Roughyeds agree deal for Red Devils youngster

Oldham have signed highly-rated teenage centre Edwin Okanga-Ajwang from Salford on a dual-registration agreement.

Okanga-Ajwang, 19, will be on dual-reg for the whole of the 2014 season, but is still available to play for the Red Devils’ senior academy side when not required by the Roughyeds.

Head coach Scott Naylor felt it was too soon to throw him in at the deep end against Hemel last weekend, but there is every chance he will be given his debut when Oldham travel to Cumbria on Saturday to take on Egremont in the third round of the Challenge Cup.

The youngster signed for Salford from Halifax-based amateurs Siddal when he was 17 and has since played for the club’s under-18s and under-20s sides.

In 2013 he made his Super League debut against Bradford and then made a second appearance away at Widnes.

“Salford have high hopes for him and he has come to us so that we can introduce him to regular rugby at the next level,” said Naylor.

“He needs to be playing at a higher level now than under-19s and we can provide him with that opportunity in Championship One.

“We hope he’ll have a good season with us which will help his overall development; a similar agreement to that which saw Jon Ford (now on loan at Sheffield in the Championship) do so well for us last year.

“Edwin started training with us last week. There is every chance he will make his debut in the cup tie.”