We can compete with big boys, says Neal

CONFIDENT . . . Oldham prop Adam Neal has belief in his side's ability

ADAM Neal, whose fitness and stamina are described by Scott Naylor as "unbelievable", thinks Oldham are more than capable of mixing it at the top end of the Kingstone Press Championship.

The energetic prop led the Roughyeds' pack to an impressive 26-10 win against Sheffield Eagles on the opening day and was prominent again when they pushed well-fancied Featherstone all the way before losing 8-6 at The Big Fellas Stadium.

His confidence in the Roughyeds' ability to hold their own against clubs with budgets that make Oldham's available funding look like loose change from the corner shop will be given a severe test against London Broncos at Bower Fold on Sunday (3pm kick-off).

SPENT

The full-time Broncos failed only on points difference to reach last season's Million Pound game and since then they've spent heavily to sign, among others, talisman stand-off Jarrod Sammut from Workington Town and winger Kieran Dixon from Hull KR.

Aussie coach Andrew Henderson hasn't been shy in declaring the Broncos' intention to go one better this term and to regain their Super League status.

Hull KR and the Broncos are widely tipped to take the Championship by storm, but Oldham won't be intimidated into believing they're going into Sunday's game as small fry who finished only one place above relegation.

Neal, in fact, believes Roughyeds can deliver the Broncos' second defeat in three games so far.

He said: "We were gutted to lose so narrowly at Featherstone because we were confident we could go there and win.

"I recall some grim days weather-wise at Whitebank, but nothing as bad as at Featherstone.

"We weren't clever in the friendlies, but to beat Sheffield convincingly and take Featherstone all the way shows what we can do.

"We have set ourselves a high benchmark now. We want to compete at the top of the Championship and surprise the top teams.

"In the dressing room there is plenty of confidence and excitement about this year.

"The coaching staff put a lot of time and effort into editing match videos, even down to individual edits. This is massively beneficial in helping us to improve as a group.

"If we can improve in certain areas, I believe we can beat them.

"Within our tightly-knit group there's a terrific work ethic and a desire to learn and to be better as the season unfolds.

"Attitudes like that can take you a long way and it reflects positively on how far we have come since the days when we were in League One."

It will be a massive game for Oldham half-back Scott Leatherbarrow, who was at Broncos last year, and to a lesser degree for Roughyeds' on-loan centre Tuoyo Egodo, who was in the London club's academy before signing full-time for Castleford Tigers.

"I've a lot of good friends at Broncos, but once the action starts it will be just like any other game," said Leatherbarrow.

Egodo celebrated his 20th birthday yesterday - and he says the best present he could have would be a win against his fellow Londoners.