Home’s where the heart is for Gareth

GARETH OWEN . . . signed a new one-year deal with Oldham.

OLDHAM have signed dummy-half Gareth Owen for another year

Lauding his player as a “class-act”, head coach Scott Naylor said: “He’s a very intelligent player who usually opts for the right play at the right time. I’m delighted he has signed again and I’m looking forward to seeing him play in the higher division.

“He came to us from a Super League background at Salford and he was one of the players we targeted when we were looking for additional quality to give us that little bit more we needed to carry us to promotion.

“No doubt about it, along with the other two hookers he was one of the reasons we were able to celebrate promotion.”

One of the tactics that fooled opponents as Oldham swept to promotion last season was the strategic use of three separate dummy-half specialists in nearly every game.

Defences would get the measure of Gareth Owen when on would come Kenny Hughes, to be followed by Adam Files — each initiating attacks with different styles and techniques.

Owen would then rest on the bench and come back out as an old-fashioned, play-making loose-forward as Roughyeds slipped into creative mode later in the game to ruthlessly expose tiring defences.

Having completed his first full season at Whitebank, Oldham-born Owen had no hesitation in re-signing.

He said: “I’m looking forward to having a crack at the Championship and giving it our best shot.

“Winning every week in League One was great, but individually and collectively we need to move on now and challenge ourselves. I just want what’s best for the club. I’m an Oldham lad and I’ve supported the club all my life and now I’m playing for Roughyeds I’ve never enjoyed my rugby so much.”