Tickets are still available for Oldham’s clash with Bradford Bulls at Bower Fold on Sunday (3pm) — the Roughyeds’ first game since the arrival at the club of the legendary Brian McDermott, the most successful coach in Super League history.
The 51-year-old former Harlequins RL, Leeds Rhinos and Toronto Wolfpack boss, has already introduced himself — not that introductions were needed — and spoken at length to the Oldham players, who have ten Betfred Championship games left in which to haul themselves out of the bottom two.
As a coaching consultant, McDermott will work closely alongside Brendan Sheridan (40), whose elder brother, Ryan, is assistant coach at Castleford Tigers.
The new behind-the-scenes set-up at Roughyeds faces the mammoth task of keeping the club in the Championship after only two wins in their first 11 games.
Bradford, where McDermott spent the whole of his playing career and made 251 appearances, are currently third with eight wins from 11 and defeats by Widnes Vikings (12-25) at home and by Featherstone Rovers (0-44) and Sheffield Eagles (12-50) away.
Their best away win was 33-8 at London Broncos, but they found it tough going at Whitehaven, where they won 30-22, and also at bottom-club Swinton Lions, where they snatched it 23-22.
They also had a one-point home win against Halifax Panthers, 27-26, at the Tetley’s Stadium in Dewsbury.
Halifax, in fourth place with eight wins from 12, were beaten 16-12 at Bower Fold in May which shows the Roughyeds’ capabilities when at their best — and it’s to get the best out of them on a regular basis, and quickly, that McDermott has been brought in.
The Bulls, now back at Odsal, had nearly 3,000 fans to watch last week’s 30-16 win against Batley Bulldogs and they are snapping up tickets for the Lord Tom Pendry Stand and the standing Smurfitt Kappa South Stand at the top end of ground or to the left of anyone sitting in the main stand.
Oldham fans who still haven’t got their tickets are advised to do so sooner rather than later because of the limited capacity, due to social-distancing requirements.
They can do that online by visiting our ticketing page.
For anyone who can’t get to Bower Fold as Roughyeds kick-off their McDermott-inspired bid to pull off their own version of The Great Escape, the game will be streamed by Our League, which is available free to Oldham season-ticket holders and for only £4.95 for anyone else if purchased before midnight on Saturday.
Before kick-off on game day, the price goes up to £10.
