Hungry Dean bids to fire Oldham on

Half-back Riley Dean believes Oldham have what it takes to build on last season's top-four finish and has declared himself fully fit and firing to nail down a place in the starting line-up for 2026.

The former Warrington Wolves star endured a season curtailed by serious injury this year, but has returned for pre-season in good shape and hungry for a big 2026.

"My pre-season started in July when I could start walking again," Dean told Roughyeds TV.

It was a tough time - initially it was a season-ender but I managed to get back fit and healthy so credit to the medical staff and I just hope I can rip in again this season.

I'm back to fitness and was fully fit towards the back end of the year and was hoping to get a few games in but selection didn't go my way. I was ready to go but didn't get the call. I'm fully fit and fully training now."

Dean has returned to training with the rest of the squad in freezing conditions at the Netpar Training Centre, and is relishing the fight with Morgan Smith and Josh Drinkwater for a spot in the halves.

"I just want to be the best team-mate I can be. It doesn't matter if I play well and the team loses - we need to win and we need to take that step further that we didn't do last year and I think we have the team to do it.

I want more of the same (in 2026). A lot of people forget it was our first season back in the Championship which is such a tough comp. Teams now are building for the future with more Super League teams and that is what we want to be a part of. I feel like we have a good team and a good squad to do it."