Page 39 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PREVIEW

OLDHAM

RLW PREDICTS: 14th

It’s unusual for a promoted team to start another that should be comfortable, while
life at the higher level with a new coach, but Dave Hewitt is developing into an assured
that’s the situation facing Oldham in 2020. playmaker at scrum-half.
Former Roughyeds boss Scott Naylor had Oldham’s fortunes could come down
already announced he would be ending his largely to their new recruits.
seven-year tenure at the club by the time Stand-off Lewis Charnock has plenty of
they beat Newcastle Thunder in a thrilling ability and will be keen to make up for
playoff game to join Whitehaven in this missing a large chunk of 2019 at Barrow
year’s Championship. through suspension, while both Dan Abram
Naylor has now been succeeded by Matt and Dec Kay will be looking to prove they
Diskin, a man who knows all about the belong in the Championship having left
current standard at this level following relegated Rochdale.
three years in charge of Batley. Young centre James Worthington has
Diskin will need that experience for what spent the last few seasons flitting around
looks a tough assignment to survive in the various clubs on loan and will now be
second tier, with most clubs in last year’s hoping that stability allows him to realise
bottom half having strengthened from 2019. his undoubted potential, and Daniel
In contrast the Roughyeds started the Igbinedion has shown constant flashes
year with a squad of just 20 players, of his talent having also moved around
and although that has since been regularly.
supplemented, depth will be an issue Diskin’s squad also have to contend with
if they suffer the kind of bad luck with a ground switch and will play their home
injuries that plagued them the last time games at Stalybridge Celtic FC’s Bower
they were in this division. Fold, which can host a terrific atmosphere
Fully fit they will have the players to worry if the team gives the Roughyeds faithful
most teams though, and in Danny Bridge plenty to cheer about.
and Danny Langtree they have an excellent It won’t be easy, but everybody connected
back row that will have no problem making with the club will be fully aware of that, and
the step back up again. Oldham will be hoping to chalk up a few early
Hooker and captain Gareth Owen is surprises to provide a launch pad for survival.
STAR PLAYER COACH

2020 SQUAD:

1 Dan Abram
2 Dec Kay
3 James Worthington
4 Cameron Leeming
5 Kyran Johnson
6 Lewis Charnock
7 Dave Hewitt
8 Phil Joy
It’s fair to say that Matt Diskin’s three- 9 Gareth Owen
year tenure at Batley Bulldogs was mixed 10 Jack Spencer
At 25 years old, Lewis Charnock will be with highs and lows. 11 Danny Langtree
looking to establish himself as the kind The former Leeds Rhinos hooker was
of playmaker that can regularly influence often publicly frustrated at his team’s 12 Danny Bridge
games in the Championship. inconsistency, which could verge from 13 Liam Bent
A St Helens junior, he made five Super standing toe-to-toe with the top teams 14 Matty Wilkinson
League appearances for the club and and losing matches he felt they should 15 Ben Davies
spent time on loan at Bradford in 2016 have won. 16 Jode Sheriffe
before joining Barrow. What it did do though is give the rookie 17 Ed Smith
His three years there were disrupted boss significant experience of the sport 18 Adam Brook
by both injury and suspension, and now at Championship level, and that will be
he will be keen to get an uninterrupted invaluable for the Roughyeds this year. 19 John Hutchings
season under his belt with the Roughyeds. Diskin will have learned lessons from his 20 Harry Aaronson
If he does, Oldham will have a gifted time with the Bulldogs and will be relishing 28 Matthew Fletcher
playmaker and kicker who could go a long the chance to pit his wits in the second 30 Daniel Igbinedion
way to helping them stay up. tier again.

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