Oldham sign young Huddersfield centre

Oldham have signed local lad Jake Shoel, a centre, from Huddersfield.

Shoel, 19, spent a year on scholarship at St Helens before moving to the Giants at the age of 16, spending three years at the John Smith’s Stadium.

He said: “I’m looking forward to a new start with Oldham and to the challenges that lie ahead in Championship One.

“I had a great three years at Huddersfield, but now it’s time to move on in a different direction and I’m pleased to be joining my hometown club and one which seems to put a lot of faith in younger players.”

A key factor in Shoel’s arrival at Whitebank was Oldham boss Scott Naylor’s trust in Huddersfield head coach Paul Anderson‘s recommendation.

Anderson and Naylor were Bradford Bulls team mates for years and it was to Anderson that Naylor turned first when it became known that Shoel was available.

“Paul spoke highly of the boy, and so did another senior member of the Giants coaching staff, Kieron Purtill,” said Naylor.

“We also did more intelligence work on him and no matter which way we turned we always got the right answers from people who should know.

“He seems to tick all the right boxes. He’s young, aggressive, willing to learn and an Oldham lad, and that always helps.”