Oldham announce Wardle deal after play-off heartbreak

Joe Wardle. Image courtesy of ORLFC

Oldham have signed Joe Wardle, the 31-year-old Leigh Leopards forward, on a two-year deal covering the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

He becomes the sixth experienced player signed by the club’s new board which took over in March.

Wardle, who has also played for Scotland, Newcastle Knights in Australia, Huddersfield, Castleford and Bradford Bulls, will also help with coaching at Oldham, as will another new-boy, Jordan Turner.

Wardle will mentor the forwards and Turner, formerly of Salford, Hull, St Helens, Castleford Tigers, Jamaica and England Knights, will help to coach the backs.

Oldham, whose season in Betfred League One is over following a 13-12 home defeat by North Wales Crusaders, will be advertising for a new head coach in the next few days.

Managing director Mike Ford, the former Wigan, Leigh, Oldham, Castleford and Great Britain tour scrum-half, has been doing the job as interim boss for the past few weeks, but his time as team boss ended when Oldham’s season ended yesterday (Sunday).

“We are building one of the best coaching structures in the game,” said Ford, “so that we can develop people.

"Joe can see what we are trying to achieve and he is keen to be part of our vision, purpose and ambition.”

Meanwhile, they were celebrating from Sale to Springhead and beyond this weekend after one of their own, George Ford, kicked all 27 points and won the man-of-the-match award in England’s 27-10 win against Argentina in the Rugby Union World Cup in France.

Oldham-born Ford (30), who played all his early rugby on the playing fields of Waterhead and Saddleworth, kicked six penalties and landed three drop goals as England RU made as flying World Cup start despite the sending off of flanker Tom Curry in the first few minutes.

Said fly-half Ford, who plays for Sale Sharks and lives in Diggle: “It was always a plan to go for drop goals, but it’s never about one man.

"The guys up front were incredible, but it’s only game one there’s a long, long way to go."

He is the son of Mike Ford, now the Roughyeds’ managing director and interim head coach.

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