A new culture and a new era: Long backs Oldham on Championship return

Oldham boss Sean Long has urged fans to turn up in number this Sunday as Roughyeds make the return to Championship rugby league against one of the best teams in the league.

Oldham play their first game back in the second tier of the sport on Sunday afternoon and could not wish for a much tougher start, as much-fancied York Knights head to Boundary Park in one of the games of the opening weekend.

As they build up to the big kick-off fresh from an impressive Challenge Cup win over Barrow, Long plus assistant coach Joe Wardle gave Roughyeds TV exclusive access to their preparations this week, for a brand new episode of The Boundary Line from the club's training base at Melrose.

"We are going to need your support and I can't wait to see you Sunday," Long tells the loyal Oldham fanbase.

York are going to be a top-four team, 100 per cent. They are well coached under Mark Applegarth with a well-balanced squad and a bit of X-factor. I'd much rather have them in round one when you have a healthy squad but we are expecting a really tough game."

"Our fans are like an extra man," adds Wardle.

I know that is a cliche but it genuinely is. When you are defending on your own line you can hear the crowd and it gives you that spur and energy and we need it. You guys are an 18th man so keep bringing it!

It will be really tough, York will come out firing and don't mess about, they will get stuck into you when you are carrying the ball. We will have a job on our hands and we definitely don't want to be dipping out toe in, we need to be jumping straight in and matching the intensity from the off."

In another revealing and entertaining episode, the Roughyeds coaching staff take a break from their video review to give host George Riley an insight into the debrief of an "outstanding" Challenge Cup win over Barrow, explain why the new-look spine is clicking so well, why defence is what will win trophies and the importance of a deep squad.

Long and Wardle also reveal how a feel-good factor has returned to the team, which Long believes comes down to a shift in culture.

They have to have the determination both at training and games to be on it all the time, but they need to enjoy it too. We want to make it a bit more fun, with the right detail. When you are playing well you enjoy it and turn up to training with a smile on your face. That is infectious, and it rubs off on the rest of the lads.

It is a good culture and I think that had to change when I first came in at the start of League 1. With Joe and JT (captain Jordan Turner) we changed the culture quite quickly and the lads who have come in since have taken it to another level."

The Boundary Line is our exclusive club magazine show, in association with Blue Group, available to all subscribers of our fast-growing YouTube channel Roughyeds TV. Make sure you subscribe, like, share and comment as well as follow all of our social media pages on Facebook, X and Instagram. We are also now connecting with businesses on our relaunched LinkedIn page.

Oldham host York in our eagerly-anticipated season opener this Sunday at Boundary Park.

This match is expected to be popular with fans but ticket and certain hospitality options remain available to watch our return to the Championship in stye.