Sean Long has promised changes to his Oldham side and has challenged his players to “bounce back from adversity” in this Sunday’s 1895 Cup quarter-final at York Knights.
The Roughyeds head coach admits last weekend’s Betfred Challenge Cup exit at Swinton served as a reality check, ahead of the new League One campaign that gets underway at Workington in a fortnight.
Long says he has seen a positive response this week following the 28-12 loss in South Manchester.
Speaking exclusively to Roughyeds TV, he confirmed that key senior players Elijah Taylor and Craig Kopczak face spells on the sidelines, after picking up injuries at Swinton, and that he will be making further changes to the team for the trip to North Yorkshire.
“We were obviously very gutted after the game, and you can see the lads were too.
“But, the beauty about rugby league is you’ve always got a game the week after where you can put it right.
“The lads came in, we put it to bed, made our learnings from it and we are going to go and put our best foot forward.
“We had a chat with the leadership group to say nothing is perfect in a game of rugby, two or three things will go wrong, and it’s about how you bounce back from adversity.
“Things go wrong in games, but you’ve just got to get back on the horse.
“It was a massive wake-up call, because we’d been playing really well.
“For me though, we haven’t put a full 80-minute performance in yet.
“We have picked up a few injuries, but we will learn from it and it’s another cup game against York who are a tough opposition.”
The injuries are likely to hamper Oldham’s start to the season and have left options in the pack a little thin, with Taylor, Kopczak and Pat Moran all out.
“Elijah has done his hamstring and Koppy has done his shoulder – they’re the main ones,” said Long.
“Pat took a bang on his knee and he’s not available either, so we’re a bit light in the pack.
“But, we said at the start of pre-season, it’s going to take a squad effort and the lads who are coming in are keen and will bring loads of energy. Hopefully that is what will get us over the line.
“There are some lads who have been waiting in the wings, who are champing at the bit, and haven’t played as much as they would like, but they have been outstanding in training.
They’ve not said anything and have just cracked on and made us train even harder. Now it’s their chance.”
So after the bruising setback at Swinton, Oldham head to a York side again tipped to challenge at the top of the Championship, but an unfazed Long believes his squad can rise to the occasion with a place in a cup semi-final at stake.
“To beat York, you need a full 80 minutes and that’s the challenge for us going forward.
“There’s been a bit of a buzz this week knowing that we’re playing a top opposition and the lads have been bouncing in training and there’s been a good vibe.
“They are a very good club, well-coached, they’ve recruited really well and have a good fanbase. York have a great stadium, too, so the lads are buzzing to go up there and have a dig.
“They’re a top championship side, 100%, but you know stranger things have happened.”
Oldham are, again, expected to be backed by a big travelling support, with coach travel available for just £13.
And Long believes the vocal Roughyeds support can, again, be a big factor
“I heard (the fans) at the weekend – unfortunately we didn’t give them the result we wanted, which is disappointing for us to not be able to repay them.
“I’m sure the lads will definitely dig in and you’ll see that.”
The interview is available to watch in full on Roughyeds TV
