Hobson makes Oldham move

James Gordon

Back-rower Mark Hobson has become the second player this week to swap Rochdale for Oldham.

Hobson, 25, follows winger Dale Bloomfield from Spotland to Whitebank after receiving a call from Roughyeds coach Scott Naylor, his former coach at Salford City Reds.

Hobson said: “I was talking to Rochdale about another deal, but after nearly four years there I was ready for a change. I knew Scott had taken over at Oldham and I was thinking about ringing him when, out of the blue, he contacted me.

“I know what Scott Naylor is about and the prospect of working for him again was a real pull. 

“He was my coach in my senior academy days at Salford and he taught me a lot. I made a lot of progress in a very short time and that was due to his clinical approach to the game.

“You know where you stand with him. He’s a no-nonsense boss and he’s very good at identifying a player’s weaknesses and quickly putting them right.

“He will make sure there is a lot of competition for places. Everybody will be keen to impress. I can’t wait.”

Hobson signed for Salford from amateurs Leigh East as a 16-year-old and worked his way through the academy system at The Willows, before going to Workington and then on to Rochdale.

Outside rugby, Hobson works on commercial sales for Volkswagen in Trafford Park.

He becomes Oldham’s third new signing after Bloomfield and 21-year-old second-rower or centre Josh Crowley from Widnes.