Championship side Oldham RLFC have signed several former Super League players ahead of the 2025 season and two of those signings have spoken on the biggest adjustment they’ve had to make.
Coached by Sean Long, the Roughyeds won League One in 2024 and earned promotion to the Championship but the club’s ambitions seemingly aren’t capped at the Championship.
Their recruitment for 2025 has seen them sign a number of Super League players including Gil Dudson, Adam Milner, Josh Drinkwater and recently promoted Matty Ashurst.
The latter two have now spoken on the major adjustment that they have had to make since joining the club with Drinkwater stepping down to Championship level, whilst Ashurst has swapped Championship champions for League One champions.
Speaking on the club’s YouTube channel, Ashurst said: “The Tuesday and Thursday nights took a bit of adjusting to at first but I’m now looking forward to getting on this pitch, it’s a great pitch and stadium, and starting playing.”
Super League signings explain adjustment to part-time
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Former Warrington man Drinkwater confirmed: “It’s been very smooth, I’ve really enjoyed it.
“As Matty said, there has been a bit of adjusting with the Tuesday nights, Thursday nights and Saturday mornings but in terms of the players and the boys – I can’t speak highly enough of them.
“They all train really hard. There are no egos or idiots in the team and it’s a very tight-knit group so it’s been a very smooth transition.”
Speaking more on the change from a full-time to part-time environment, the Australian said: “It’s been different. The missus has got me doing all the housework now and all the cooking so it’s different that way but I’m enjoying it.
“It’s obviously very dark and cold right now but once we start playing and the games are rolling in, it’ll make it a lot easier.”
For Ashurst, who helped Wakefield win the Championship in 2024, the move to part-time has allowed him to start a new career.
“It’s been different,” he said, before revealing: “I’m transitioning to a new career as a mortgage and protection adviser as well so if anyone needs any mortgage advice, hit me up.
“It’s been good though, it’s given me a chance to find my feet in that role and combine it with training at night and playing here.
“Like Drinky said, it’s a great group of lads and they made us feel welcome and it’s like we’ve always been around which is great.”
