WORKINGTON Town will have to go into their tough Easter Monday clash at Oldham without star forward Jarrad Stack.

The all-action second-row forward flies back home to Australia tomorrow to attend a wedding, but will be back for the following home game against Blackpool Panthers on Sunday, April 11.

Stack, a huge hit with the fans last season despite Town struggling to be competitive, has also started well in the present campaign but this time Workington are very much up with the pace.

During the winter Whitehaven expressed an interest in the 21-year-old forward who holds a British passport. The Recreation Ground club thought they had a deal but Stack opted to stay with Town.

Contracted to Melbourne Storm he spent three years playing for Brisbane North Devils before coming to Britain where the 6ft 2ins forward has settled-in well.

Town coach Gary Charlton said: “We have known for a while that Jarrad had this wedding back home over Easter so we knew he was going back. But with the Swinton game being put back at the Lions request we only have the one game, at Oldham on Monday.

“We will have him back for the match with Blackpool the following week-end.”

Stack, who regularly puts in a strong shift for his side, has more help up-front this season as Workington have added strength and power to the pack in the shapes of Lee Dutton, Kris Coward, Ruairi McGoff and new arrival Jamie Butler.

Sunday’s win against Gateshead Thunder pushed own into second place in the Co-operative Championship One table – and now the trick will be to stay there.

Charlton said: “You only get out of this game what you put into it and I think the players are starting to realise that.

“They have been putting in the effort and reaping the benefits with improved results. Having got up to second in the table we all want to stay there so it will mean a lot more hard work to maintain the progress we have made as a team.

“It’s going to be tough on Easter Monday at Oldham as they have won both of their games so far but if we go with the right approach then we can give them  game.”

As for Oldham, the club has issued a rallying call to the town’s rugby league supporters at the start of a week which could prove to be the most momentous in the 13-year-history of Oldham RLFC (1997) Ltd.

Proposals for the club to move into their own ground at the Whitebank Stadium, Limeside go before an Oldham Council cabinet meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

By Thursday, Roughyeds hope to hold a news conference at the ground followed by a ‘getting to know you’ meeting with local residents.

Friday sees Tony Benson’s boys aim for their fourth win in a row — and their third consecutive away victory in the league — when they take their unbeaten Co-operative Championship One record to Rochdale for the traditional Easter derby clash with Hornets RL at Spotland (3pm kick-off).

And next Monday, the Roughyeds entertain Town in their first home league game of the season at Sedgley Park (3pm kick-off).

Despite having to play a home game out of town by necessity for the fourth time this year, Roughyeds hope fans will turn up in force to kick-start the home league programme, having been buoyed by recent events on and off the field.

Said chairman Chris Hamilton: “Given the likelihood of an imminent announcement about the ground and the way things are generally moving forward at the club, we believe fans will be in an upbeat mood and ready to demonstrate their support by getting behind the team this Easter.”

Having lost money on each of the three previous occasions they have played at Sedgley Park this year — two of them on Monday nights — Roughyeds are looking for a significantly-increased attendance on the last day of the Easter weekend break.

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