Oldham can be rugby league’s great entertainers again, with the current squad inspired to match the club’s off-field ambitions with some stellar performances on it, starting with this week’s derby against Rochdale at Boundary Park.
That’s the view of Oldham’s former Super League forward Joe Wardle, as the team prepares to welcome the Hornets this Sunday in the first derby of the Betfred League One season.
Wardle was one of the big-name signings for the 2024 campaign, with the Scotland international bringing his vast top-flight experience to the club after a long career at Huddersfield Giants before his move to Boundary Park via Leigh.
And speaking exclusively to Roughyeds TV ahead of Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated contest, Wardle spelled out how invested he is in the Roughyeds renaissance.
“Oldham is a massive area and you look at some of the players they have produced in the past like Paul Sculthorpe and Barrie McDermott. It is a huge place Oldham, I didn’t realise how big it is,” he said.
“I know (Managing Director) Mike Ford is doing a great job behind the scenes so everything is going in the right direction, it is just about building blocks and letting the club get the momentum moving forward.
“If we can get half of this town back supporting us then it will be a massive club in rugby league. Hopefully we can do our part as players to make the rugby entertaining so that when the fans do come they keep coming back and watching. It is not just about winning, it is about making sure the fans are entertained at the same time.”
Oldham started with a bang last weekend with a scintillating opening win at Workington, one that Wardle believes underlined how hard the players have been working over the winter.
“The game at the weekend was a good reflection of how we have trained. We have built it up quite intense and we have laid down a marker of intent for this year.
“Nobody likes losing and the two Cup losses that we had were quite a learning curve. It was nice to fix that up in the break we had and have a bit of a refresh. Then back in training the intensity has been through the roof and we have fixed up a lot of stuff that we were getting slightly wrong.”
For Wardle himself, the switch from a professional to part-time set-up has been one he is still adjusting to, but the 32-year-old believes the club is heading in the right direction to get back to where it wants to be, starting with what should be a big crowd against Rochdale on Easter Sunday.
“It has been really good for me, different to what I have been used to,” he added.
“The big challenge has been being part-time and getting used to how much you can push the boys. It is a journey for the club and trying to get this club back where it should be which is back in Super League hopefully. We need to keep ticking every box going, it is a good journey and everyone is enjoying it so far so hopefully we can be successful this year.
“Everyone wants to play in the derbies and this is a perfect one early in the season. We want the place bouncing and packed with as many fans as we can to set the tone again with another win. We want to set the benchmark that we are here to do business. It will be exciting and I hope we can get as many people to Boundary Park as possible.”
