Fighting spirit is crucial

FIGHTING spirit is the name of the game for Oldham ahead of the crunch battle with Bradford Bulls.

The second Championship Shield clash follows on from a 56-16 defeat at Sheffield Eagles that, for assistant coach Peter Carey, typified the kind of misfortune that his side have suffered of late.

Back on home soil and up against a Bradford side who were relegated last week, a victory in Sunday's game at Bower Fold would see the Roughyeds step out of the bottom-two if Swinton were to lose at home to Sheffield.

"We didn't get the run of the green or the bounce of the ball," Carey said after the defeat at the Beaumont Legal Stadium.

"You only have to look at the first try of the second half where the ball bounces up for them to score a relatively simple try, or the try at the end where a kick bounces off legs and a post and back to them to score.

"I think that is what you get when you're on a run like we're on and when you're in that dog-fight. We're going to have to turn that around ourselves.

"We've had a good chat with everyone after the game and the players have got to look at themselves now and start fighting for each other."

Willie Tonga is in line to return to the Bulls line-up after missing the 26-10 home loss to Toulouse through injury.

WIDNES Vikings have confirmed that prop forward Eamon O'Carroll has been forced to retire following a nerve injury.

The former Waterhead junior (30), who also played for Wigan and Hull FC in a 12-year career, represented Ireland in two World Cups.

"It's an injury that kept coming up. We explored every opportunity to make it better," said O'Carroll, who suffered the problem in a game against Wakefield a month ago.