OLDHAM coach Sean Long says his new assistant Joe Wardle is bringing welcome new ideas as the pair prepare for pre-season games against Rochdale and Wigan at Boundary Park.
Old rivals the Roughyeds and Hornets contest the Law Cup – an annual neighbourly meeting which goes back to 2021 and was originally set up to raise funds for local hospitals in the days before the NHS – on Sunday.
Wigan visit seven days later, with Oldham then hosting National Conference League side Rochdale Mayfield or Midlands League Telford Raiders in round two of the Challenge Cup on the weekend of January 25/26.
The third round, when Super League sides enter, is a fortnight later, and the promoted side have their first second-tier fixture since 2021 when York visit on Sunday, February 16.
Wardle, 33, was an Oldham player last season, although injuries restricted the former Super League and NRL secondrow to nine League One appearances as the title was won.
After announcing his retirement, the ex-Bradford, Huddersfield, Newcastle Knights, Castleford and Leigh man penned a two-year contract as a member of Long’s coaching staff.
And the former Featherstone boss, approaching his second season at the Oldham helm, said: “Joe and I are working well together.
“He has some really interesting ideas on how we can tweak things here and there, and hopefully we will see the benefits.
“He’s making me think about how we are doing things as well, which is great.”
Wardle said: “Sean has made the transition easy, and it’s great to be working with him in a different way to when I was playing.
“He has passed on loads of tips and advice, and I’m enjoying the new challenge and looking forward to the season.
“The lads have been really receptive as well. We’ve got a lot of experience in the group. They know what we need to do at this stage, and they are getting on with it.”