Martin happy to take big job

MARTIN Roden jumped at the chance of becoming Oldham RL Club's caretaker coach.

The job is his only until the end of the season, but that's long enough, he says, to fill the squad with pride and passion.

"We've three games left and I've challenged the boys to win them all and carry us into the play-offs," he said.

Roden (32) was departing boss Tony Benson's right-hand man for four years, either as conditioner, assistant coach, senior player or, as in the last two seasons, all three.

When Benson was dismissed, the ex-Wigan and Leigh hooker quickly accepted an offer to step in temporarily.

"It's a natural step for a No. 2," he said. "There's no point in being an assistant if you don't aspire to moving up.

"I learned a lot from Tony, as I did from Andy Goodway, Graeme West, Paul Terzis and Ian Millward in my Wigan and Leigh days.

"My coaching style will be an amalgam of everything they taught me, but with my own stamp on it. I'm my own man."

Roden, cousin to club captain Neil Roden, led training for the first time last night.








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