Now we kick on: Ted urges Oldham to embrace the pressure

"We might be top seed so we have to embrace that and live up to that expectation - it is what we play professional sport for".

Roughyeds prop Ted Chapelhow has urged his team-mates to positively channel the expectation on the team to compete for Championship honours again this year, after admitting that Oldham came up short at the end of the 2025 campaign.

Chapelhow was a stand-out performer in the pack as Oldham secured a top-four finish in their first season back in the Championship, but the towering forward admits that the playoff defeat to Halifax has left the playing squad wanting more.

"People may say we had a good season but if you ask the playing group in the last couple of months they would disagree with that on how we performed in the back-end of the season," Chapelhow told Roughyeds TV.

We tailed off and we have to take that on ourselves. We have to learn and we don't want to repeat the same mistakes. It is a bigger competition and will be tighter than last.

Every year at Oldham now it seems the expectation goes up so that pressure goes up even more which I think is good. Pressure will drive the squad to consolidate in the Championship.

The pressure is on, and given we don't know what is going to happen with Salford then we could technically go into the season as the top-ranked team. London are making noise and that is fantastic for the sport."

Chapelhow produced arguably the most impressive form of his career last season before injury saw him sit out the end of the campaign. He has also seen brother Jay move to Widnes, leaving the brothers at rivals clubs for the first time in their playing careers.

"It's a bit odd not having Jay here but probably time for us to part ways and get on with our own careers. He is missing me loads but I'm enjoying the peace.

It is good now to get to know a new set of lads here - it is like a teething process for the first couple of weeks, but I'm enjoying seeing people from different backgrounds and careers and we have gelled quite well as a core squad at the moment.

Last year was one of my stronger years playing and I want to carry on the form from before I got injured. I am never happy with how I am playing, I think there is always room to learn and even at 30 I can learn from the experienced players here. I want to keep on pushing and hopefully I will make my mark again."