Workington Town will be facing up to a former Super League player on Sunday following his switch to Newcastle Thunder.
Town’s visit to Newcastle has coincided with Rugby League legend Denis Betts taking temporary charge of the team following the departure of head coach Eamon O’Carroll.
Now they have landed something of a coup by signing Ireland international Oliver Roberts after his release by Huddersfield Giants.
A back-row forward, Roberts has agreed terms with Newcastle Thunder that will see him play at the North East club until the end of the 2024 season and he is eligible to make his Thunder bow at home this weekend against Town.
A strong carrier and off-loader, Roberts is keen to become one of Thunder’s on-field generals and drive his team around the park.
A product of the Bradford Bulls Academy, which he joined at under-15s level, he earned his first three-year professional contact at Odsal ahead of the 2013 season.
After two years at the club, he secured a switch to the Giants for whom he has made 96 appearances in all competitions including three starts during the 2022 campaign.
With a total of 111 top-flight matches worth of experience, Roberts has also earned nine caps for Ireland since making his debut in the 2015 European Cup against France.
He featured in all three of the Wolfhounds group games at the 2017 World Cup and could represent them again at this autumn’s tournament in England.
Lining up with his new teammates for the first time in training on Monday, Roberts is looking forward to getting started at his new club.
He said: “I’m looking forward to being part of Thunder, I had the opportunity to sign on a two-year deal from 2023 which I took and now I’ve had the opportunity to come earlier which I’ve taken with both hands. It gives me the chance to get settled in and get started this year and begin building.
“It’s a full-time club and they are going about building the right way, steady towards Super League and I am looking forward to being part of that over the next couple of years.
“I want to be a bit of a general, I’m 27 now and I’ve been playing full-time for 10 years now so I want to be one of the leaders of the boys and getting the middles around the field.
Betts said: “We’re delighted to have secured Ollie. He is a player that we have been working to sign for the next two seasons so to be able to bring him in for the remainder of 2022 is very welcome and I am very grateful to Huddersfield for releasing him so we can do that.
“He is a big player who will bring a lot of experience to our group, and I am really looking forward to working with him.”
Town are still working on their recruitment and are looking at bringing in up to four players over the next three weeks. All are reported to have been playing in the French League which has recently ended.
