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by ROGER HALSTEAD LUKE Menzies, Oldham's new on-loan signing from Hull KR, goes straight into action as a substitute in the side to face derby rivals Rochdale Hornets at Boundary Park on Sunday. The 19-year-old prop, described by coach Steve Deakin as "explosive and very much in the Tony Tonks mould" has signed on a month's loan to further develop links between the two clubs based on the friendship and mutual respect of Deaks and Rovers boss Justin Morgan, both of whom used to coach in France. Matty Brooks, now on full contract, first came on loan from Rovers, who also supplied Roughyeds last season with loan men Byron Ford and Gareth Morton. Chairman Bill Quinn said the club was delighted to have landed Menzies and, in a message to supporters, added: "We are continuing to look at the right players at the right time. If all goes according to plan, Luke certainly won't be the last one to join us." Loose-forward Tommy Grundy (back) and centre Craig Littler (leg) are ruled out of Sunday's team by injury and they are replaced in the 17-man squad by Menzies and Marcus St Hilaire, who missed last week's Carneige Challenge Cup win at Swinton because of an ankle injury. Danny Halliwell switches from second-row to right-centre in place of Littler and, in a reshaped back-row, captain Robert Roberts goes from second-row to loose-forward with Adam Robinson partnering Tommy Goulden in the second-row. Paul O'Connor keeps his place at full-back, after a good game at Sedgley Park last week, and St Hilaire forms a new-look bench with Said Tamghart, Menzies and Simeon Hoyle. Team: O'Connor; Langley, Halliwell, Nanyn, Onyango; Roden, Coyle; Boults, Joseph, Mervill, Goulden, Robinson, Roberts. Subs: Tamghart, Menzies, Hoyle, St Hilaire. News of the Menzies move was broken on Hull KR's website last night, reported on Teletext, and announced officially by Oldham this morning once all the paper work had been completed, thus sticking to club policy on these matters. It was reported on the Rovers website: "The promising youngster has joined Roughyeds on a one-month loan basis with the aim to gain regular first-team experience, and is set to face Rochdale Hornets this Sunday. "Joining Hull KR from Batley at the beginning of the season, the prop made his debut for the Robins against Castleford on March 15 and fans witnessed the raw talent Luke possesses. "Hull KR head coach Justin Morgan said: 'This is a good opportunity for Luke. He will greatly benefit from regular first-team action and I will be monitoring hsi progress closely during his one-month loan period.'" Deaks said today: "We have a young, explosive prop who is very much in the Tony Tonks mould. He has played twice for Hull KR, plus the pre-season friendlies. We actually chased him last year and we thought we had him, but he went to Batley, played in last year's TV game against Dewsbury and stayed for the rest of the season. "His performances alerted Hull KR and, under the terms of his agreement with Batley, he was able to move to a Super League club. He is a strong kid who is massively explosive. I'm sure fans will soon be comparing him with Tony Tonks. He is fans-favourite material. "His capture gives us more overall strength, provides us with more options and, for instance, allows Adam Robinson to return to what he believes is his best position, second-row. In turn this frees up Danny Halliwell to return to his favourite position in the centre. "As far as the full-back role is concerned I have to be loyal to performance. Paul O'Conor had a good game at Swinton and keeps his No 1 spot, but we have Junior (Marcus St Hilaire) on the bench and he can play full-back, centre or wing, providing options for Halliwell to revert back to second-row if the need arises. "We have a solid bench which provides options and we are going into the game pretty fresh." There is no place in the squad for the three senior players who played for the Reserves against Rochdale last night -- Chris Baines, Ian Hodson and Lee Wingfield -- but Deaks watched the game and he was pleased with what they produced. "Lee Wingfield did some strong running, particularly in his second spell, and both Chris Baines and Ian Hodson came through well, too." Speaking in general terms about the reserve team's performance Deaks said he was well pleased with what they produced, adding that in terms of skill, structure and team understanding he felt they were ahead of Rochdale despite being younger, less experienced and "perhaps not as strong". |
