Roper has high hopes for Oldham

AFTER half a dozen games for Oldham, loan half-back Steve Roper says he believes this could be the year of the Roughyeds.

At 27, the midfield general is one of the most experienced players at Whitebank and shoulders a lot of responsibility for directing operations and implementing Scott Naylor’s plans.

He and captain Lewis Palfrey, three years his junior, are Naylor’s linchpins – Palfrey on the right, Roper on the left.

The man from derby rivals Rochdale – he was in the Hornets side that broke Oldham hearts in last year’s play-off final – came initially on loan for a month, a period now extended to the end of the season.

“I was made very welcome at Oldham from day one. I settled in fine. I’m really enjoying my rugby with a great set of lads,” he said. “It suited me fine when the loan was extended because I want to stay at Oldham.

“More than anything I want to do my bit in seeing us win promotion - and I see no reason why we can’t achieve that. If we hadn’t had that off-day at Hemel we would be two points clear at the top now.”