Oldham head coach Sean Long has commented on speculation linking Nene Macdonald with a move to Boundary Park. Macdonald has regularly been linked with a move away from Salford Red Devils with a raft of Super League clubs said to have been interested over the last few months.
Reports first emerged about a possible move away during Salford’s uncertain off-season and there has been fresh talk of an exit since the sale of Marc Sneyd was completed earlier this week. Leigh Leopards and Castleford Tigers have been linked but so have Championship side Oldham, with Love Rugby League carrying that report.
Oldham have spent big on their return to the Championship, bringing in former Super League players such as Josh Drinkwater, Gil Dudson and Matty Ashurst and the second tier side certainly do not lack ambition.
As such, in light of the supposed interest in Macdonald, the question was put to Long following the club’s 40-0 defeat at Hull KR in the Challenge Cup in Friday night.
“Obviously Nene is a quality player,” Long told All Out Rugby League. “I’m sure a lot of teams would be going for Nene. That’s all I can say at the moment.
“I watched him play for PNG and Salford, he’s been carving it up. I think any Super League club would take him, never mind a Championship club. So there’s going to be a lot of people knocking at his door for his signature. But like I said, I only read it today, so it’s a bit out of my hands.
“I couldn’t tell you that, I’m not in control of money. So long as they pay me, that’s alright! I’m joking, but I’m not in control of the money, Mike (Ford) and Bill (Quinn) are in control of the finances, I just go in there and coach the team and put our best team forward.”
The Roughyeds conceded seven tries at Craven Park as Willie Peters’ side put them to the sword in comfortable fashion on Friday night. Long, though, was more than happy with what he saw from his side as they went toe to toe with the Super League leaders for large periods.
“My immediate assessment is I’m really proud of the lads,” Long said. “To go out there against the top of the table Super League team who will be in the mix come the end of the season, to have a real crack at them, especially in the first half.
“We played how we wanted to play and we clocked off, just concentration levels and a couple of things, in how they scored the tries. We were in the fight in the first half.
“I feel like if we can bottle that up going forward into the Championship we won’t be far off.”
