, with full hospitality, ahead of the Law Cup derby clash with Rochdale Hornets. Tickets, priced £25, include main-stand seat at an all-pay game plus pre and post-match interviews and player presentations.

Ring Paul Hulbert (07534329674) or John McAndrew (07980129541).