Cougars bring Farrell from Sheffield

IN what promises to be an intense and exciting battle of the top two in Betfred League One at Keighley tomorrow, Oldham are likely to be faced at half-back by a 26-year-old Jamaican international who the Cougars only signed this week on a deal short-term loan from Sheffield Eagles.

Matt Foster has included Izaac Farrell in his 21-man squad and he is likely to go straight into the squad for a must-win game for the Cougars to regain the upper hand in this celebrated battle of two hot favorites for the League One title. – and, with it, automatic promotion to the Championship.

Both teams have been there before and not for long, with Keighley’s experience of going through 2022 unbeaten in League One and then being relegated from the Championship last year providing a stark reminder of the gulf between the divisions.

This time around, though, both Oldham and Keighley feel confident of at least maintaining their strength in the second tier. The hardest part is getting there – that’s why so much is being built on tomorrow’s tri-club clash this season and why the game will likely draw the biggest and best crowd at Cougar Park for years, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.

Oldham will have a big following there, that’s for sure. I can personally vouch that Mike Ford and Co have been relatively successful so far in engaging with the rugby mad people of the city. They’re talking rugby again in Oldham (I know this from personal experience) and that’s what you get when you put a winning team together and top the table with seven wins in seven games and rack up the best ‘for’ and ‘con’ figures in division.

Keighley, however, are holding their breath and it will probably come down to how the home side cope with far and away the best defense in the division and one that has the wonderful record of conceding an average of just six points a game .

The Roughyeds may be regarded by most pundits as a well-oiled attacking machine (Sean Long’s reputation from his playing days, plus his team’s ability to score points explains that), but Long is most impressive these days as a person more mature and an experienced coach. , through his group’s willingness to make the less spectacular better. He loves nothing better than to ‘nullify’ the opposition – unlikely tomorrow, but so enjoyable nonetheless.

It’s happened three times in seven games – and that’s another statistic he, the team and the club can be proud of.

Knowing all this, Keighley signed half-back Farrell to try and destroy us. What do we know about him? Well he has played for Huddersfield Giants, Swinton Lions, Batley Bulldogs, Workington Town, Rochdale Hornets and now Sheffield. He also played for Jamaica, so he’s no mug – and he’s also the son of the much-vaunted Anthony Farrell, who played for Huddersfield, Sheffield and Leeds Rhinos.

It feels like this will at least be a game where Long will be more interested in the result than the score.

Win or lose it promises to be a cracker.

Watch you ride that convoy over the hills!