T’Other Side: Rochdale Hornets

T’Other Side: Rochdale Hornets

2019 Matches

FIRST TEAM SQUAD

LAST TIME OUT

Head Coach: Matt Calland

Rochdale have today (Friday) named Matt Calland as their new head coach. He was previously the head coach at Halifax from 2008 until July 2011 and was their coach when Halifax beat Fev in extra time at the 2010 Championship Grand Final.

His began his playing career with Rochdale in 1990 and then moved to Featherstone in 1993. He left Fev to sign for Bradford in 1995 and in 199 he went to Hull FC. In 2001 he returned to Rochdale and he retired after playing 3 games for Huddersfield in 2003. However, later that year, he started playing again with Rochdale and then spent his final season, 2004, with Hull Kingston Rovers.

He was primarily a centre and in 1996 he was a substitute for England against France.

Captain: Lee Mitchell

Lee Mitchell provides the team with Super League experience. He made his début with Warrington in 2007. In both 2010 and 2011 he made appearances for Leigh on dual reg as well as playing on loan for Harlequins RL in 2011.

In 2012 he signed for Castleford and then spent 2013 in Australia playing for Burleigh Bears. On his return he joined Whitehaven, spent 2015 at Batley and then joined Rochdale in 2017. In 2007 he played for the England U18 team.

New Signings for 2019

Three of last year’s Whitehaven squad joined Rochdale along with, then coach, Carl Forster.

Dan Abram, halfback or fullback, has played in every game this season and taken every one of Rochdale’s goal kicks. His father, Darren, also played and coached the Hornets. Dan made his début for Barrow in 2016 and also played for Cumbria that year in a match against Scotland. He moved to Whitehaven last season. This year, so far, he has taken every one of the Hornets goal kicks

Shaun Ainscough, wing, has joined from Batley. He will be much remembered by Fev fans for the end of the match between Fev and Batley in 2015. Something he will have tried to forget! He began with Wigan in 2009 and in 2010 had loan spells with Castleford and Widnes. In 2011 he moved to Bradford and Whitehaven in 2014. He joined Batley in 2015.

Ellis Gillam, second row or centre, made his professional début with Whitehaven last season having joined them from the Warrington Wolves academy. He played in 28 of Whitehaven’s 30 matches last year and scored 7 tries.

Stuart Howarth, halfback, is the third of the recruits from Whitehaven. In 2010 he played a couple of games for Blackpool on dual reg from Wigan. In 2011 he joined Wakefield and then Salford in 2012. He spent most of 2013 on loan at Saint Helens and in 2014 he played a game for Barrow on dual reg. In 2015 he moved to Hull FC and played for Doncaster on dual reg before being transferred back to Wakefield in mid-season. In 2016 he went on loan to Bradford and joined Workington for 2017 and then Whitehaven last year.

Liam Carberry, loose forward, has had a career somewhat blighted by serious injuries. He was in the academy at Wigan, during which time he played for the England Academy. In 2012 and 2013 he had games for South Wales Scorpions on dual reg. In 2014 he joined Widnes and played for Whitehaven on dual reg in 2015 before signing for Whitehaven in 2016. In 2017 he was at Swinton but didn’t play (professionally at least) last season.

Jordan Case, centre or second row, played for Rochdale from 2013 to 2017 and spent last year at North Wales. He is a former England Academy international.

Jack Cottington, prop, is a youngster who was in the Warrington Academy

Paddy Flynn, centre, spent last season playing for Thatto Heath ARL but is no stranger to the professional game. He was with Widnes from 2008 to 2016 where he played 177 games. In 2016 he played 10 games for Castleford on loan. In May 2017 he signed for Sheffield.

Scott Moore, hooker or halfback, was ‘not available’ to play rugby league last year. His career began back in 2004 as a 16 year old (the youngest ever Super League player) with Saint Helens and he remained there until 2011 although he had loan spells with Castleford (2008) and Huddersfield (2009). In 2012 he signed for Widnes but was released in April and then joined Huddersfield. In 2013 he played for North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL and joined London Broncos in 2014. In 2015 he joined Castleford but moved on to Wakefield in mid-season. In 2017 he played for Bradford. At representative level he has played for England U18, England and England Knights.

Nathan Reidy, prop, is a 20 year old who has joined from the Wigan Warriors Academy

Mike Weldon, second row, made his professional début as a Sheffield player last year.

Callum Wood, hooker, has been signed from Orrell Saint James ARL. Last year he played for England U19 in the European U19 Championship.

Dual Registration and loan signings

Rochdale have a dual registration agreement with Warrington Wolves. So far, in 2019, seven Warrington players have played for Rochdale: Sitaleki Akauola (prop), Matt Davis (forward), Jack Johnson (wing), Luis Johnson (second row), Harvey Livett (loose forward), Pat Moran (prop) and Ellis Robson (loose forward).

They have had Jack Higginson (Leigh) and Adam Lawton (Salford) on loan this year but both are now back with their parent club. Joe Ryan has on loan to North Wales but is now back at Rochdale.

The Fev connection

Neither the Rochdale or Fev squads have players who have ever played for the other club.