Roughyeds ready for title thrust

MARTIN RODEN: Preparations have gone well.

OLDHAM are fully geared up for a title challenge — says a man who knows.

Martin Roden has been heavily involved with the squad’s physical preparations ahead of what is set to be another long, gruelling season.

Roden, cousin of Roughyeds stand-off and namesake Neil, has worked the players heavily on elements such as speed, power, power endurance and wrestling.

Ahead of the team’s first Co-operative Championship One game of the season at home to Blackpool — one of Roden’s former clubs as a player — the qualified sports scientist believes the hard work put in during pre-season will pay off.

“We test the players every four weeks and everyone has improved ten-fold compared to where they were at the start of pre-season,” said the 29-year-old Roden, who previously worked with head coach Tony Benson at Leigh.

“The players might grumble, but it is all a means to an end and money in the bank for the rest of the season.”

Oldham are entering their third consecutive season at this level of professional rugby league.

Following consecutive play-off final defeats, the expectations of everyone associated with the club are of a successful year, culminating in a first-placed finish and the automatic promotion that will bring along with it.

“It is what we are all here for,” Roden added. “We haven’t tackled a league game yet but we have been going great guns in the Northern Rail Cup.

“We beat Widnes, should have beaten Sheffield and before that in the friendlies should have beaten Leigh — and those are all sides from a higher division.

“We then hammered Rochdale and took Hunslet apart, even though the scoreline didn’t show it.

“It all bodes well and it is only now that the players are starting to gel.”

Blackpool, coached by former Oldham Bears skipper Martin Crompton, have a host of ex-Roughyeds men within their ranks.

Chris Campbell, Damian Munro, Simon Svabic, Ian Hodson, Craig Farrimond and Gareth Langley are all contracted to the Fylde-based club who have won once so far this season, 16-14 at home against Keighley Cougars in the Northern Rail Cup.

However, that record disguises the fact the Panthers have been up against the likes of well-fancied higher division opposition like Halifax, Widnes and Barrow — yet have far from disgraced themselves in any of those games.

In the 50-28 defeat for Crompton’s men was at The Shay, the visitors at one stage held a 28-20 lead and Benson reckons the Panthers are set for a good season.

“They look very good right across the park,” the Oldham coach said.

“It certainly isn’t the Blackpool of old and I expect them to do well this year.

“We are aware we will be in for a tough game and we have to be ready for it.”