This is just the start: Oldham stars vow to dazzle

“If you think this is exciting now, honestly this is only the start”.

Roughyeds forward Jay Chapelhow believes Oldham can become rugby league’s great entertainers, as Sean Long’s exciting side look to maintain their flawless start to the Betfred League 1 season against Newcastle Thunder at Boundary Park this Sunday.

Combining a resolute defence with an electrifying attack, Long’s side have fast become one of the most vibrant teams to watch outside of Super League, winning five from five at the start of a season they hope will end with promotion to the Championship.

And speaking exclusively on episode 2 of the club’s magazine show The Boundary Line, the Chapelhow twins have detailed their own excitement at the club’s forward momentum.

“This is up there with one of the most professional environments that I have been involved in, and that is credit to Jordan Turner and Joe Wardle for bringing that experience in,” said Jay.

“We feel like professional rugby league players now even in League 1 and it is scary to think what this club could do in Super League.

“Sean has given us as system but doesn’t mind us going out of it. He wants to play so you will see us moving the ball around. If you think this is exciting now, honestly this is only the start. We have electric wingers in Mo Agoro and Cian Tyrer, JT in the centres and our job is simple - head down, bum up and get those yards to make everyone else look good!”

In an entertaining and revealing episode for Oldham’s fast-developing Roughyeds TV channel, the Chapelhow brothers discuss competition for places, the vision of Managing Director Mike Ford, and what the team has already learned it must improve on in order to gain promotion.

“Teams are going to come to Boundary Park with nothing to lose, they are coming out gunning for us and that is what we want,” Ted Chapelhow tells host George Riley.

“We want tough games and enjoy that challenge. Hopefully when the results really matter lessons will be learned and we will get the best version of Oldham.

“The scoreline flattered us a lot last week (at Midlands) and we need to get better at starting games well and getting into that grind early on. We put pressure on ourselves to hold this high standard that Oldham are now trying to deliver and we need to execute that.

“This year has been amazing. Oldham feels like home, it feels like when we were young lads at Widnes again. The lads are brill and have gelled really well.

“We are just enjoying the ride, smiles on faces, winning games and watching the Oldham crowd buying into us at such an amazing stadium. It is what dreams are made of. To watch Mike’s dreams pan out and know that you are pioneering the start of that is very exciting.”

Come and watch the Roughyeds take on Newcastle Thunder at Boundary Park this Sunday