Oldham sign Salford youngster Bent

Oldham Roughyeds have brought in Liam Bent from Salford Red Devils for the 2018 season.

The 20-year-old made 17 appearances for the Roughyeds on loan from the Red Devils last term and has recently been released by the Super League club.

Bent has now signed a one-year deal as he aims to help Oldham gain promotion back to the Championship.

And the back-rower admitted that he was down to not get a new deal with Salford but is excited to get going at Oldham.

He said: “I definitely benefited from my time at Oldham last season and I loved every minute of it. I was really pleased when they came in for me to make me one of their own.

“They gave me opportunities last season and looked after me while I was there, so I was delighted to return the favour and show a bit of loyalty.

“I can’t wait to get going now. We return to training tonight, but I’ve been doing a bit on my own for a few weeks.”

And Roughyeds head coach Scott Naylor revealed that he was delighted to have secured the services of Bent for next season.

He said: “When Salford released him, we were anxious to sign him before anybody else did.

“He showed in his 17 games for us last season that he was more than capable at Championship level, and he was only 19.

“He is extremely professional in everything he does, he’s unbelievable in training and he’s meticulous in things like looking after himself and getting the right diet.

“He’s one of the nicest lads you could ever wish to meet and when you put him on a rugby field, you know he’ll give everything he has got.

“He’s a perfect match for the sort of squad we’re building here.”