Jake’s the centre of attention

TEENAGER Jake Bibby hopes his loan with Oldham will be a stepping stone to a regular spot in Salford’s Super League side.

The Wigan-born centre doesn’t leave his teens behind until the summer, so is the baby of the Roughyeds’ outfit, giving senior citizen Danny Grimshaw a good ten years.

A full-time pro and a member of the Red Devils’ senior squad, Bibby is contracted to the end of the 2017 season. He’s with Oldham initially for a month, so will want to hit the ground running on Sunday against Dewsbury.

He trained with his new team-mates for the first time last night, but if coach Scott Naylor sticks with his usual routine, the new boy won’t know until tomorrow whether he will be making his debut.

Jake has played second-row and on the wing, but his preferred position is centre where he has mostly played since he joined Salford as a 15 year old.

It would appear Naylor will be picking his wingers and centres from the four who played at Leigh: Adam Clay, Tom Ashton, Jack Holmes and Jamel Chisholm – plus Jon Ford and Bibby.

Jake said: “I’m on the edge of the first team at Salford and waiting for my chance, but I need game time and that’s why I’ve come out to Oldham.

“The coach was happy for me to come: Oldham’s a good club, he said, where I would be well looked after. The experience of playing for Oldham in the Championship should stand me in good stead. I’m looking forward to it.”