Now for the REAL stuff – the Championship

IT'S always nice to know what others think about you and ahead of our return to the Championship against York on Sunday, here at Boundary Park, it would be nice to read of Martyn Sadler's comments in this week's League Express.

You can put forward a very good case to say that Martyn, managing editor of the paper, brains of the large group that that owns it, Total RL, highly respected journalist and commentator on all things rugby league, is one of the biggest "voices" in the sport.

You won't always agree with what he has to say in his weekly column, 'Talking Rugby League' but most people who take League Express, or look at it on line, will read what he has to say because he's genuine, he loves our sport, he knows what he's talking about and he seems to have been around for ever.

The Oldham game on Sunday is one of five Championship matches taking place that day and this is what Martyn has to say: "Five Championship matches are scheduled for Sunday and each of them looks to have something to offer the casual spectator.

"THE GAME I WOULD MOST LIKE TO SEE IS OLDHAM V YORK WITH THE PROMOTED ROUGHYEDS FACING A STERN CHALLENGE BY ONE OF THE COMPETITION'S TOP TEAMS. AN OLDHAM WIN WOULD CERTAINLY LAY DOWN A MARKER."

In the same edition, club captain Jordan Turner says points will be hard to come by in the Championship and talks about how important it is that Oldham get off to a good start with consecutive home games against York this Sunday and Batley Bulldogs coming to Boundary Park on the following Sunday.

Jordan was quoted thus: "It's a big step-up from where the club has been over the last three years. You look at the fixtures and see clubs like Bradford, Featherstone, Sheffield and Toulouse, who have all been strong for a number of years now.

"Widnes and York are looking good as well and, to be fair, the other clubs are all capable so for us to compete with them would be great. We started pre-season early to give ourselves as much preparation as possible.

"We've added a few players so they have had the chance to bed-in and we've been able to work on our combinations. We now need to bring it all together."

Ian Wilson's match report of the Barrow game, which Oldham won 42-4 in style, pointed out that Oldham were as convincing as the score would suggest and that Barrow were embarrassed by the extent to which the Roughyeds outclassed them. Describing this Challenge Cup win by Oldham as a no-contest, Wilson said there was an imbalance which was accurately expressed --all views that tend to suggest the York game will be a cracker.

I particularly liked how League Publications Ltd delivered their look at League One in the new Rugby League Yearbook. Edited by Tim Butcher and and Daniel Spencer, and giving a comprehensive account of the 2024 season, the headline on their coverage of the League One season read: "Oldham on the up."

It went on: "As the season was heading towards kick-off, all eyes were on big-spending Oldham and their team full of former Super League and Championship stars.

"Owners Bill Quinn and Mike Ford made no secret of their aim to make it back to the Championship for the first time since 2021 and the Sean Long-coached side did not disappoint, winning the league at a canter,

"They were back at Boundary Park full time, another signal of their intent, and the local population responded with over 2,500 in attendance to see them lift the League Leaders Trophy following a 56-0 win over Workington in the final round of the campaign."

Their followed several pars about Oldham's achievements last year and the look at Oldham ended like this: "While some experience has been lost with the retirement of Joe Wardle, Adam Sidlow and Jamie Ellis, former Super League stars Adam Milner, Iain Thornley, Matty Ashurst and Gil Dudson lead the way in terms of new recruits."

Since then, of course, Oldham scooped Rugby League media coverage with the capture of half-back star Josh Drinkwater and it goes without saying that the Roughyeds' prospects in the second tier will largely depend on how this handful of former Super League super heroes cope with the transition.

Says Mike Ford: "We are looking forward to it, but we are under no illusions. We know how tough it will be."

+ You can listen to Mike Ford on Oldham Community Radio every Friday morning, shortly after 11am on 99.7fm; on DAB; on-line; on your device, or on Radio Cavell if you happen to be in the Royal Oldham Hospital.

+ The Oldham Players' Assn has circulated members with news of the death of Billy Broomhead's wife, Kay, who has been a great worker for the Assn over many years. Her funeral service will be at Oldham Crematorium this coming Tuesday, Feb 18 at 10.30am and then back to Assn HQ at Springhead Sports and Social Club. All welcome. The Assn sends its deepest condolences to Billy and his family, coupled with sincere thanks for all Kay's work for the Assn over many years.