Benson’s delight at class of 2011

OLDHAM RL Club coach Tony Benson has urged fans to get behind the Roughyeds in Sunday's third and final pre-season friendly against Whitehaven at Whitebank (3pm kick-off).

Preparing for his third season at Oldham, the New Zealander has given his newly-assembled class of 2011 a massive vote of confidence.

Benson's Roughyeds have won 27 and drawn one of their 38 Co-operative Championship One games over the last two seasons and, under his tutelage, have twice got to within 80 minutes of promotion via the play-offs only to fail at the Grand Final hurdle.

The target in his third year is outright promotion – and while stopping short of making extravagant predictions before a tackle has been made in earnest, Benson believes the Roughyeds have the talent to be serious challengers.

New signings include Paul Noone, who is expected to make his debut against Whitehaven in a squad which might also provide young backs Bradbury and Fogarty with the opportunity to represent their hometown team for the first time on Oldham soil.

They played in last Saturday's 36-10 defeat at Featherstone, but Benson says supporters should read "absolutely nothing" into that defeat.

He said: "Recruitment over the past few months has gone superbly well.

“We have a nice blend of youth and experience, and the young guys are coming along nicely.

“It's the start of another season and I get a real buzz when I look around at the talent we have in the squad.”