EMMERSON Whittel, our workaholic loose-forward and one of the best and most popular players at the club, has followed up his announcement as Player-of-the-Year on Friday night by signing a new two-year contract to cover the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Everything is coming in twos for ‘our’ Emmy, who played in each of the Roughyeds’ 22 competitive games last season, carried off TWO of the three Player-of-the-Year trophies and set the ball rolling on signings for next year by jumping into bed with the club on a new TWO-YEAR agreement.
“It was a no-brainer,” said the 28-year-old Yorkshireman. “I’ve enjoyed my two spells at Oldham. Yes, even this last one, which did’nt quite go as planned. The reason I am so contented and so delighted to stay at the club is that Chris (chairman Hamilton) and Stu (head coach Littler) have always looked after me, as has Shez (assistant coach Brendan Sheridan) too.
“Furthermore, they call a spade a spade. I like that because they’re, good, honest people. You know where you stand with them. I like to think I have similar habits. On the field I try to be consistent and do the dame thing ev ery week.
“I know what I’ll get from them next season and they’ll know what they’ll get back from me — honesty, 100 per cent effort, lots of tackling and lots of carries. That’s what I do. how I play. I haven’t scored a try all season, but I’ve nearly always topped the tackle count.
“There was a bit of to-ing and fro-ing between me and the chairman, but I like him and I think he likes me and that helped enormously in getting the deal over the line. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I also know what I’m worth and I don’t ask for silly money.
“Everything seemed right for me to stay for another two years. I’ll be 30 then and our little baby daughter, Airlie, will be nearly two-and-a-half and growing out of the baby stage.
“That may be the time to make some tough decisions, for the next two seasons at least I’m an Oldham player and delighted to be so. I like the club, the chairman, the coaches, the backroom staff and my fellow players.
“Why would I want to go anywhere else? As I say, it was a no-brainer to stay.”
Roughyeds, delighted to welcome Emmy back on board again, expect to have more signings to announce later in the week.
