Multi-tasking the Roughyeds way

Liam Thompson: cracking season

A KEY factor in Oldham’s remarkable surge to the top of Kingstone Press League One is Scott Naylor’s knack of getting players to adapt to different roles in the side.

He has a relatively small group of players, but his rotation plan works well, dovetailing his policy of encouraging players to recognise the benefits of multi-tasking. Nobody does that better than versatile vice-captain Sammy Gee, but he isn’t the only one.

Liam Thompson, a back-row man all his career, is having a cracking season in which he often plays at prop, where he is looking increasingly confident and competent.

Jack Holmes, currently sidelined by injury, played at full-back, stand-off and centre before he made the left-wing spot his own.

Gareth Owen invariably starts each match as dummy half, but usually returns for a second spell to fill a midfield role.

One could go on: Richard Lepori returned principally as a full-back, but was soon switched to wing to replace the injured Adam Clay. On the other flank, Jon Ford moved out to wing to allow for the return of Tom Ashton.

The loss of Clay, Holmes and Steven Nield and the departure of Nathan Mason and dual-reg players from Huddersfield Giants, seems to indicate that Naylor’s skill in successfully making maximum use of his squad will continue at Newcastle Thunder on Sunday - and on to the end of the season.

Will Hope, a big forward who was signed on deadline day, is still waiting for his first game in the Oldham jersey. At half-back, the hugely experienced Steve Roper was given a rest at Hemel to make way for loan teenager David Hewitt. Hewitt grabbed his chance with both hands, as did 19-year-old loan man Elliott Liku.

Hewitt and Liku are finding their feet at this level: it will be intriguing to see if the Oldham coach considers it appropriate to throw them in at the deep end,. as offered by Stanley Gene’s side in the North-East.