Benson keen on new open era for Oldham

TONY BENSON: licence to thrill

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson has given his team a license to thrill next season.

As the steadily building squad continues to be put through its pre-season paces, the Kiwi coach (pictured, right) told the Chronicle that he is looking for his men to play expansive rugby en route to a planned promotion to National League One.

Benson has recently brought in sports scientist Martin Roden to work on the mental side of the game and hopes to focus minds on reacting positively to situations as they occur on the pitch.

"I like to play an open, attractive game," said Benson, explaining his coaching philosophy.

"It is based purely on playing what is in front of us. I will go out of my way for us to be unpredictable.

"I also detest people not giving their utmost. Our theme for this year is that there are no shortcuts and we have to work hard in training and in games to get what we want.

"The club has done really well to reach two grand finals in a row.

"The next step up is the real squeeze, mentally and physically, but we have to go that extra step.

"It is about not giving up and not accepting that just getting there is enough.

"The training has been excellent and I am really happy with the sessions we have had. We have had full attendance and the players have really been pushing themselves.

"Martin (Roden) has a degree in sports science and a player's mentality. He has the ability to tie in the physical side with the mental side — and 80-per-cent of the game takes place inside your head."

Benson currently has a squad of 23 first-team players, not including five reserves on their first professional contracts or long-term injured Ben Seru.

While the bulk remain on the books following last season's failed promotion bid, Benson is happy from what evidence he has seen that they can recover to go one better.

"I have watched a lot of DVDs and am excited at what I have got to work with," he said.

"Deaks did a very good job here and skills-wise the players are at a very good level.

"As a new coach, I will be looking for areas to improve and I think I have found a few of those.

"But it is easy to talk about it all now, and we will have to do everything we can to ensure it is all put into practise."

The latest new player to arrive is bustling Ireland international prop forward Wayne Kerr, who worked alongside Benson at London Skolars last year and previously with the Irish residents squad.

Oldham's coach feels the club have got a talent on their hands who can only get better.

"I think Wayne is an excellent signing," Benson said of the 24-year-old.

"He's a player who, in terms of his experience, is ahead of where he should be in terms of development and is good value to the club because of that.

"He was one of four Irish-born players to be selected for the World Cup squad but was the only one selected, when they beat Samoa, so that says a lot about him.

"He is right up there at the moment but there is still a long way to go for Wayne."

Benson is hoping for a pre-season programme featuring three friendlies. One of those will be at home to Super League champions Leeds Rhinos, most likely at some point in January, with one of the warm-up games set for late December.

"We want to be tested in those games," he said. "We have a reasonable-sized squad and can afford to try out different combinations and tactics."