Long issues key injury update and vows to thrive on outside noise

Roughyeds head coach Sean Long says he and his squad will thrive on the “outside noise” surrounding their League One promotion bid, while providing a key update on injured trio Elijah Taylor, Craig Kopczak and Pat Moran.

After a scintillating start to 2024 that saw Oldham claim stunning wins over Halifax and Barrow, plus a draw against Super League London, Long admits the last fortnight has served as a “massive wake-up call” with Cup exits at the hands of Swinton and York Knights.

Oldham now have a free weekend before building up to the big Betfred League One start away at Workington on Sunday, March 17, and Long admits that provides the perfect opportunity to take stock.

“I think the break has come at a really good time for us,” Long told Roughyeds TV.
“We have tidied up a few things where we were flying at the start and fell away a little bit in the last couple of weeks.
“We have played against some really good opposition, and our standards have slipped away.
“We have revisited that and I keep reinforcing what we were doing well at the start of the year.
“We keep learning, there are small details we have gone away from but we have had a good week’s prep and we will then have another going into Workington.
“It is about working hard for each other as we are in this together.”

Long went into the York game, last weekend, without Elijah Taylor, Craig Kopczak and Pat Moran and has revealed he does not expect to have his forwards back within the next month.

“I’m not too sure on Elijah, but probably another four weeks.
“Kopy has had a scan and we are waiting for results, so too with Pat, but I think four to six weeks for those three which leaves us a bit light in the middle.
“The lads who have come in know it is going to take a squad performance to get us through the year.”

The club, this week, launched its new season membership package with attendances expected to increase dramatically this season with the buzz surrounding the takeover and assembly of an exciting squad of stars.

And with that comes both increased expectation, and pressure on the head coach to deliver, something Long says he is relishing.

“I enjoy the outside noise, I thrive on it, I like a challenge.
“When they say you can’t do it, I like to prove people wrong and this group certainly does as well.
“We set off absolutely flying in three games and we have just dropped our standards, probably thinking it was going to be a little bit easy.
“It is up to me to tap into the leadership group and find out where their heads are at.
“As long as we are striving to get better, then I don’t see anything wrong with that.
“We are there and everyone will be gunning for us and trying to knock us off our perch, which is fine.
“We have good leaders, and good pros, and I always believe hard work beats talent all day.
“We love playing at Boundary Park where the fans have been outstanding for us – even away from home, especially in that Barrow game.
“Having the fans down at Boundary Park in their droves, and getting them excited about how we are going to play, is our 18th man.
“We like playing there as it is a good surface, a good track and Rochdale will be up for that first game at the end of the month”.