PROP Jack Blagbrough believes Oldham have a good balance of experience and youth in League One this year.
Ahead of the season, head coach Stuart Littler recruited experience in the likes of Gregg McNally, Pat Ah Van and Matty Wilkinson who have matched up well with the younger players such as Jordan Paga, Sean Slater and those on dual-registration from Wigan.
“We’re putting points on the board, we are attacking well and it’s good free-flowing attacking rugby,” said the 29-year-old.
“That’s what you need at this level because you’re going to have times in a game where the opposition will clock off or are tired, and it’s about taking advantage of those moments.
“The younger lads in this team are really good at that, they’re hungry, fit and switched on and they just go for it.
“Taking advantage of that, you’ve got Riddy (Martyn Ridyard) and Gregg out the back who organise around the pitch.”
Blagbrough, a product of the Huddersfield Giants youth system, reached the Championship play-off semi finals with York in 2019 and again with Batley in 2021.
Both sides in those years outdid expectations in getting so close to being promoted to Super League, and he believes there is a similar culture at Oldham this year.
“We had lads who wanted to work hard for each other and at the end of the day, rugby is not a complex game, it comes down to whoever works the hardest on the day,” he said.
“We had lads who turned up and enjoyed it and played hard for each other and that’s what we have at Oldham, I think, and we just need to get consistency with that.
“In every game, the opposition will have periods when they are on top and it’s up to us to put it to bed.”
You can read more about Jack Blagbrough’s career: he’s the Player Focus for the club’s upcoming online programme, which will be released soon on our on-line match programmes page.
