Lovin’ it at Oldham

RICHARD Lepori

RICHARD Lepori has signed a new one-year contract at Oldham, confident that newly-promoted Roughyeds will hold their own in the Championship.

Capped five times by Italy, the Chorley-based full-back starred for Scott Naylor’s men in 2013, but then signed for a small club in northern Queensland.

On his return early this year he signed for Whitehaven but didn’t settle, and eventually arrived back at Whitebank, to Naylor’s delight, on a deal to the end of the season.

The 23 year old played in seven of the last nine games of the season, missing only those games that clashed with international duties.

“I’ve always loved playing for Oldham and I’m chuffed to know I’ll be back next season,” said the trainee teacher, who is 24 next week.

“I know I didn’t set the place alight at the back end of last season, but I gradually got my confidence back.

“Pre-season work will do me a world of good, and I’m quietly confident we’ll do okay in the championship. There are two groupsin the championship — full-time clubs and part-timers. We’ll have to pick up as many points as possible against the other part-time clubs and see where it takes us.”

“We’ll be leaping into the unknown, but it’s an exciting prospect.”

Head coach Naylor said: “He wanted to do the Aussie thing in 2013 and I could understand the reasons for that. He was young and single, so why not? I always wanted him back though, because he’s a very good player and a fantastic lad to have around the place.”