JOSH DRINKWATER returns to London Broncos on Sunday (3.00) aiming to underline why he’s among the nominees for Championship Player of the Year and extend his last season at Oldham to a Grand Final appearance.
The Roughyeds face the 1895 Cup and Championship Leaders’ Shield winners at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in Wimbledon for a place in the second-tier showpiece against Newcastle Thunder or Doncaster.
That’s thanks to a dramatic win at Widnes Vikings, who were seen off 20-16 on golden point after being 16-14 up.
Drinkwater’s halfback partner Morgan Smith’s late penalty-goal levelled things up at the DCBL Stadium before the Australian’s kick-off to extra time caught out the hosts and led to Owen Farnworth’s match-clinching try.
“I’ve never seen a golden-point period finish so quickly, and it was great to see Owen go over against his old club,” said Drinkwater.
“You could say we got a lucky bounce from the kick-off, but the chase through was good, and there were some nice passes to set him up.”
The 34-year-old Sydneysider played for London in 2014, when they were in Super League and based at The Hive in Barnet, after switching from St George Illawarra Dragons.
He then had spells at Leigh Leopards (then Centurions), Catalans Dragons (twice), Hull KR and Warrington Wolves before joining Oldham ahead of last season.
Now Drinkwater, shortlisted for the second-tier accolade alongside fellow halfbacks Gairo Voro, of London Broncos, and Connor Robinson, of Doncaster, is set to hang up his boots and is being tipped to join the coaching staff at Hull FC.
But he’s eager to go out in a blaze of glory with Oldham, who other than Bradford Bulls in the Challenge Cup, are the only side to have beaten the Broncos this year, 34-24 in last month’s league meeting at Boundary Park.
“We found a way to win against Widnes, and while we know London present a massive challenge, we’ve beaten them once, and we’re up for it,” said Oldham coach Alan Kilshaw.