Match Preview: Halifax v Oldham

Bradford's Bartercard Odsal Stadium is the temporary Halifax home this weekend, as Oldham head to play the Panthers bidding to bounce straight back from defeat in the heat of Toulouse last Saturday.

The Roughyeds produced a spirited performance in the south of France before succumbing late on in temperatures hitting 39 degrees, so the overcast drizzle of west Yorkshire should provide a more comfortable environment to produce a response.

Oldham remain 4th in the table despite that setback, and come up against a Halifax side who led the Championship through the first two months of the season, but now sit a point behind Sean Long's side in 6th.

Team News

Head coach Long is able to name a relatively stable squad once again, with just the one enforced change seeing Ben Forster come in to replace prop Zane Musgrove.

Musgrove was this week handed an eight-match ban by an RFL Operations Tribunal following an incident at Warrington before he joined Oldham - the club has 14 days in which to appeal.

Logan Astley is pushing for selection having been 18th man in France, while both back row forward Elijah Taylor and centre Ben O'Keefe are in line to return from injuries having been unused members of last week's 21-man squad.

Gil Dudson, still recovering from a calf issue that kept him out of the Toulouse trip, also misses out this week.

The head coach discusses his preparations for the Halifax game and reacts to both the Musgrove ban and Josh Drinkwater's contract extension, in his latest interview with George Riley here.

Riley Dean remains out injured, while Adam Lawton is on loan at Widnes and Pat Moran plays the second of his two-week loan with Featherstone.

Captain Jordan Turner continues to recover from a knee issue while fellow centres Iain Thornley and Jumah Sambou are out long-term.

Winger Kieran Dixon stepped up his training this week, and both he and vice-captain Matty Wildie are making good progress from their injuries.

Squad in full: 1. Logan Astley, 5. Mo Agoro, 6. Danny Craven, 10. Owen Farnworth, 11. Matty Ashurst, 13. Adam Milner, 14. Bailey Aldridge, 15. Jay Chapelhow, 17. Elijah Taylor, 19. Ted Chapelhow, 20. Jack Johnson, 21. Lewis Baxter, 23. Josh Drinkwater, 24. Ben O'Keefe, 27. Ben Forster, 30. George Hirst, 31. Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, 37. Ryan Lannon, 38. Ben Davies, 39. Mathieu Pons, 40. Eloi Pelissier.

The Opposition

The Panthers started the season like a train and sat top of the table until Toulouse found their feet.

Kyle Eastmond's men now lie in 6th, just a single point behind Oldham, so will be motivated to try and leapfrog the Roughyeds with a win.

The reverse fixture at Boundary Park at the end of May produced one of the best Oldham displays of the year, as Long's men ran in six tries in a resounding 34-10 win. The Halifax scorers that day were winger Alfie Johnson and James Woodburn-Hall.

Since that setback Halifax have only played twice, drawing 24-24 away to Widnes and losing last week away at Featherstone Rovers 32-16.

The Panthers' last win came on April 27th, with a thumping 40-12 home victory over London Broncos.

So Halifax may have hit a rocky patch in their season but make no mistake, this is a dangerous side boasting NRL points machine David Nofoaluma and the guile of Jack Hansen and Woodburn-Hall.

Tickets and access

If you have not yet bought your ticket for the game in Bradford on Sunday then you can still do so here.

Please remember to always purchase your ticket direct through us for away games, as this benefits the club financially too.

Tickets are £20 for adults, £15 concessions (66+), £12 young adults (16-21) and £5 for under 16s. If you don't purchase in advance you can still pay on the day, but prices rise by £2.

Supporters can enter the ground via two entrances – Gate 6 through turnstiles 23-26 at the Rooley Avenue end and via Gate 12A located at the top of the Stainforth Construction Stand. Cash turnstiles are open on both gates.

Please note that the terracing at Odsal will not be open for this fixture.

Turnstiles will be open from 1:30pm and for those driving, cash parking is available at the stadium for £5. The address is:

Bartercard Odsal Stadium
Stadium Road
Bradford
BD6 1BS

Halifax have a matchday guide with plenty more information available here.

Media coverage

We hope to see as many Oldham shirts as possible in the stands at Odsal this weekend, but if you are unable to make the trip to west Yorkshire we will do our best to bring you the best possible coverage from our talented team.

George will bring you live audio commentary on our Roughyeds TV You Tube page from 3pm, and make sure you are following all of our social channels, on Facebook, X and Instagram, the only place to hear the first thoughts from head coach Sean Long before and after kick off, see exclusive on-the-hooter interviews with our players at the end of the game, watch try clips during matches and even hear from the players direct from the team coach on the journey home after the game.

Please subscribe, follow, like, comment, share and engage with our media content that we are so proud to have to rival any throughout rugby league - it all helps with our IMG score too.

We can't wait to see you with us in Bradford on Sunday afternoon - Let’s hear the Roughyed Roar!