Huddersfield Giants' Oliver Roberts agrees new deal at Salford Red Devils

Why Featherstone Rovers have a star in the making

The Ireland second-row joined them on loan for the rest of this campaign in February and played four games before the sport was put on hiatus by coronavirus.

He was particularly impressive in the 18-14 success against Wigan Warriors as Salford ended a four-match losing run in the final game before the sport was halted.

Given the chance of a season-long loan deal next term, Roberts did not hesitate in accepting.

The 25-year-old said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Salford, so this was a no-brainer.

“I felt that things had really come into place in that final week before lockdown and having more time to gel with the team and the coaching staff will only mean things improve further.

“Getting secured and knowing where I’m going to be next year means I can really concentrate on making sure I have that starting shirt.

“The club felt very united in that last game we had. The boys, the staff and the fans – it was fantastic.

“I want to build on that and be part of more of those nights.”

Having fallen down the pecking order at hometown Huddersfield, Salford head coach Ian Watson was pleased with how he made his mark after switching Super League clubs.

“Ollie’s been a key addition to us in 2020," he said.

“He brought to Salford a great determination to work hard to be a starting Super League back-rower, so we’re delighted to have him with us for the next season.

“His defensive work made us a lot stronger as a team and as an attacker he was just starting to find his feet in our structure.

“With this signing, we have time to develop his style into our team further, where we will see Ollie get better and better and fulfil the potential I know he has.”

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor