Although Wigan may not field their full-strength team, their status as one of Super League’s most accomplished clubs guarantees that the match will provide a valuable learning opportunity for Oldham, who are eager to establish themselves in the Championship.
Oldham Roughyeds coach Sean Long has expressed his excitement about
facing Wigan Warriors in a pre-season friendly, calling them “the best team in
the world” ahead of the highly anticipated trial match. With Oldham gearing
up for their Championship campaign after a dominant promotion from League
One, Long is eager to test his side’s readiness against one of Super League’s
most formidable teams.
Oldham, who are fresh off their promotion, have strengthened their squad
with high-profile signings like Josh Drinkwater, Matty Ashurst, and Gil
Dudson, all of whom will be expected to make an impact in the Championship.
Long is keen to see how his team measures up against Wigan Warriors, who
are coming off a quadruple-winning season and remain one of the top teams in
the Super League.
The match against Wigan, scheduled for January 19, is part of a series of pre-
season friendlies for Oldham. Their first friendly will take place on January 12,
where they will face local rivals Rochdale Hornets. While Long expects Wigan
to rotate their squad and not field their strongest lineup, the match promises
to be an exciting opportunity for Oldham to gauge their progress.
“It’s a great challenge for us. I wanted this, to play against the best team in the
world right now. It’s going to be an excellent test,” Long commented on
Oldham’s official podcast, The Boundary Line. “Wigan have set the standard
in rugby league, and whoever they put out on the field will be giving it their all.
It’s going to be tough, but it’s exactly what we need to prepare for the new
season.”
Long believes that playing against such a high-caliber team will help his
players become more battle-hardened and ready for their upcoming fixtures,
including games against lower-tier teams. Despite the likely absence of
Wigan’s full-strength team, Long is keen to measure how Oldham will perform
against such a strong opponent. “It’s all about getting better and learning from
these games,” he added. “Even if we go into the next match against an amateur
team, we can take valuable lessons from playing against top-tier opposition.”
The friendly match is also part of the deal that saw George Hirst make the
switch from Oldham to Wigan Warriors in the off-season. Hirst, who is
expected to spend the season on loan at Oldham, will have the chance to play
for Wigan during this friendly, providing an interesting twist to the match.
Long confirmed that Hirst is in good shape and will feature for Wigan on
January 19, despite his loan arrangement with Oldham.
“We’ve been to see George, and he’s in great condition. He’ll be playing for
Wigan in this friendly,” Long said. “It’s great for the lads to see him playing in
Wigan colours. They know him well, and it will be a good opportunity to catch
up and see him in action.”
For Oldham, this pre-season friendly against Wigan is more than just a warm-
up; it’s an opportunity to learn from one of the best in the game. Long’s focus
is on preparing his players for the Championship season ahead and ensuring
they are mentally and physically ready to take on the challenges of the new
competition. With new recruits bolstering the squad, Long is hopeful that the
tough pre-season games will allow them to hit the ground running when the
Championship campaign kicks off.
As for Wigan, even if they don’t field their strongest team, their reputation as
one of Super League’s most successful clubs ensures that the game will be a
valuable learning experience for Oldham, who are keen to make their mark in
the second tier of English rugby league.
