Roughyeds get my vote, says new No.10

Date published: 02 April 2015


ADAM Neal expects Oldham to be “there or thereabouts” when RFL chiefs compile the League One honours board at the end of the season.

Once a full-time pro with Salford, and with 45 Super League games under his belt, the 24-year-old prop didn’t know what to expect when he signed for Roughyeds last autumn after taking a year out.

It was a leap into the dark, and he was apprehensive after being out of the sport., about juggling a day job and rugby fr the first time, and about playing two levels down from Super League.

Fast forward five months, pre-season, three friendlies and four cup-ties... and Neal is enjoying his rugby more than he has for years.

He thinks Roughyeds have a better chance of winning promotion than many other teams.

“That’s our ultimate goal for the season,” says Neal, who will wear the No 10 jersey formerly worn by Jason Boults.

Boults will be a hard act to follow, but Neal has shown already in a handful of games that he can fill that punishing prop role with distinction.

Talking ahead of the 22-match League One programme which starts at Rochdale tomorrow, Neal said: “It took me two training sessions to know I had chosen wisely and signed for the right club. We’re a comparatively young group, but I don’t think there will be a better squad in League One; bigger squads perhaps, but I doubt whether anybody else has more quality.

“Our win at Barrow said a lot and even in defeat at Sheffield we matched them in the second half and there were aspects of the game in which we were as good as them. We’re a good team: we’ve got to prove it on the field.

“I’m chuffed I came Oldham - and I realise I didn’t enjoy my final two years at Salford as much as I should have. I nearly signed for Swinton, but we played them in a friendly pre-season and it struck me there was no way I would swap what I have at Oldham for a life with the Lions.

I couldn’t wish for two better coaches than Scott Naylor and Lee Spencer. Scott is one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked for. I didn’t really think I’d be on a learning curve here but I quickly realised Scott can teach me a lot.

“There’s a lot of improvement in us yet and we believe we have the squad to put it all together and to go all the way.”