HAVING lost Cam Leeming through early retirement, and with another experienced centre, Ben Heaton, battling to overcome an ankle injury, Oldham RL Club have swooped to sign on loan highly-rated young centre Jack Croft from Wakefield Trinity.

He’s only 20, but he’s already made eight Super League appearances as well as two Challenge Cup appearances in a quarter-final tie against St Helens in 2019 and a sixth-round clash with Catalans Dragons in 2020.

He’s signed on loan until the end of the season but the Super League outfit can recall him at any time.

Furthermore, he’s no stranger to Oldham or to head coach Matt Diskin because early last year he played two games on loan with Roughyeds – a win at Whitehaven and a home defeat by Bradford Bulls – before the 2020 season was curtailed because of Covid.

Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton said: “We know Jack well – and he knows all about us. We asked about him earlier in the year, but at that time Wakefield didn’t want to let him out.

“Now, they want him to get game-time. Jack’s keen to come so it suits all three parties.”

Croft, who was due to train with Oldham for the first time last night, will be in contention for Saturday’s Championship game against Halifax Panthers at Bower Fold (12.45pm kick-off).

In his 10 senior outings for Trinity so far, he’s played three times as centre to England international winger Tom Johnstone and three times also inside another big-name Super League wing flier, Ben Jones-Bishop.

Added Hamilton: “Trinity think very highly of the lad, and we are delighted to get him.”

Roughyeds now have two young players on loan from Super League clubs – Croft and 19-year-old Wigan Warriors prop Jack Bibby, who scored a try on his Oldham debut and enhanced his growing reputation at London Broncos last Saturday.

Several senior players faced assessments and fitness checks at training last night.