OLDHAM hooker Cole Geyer says he is enjoying being out of his comfort zone after leaving the sunshine of the Gold Coast for the far colder weather of the Pennines.
The 24-year-old Australian is fresh from helping Burleigh Bears win the Queensland Cup with a 22-8 Grand Final victory over Norths Devils.
And along with compatriots and backrowers Ewan Moore, a teammate at Burleigh, and Jaron Purcell, who has been playing for another Queensland Cup side Redcliffe Dolphins, Geyer is aiming to help Oldham mount a challenge for Championship glory.
He made his debut in the 44-0 opening-round league win at Salford, and said: “It’s been good so far.”
The former Brisbane Tigers player had two seasons at Burleigh, based at Pizzey Park in a suburb of Gold Coast, the city known as the ‘Glitter Strip’.
Now Geyer, who is living in Manchester, wants to add some sparkle to a Roughyeds side aiming to build on last year’s fourth-placed Championship finish and mount a challenge to full-time big spenders London Broncos, their hosts on Sunday.
“I like to think of myself as an attacking hooker who thrives on quick play-the-balls and tries to find where defences are at their weakest. And I like to run off the frontrowers and set up a try,” he explained.
The son of former Melbourne Storm star Matt Geyer added: “It’s a big move for me to a new country and a big challenge with a different team.
“But I wanted to test myself by getting out of my comfort zone, and I want to embrace the culture as well as the cold.
“There are a few fresh faces at the club, and everyone has been really welcoming, and that has helped me settle in.
“I’m looking forward to really getting going and getting stuck into the matches. That’s what I’m here for, playing well and helping the team be successful.”