Our fans can swing it for us

Roughyeds’ captain writes for Chron Sport

I’m feeling a lot calmer than I did this time last year, with the Grand Final just a couple of days away.

Before that Rochdale game I remember feeling tense and a bit nervous, but I’ve been taking all the build-up in my stride this time. I’ve been working all week and I’m feeling quite confident – all the players are.

We’re looking forward to the final and we’ve beaten Hunslet twice this season, so why shouldn’t we be confident? We know all about them and while they do have a few older experienced heads in their team, older players get tired.

We’re a young side and we’re all full of beans, and as long as we stay composed I fancy us to do it this year.

The ability to stay focused will be crucial on Sunday, and whoever keeps their heads, particularly in the final 10 minutes or so, will give themselves a great chance.

It’s going to be a tough call again. There’s been very little between the two sides this season, but coach Scott Naylor has been stressing the importance of not over-thinking things.

And our fans can make the difference on Sunday. They have been fantastic all season and we’ll need them loud and proud again. They deserve promotion.

The chairman deserves success, too. We’ve not had the best of times in Grand Finals, of course, but we’re more determined than ever to do it for Chris Hamilton this time. Chris has been unbelievable for our club. He’s stuck with it through thick and thin and deserves so much credit. He’s put so much of his life into Oldham and no-one would be more deserving should we do the business on Sunday.

I’d love to get another chance to test myself in the Championship, this time with Oldham.

I’ve played for Batley in the higher division and it is hard going, but again I feel we deserve to be up there.

It would be more difficult than ever next year should we make it, though. There will be some great teams in there like Bradford, Leigh, London, Featherstone and even Dewsbury now.

But we’d give it our best shot so get along to Headingley on Sunday and give us plenty of that brilliant support again.