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by ROGER HALSTEAD
OLDHAM new boy Luke Menzies might not be the only front-row debutant
on view in tomorrow's (Sunday) derby clash with Rochdale Hornets at
Boundary Park.
The 19-year-old Yorkshire lad, who has joined Oldham on a month's
loan from Hull KR, will be given his debut off the bench, while
Hornets could make a similar move after signing the Sheffield Eagles
front-rower Yusuf Sozi, formerly with London Broncos (as it was
then), York, Gateshead and Doncaster.
Hornets boss Bobbie Goulding told the Rochdale Observer that
26-year-old Yusuf was itching to have a go and added: "He is a big,
explosive prop who scores lots of tries from close range. He played
for the NL2 side against New Zealand a couple of years ago. We need
to work on his fitness, but he will be a great addition to the squad
now that John Cookson has been recalled by Leigh."
Given that Goulding's rival boss Steve Deakin similarly described
his new boy, Menzies, as "explosive" there should be a few big bangs
at Boundary Park tomorrow if both Menzies and Sozi take the field.
The Observer tells us that "nothing would give Bobbie Goulding and
his men, not forgetting the fans, greater pleasure than to return
from Fortress Oldham with a win under their belts, and the Hornets
coach is quietly confident this can be achieved."
Goulding is then quoted as follows: "If our pack goes well I think
we are a match for anyone in our division. I think we have one of
the best back-rows in NL2 in Paul Alcock, Ian Sinfield, Wayne
Corcoran, Carl Hughes and Craig Farrimond.
"We also have six prop-fowards who can be devastating, plus Dave
Cunliffe as a utility player, so we are getting there. This is a
game we aim to win. We are going to go out and get stuck straight
in. We know what Oldham do, they know what we do, and it's really
about who performs on the day and who wants it most.
"If we play like we did against Hull we can be a match for anybody.
The lads are up for it. We are going to give it a right go. It's
important we get off to a good start and maintain it. We have to
play for the full 80 minutes. If we can do that we will be fine."
Goulding, who is in hot water with the Rugby Football League for
allegedly speaking out of turn to a touchjudge in the cup tie
against Hull last week, has also strengthened his squad recently
with the additions of John Hill from Leigh and Carl Hughes from
Featherstone.
The Hornets boss was shown the red card by referee Michael Dawber
after reacting to an incident involving Hornets forward Dave Newton
and Hull's Danny Tickle.
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