Ex-Warrington Wolves man Josh Drinkwater on his Championship move, playing part-time and Sean Long

Playing part-time rugby league will take some getting used to for Josh Drinkwater but he believes Oldham are the perfect fit for him. Drinkwater’s deal at Oldham was announced on Wednesday afternoon with the ex-Warrington Wolves half-back penning a one-year deal with the Championship outfit ahead of the new season.

The Championship is nothing new to Drinkwater who appeared in the competition back in 2016 after making the move from the NRL to join Leigh in the second tier. However, after spending the last eight years of his career playing regularly in Super League, with Leigh, Catalans Dragons, Hull KR and Warrington, his signing is seen as a huge coup for Oldham.

The newly promoted outfit have made some high profile signings as they prepare for life back in the Championship with Drinkwater being joined at Boundary Park by the likes of Iain Thornley, Gil Dudson, Adam Milner and Matty Ashurst. They’ve shown plenty of ambition then and that was a major reason why Drinkwater decided to join up with Sean Long’s side.

“It’s obviously a bit different for me going from full-time to a part-time team, it was something that I thought a lot about and originally I spoke to Mike (Ford) on the phone,” Drinkwater told Roughyeds TV. “I met Longy and spoke about the style he wants to play and it really suited me, it fits. Really excited to get going and pre-season is going to be nice and cold, a bit different training at night time, but really excited to meet all the boys and get into it.

“This is a club that is ambitious, and I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t. I am here to play rugby, and I want to achieve things.

“You saw how good the club went last year in League One and the signings they have made for the Championship. I think it’s a wide open comp going into next season, there’s no Wakefield or Leigh of the past that you knew were the favourites.

“I’m experienced now and I’ve been around for a while. I have played Championship back in 2016 with Leigh so I understand the competition and it’s totally different to Super League. The grounds can be a lot more boggy and slower, but I am a half-back and like playing on the ball and being in control of teams.

“I spoke to Longy about that, and he wants that too. I wouldn’t have signed if it wasn’t the right fit for me. I am too old and have been through too much playing over here.”

Of course, Drinkwater plays in the same position as Long used to and the opportunity to work under such a legend of the game was another factor for the 31-year-old, who was released by Warrington Wolves at the end of the 2024 season.

“His career speaks for itself and just speaking rugby league to him, we seem to have the same understanding and like to play the same type of way,” Drinkwater added. “It’s quite similar to what I played at Warrington. He’s obviously good friends with Martin Gleeson who was our attacking coach last year so I understand his style of play and what he wants to do and I think that fits my style as well.”