Roughyeds face Rhinos

SUPER League champions Leeds Rhinos are to pay a visit to Oldham as part of their World Club Challenge preparations, it has been confirmed.

The match, part of the reciprocal deal which saw the Roughyeds travel to Headingley for Kevin Sinfield’s testimonial prior to last season, is down for a date of Tuesday, February 17 at Boundary Park, with an as-yet unconfirmed kick-off time.

By that point, Oldham will have already played two Northern Rail Cup matches; one at home to Rochdale on Sunday, February 8, and another away at Widnes on Friday, February 13.

Leeds, meanwhile, will have two Super League run-outs at Headingley under their belts. Brian McClennan’s side follow up an opener against Celtic Crusaders on Friday, February 6, with a fixture against Wakefield seven days later.

The Rhinos are then away to Hull KR on Friday, February 20, with their next game the big Elland Road clash with Australian champions Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday, March 1.

“It is two games into our season but it will nonetheless form an important part of our build-up to the league campaign, while Leeds will be getting themselves ready to face Manly,” said Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton.

“We expect that they will bring a relatively strong side. We don’t for one minute think it will be the full first team, but they will have started their Super League season and so the players yet to turn out in those games will want to impress.”

Ironically, the news of the arranged friendly fixture arrives alongside that of the appointment of ex-Oldham and Great Britain prop Barrie McDermott as the Rhinos’ new head of youth development.

The 36-year-old will now get the chance to cast his eye over some of the West Yorkshire side’s most promising talent in a game against his home-town club.