Sweat and toil for Roughyeds

Scott Naylor . . . the work-out would have done the players “a power of good”.

WITH their first pre-season game at Keighley fast approaching, Oldham RL players went to “war” this week to toughen up for the battles ahead.

In a break from routine, coach Scott Naylor took his 21-man squad for a rigorous work-out at Gorilla Warfare Strength and Conditioning in Walkden.

“It was a brilliant session — one of the toughest in my three years at Oldham,” said the Roughyeds coach.

“Everything they do there is taken to the extreme. I’d hesitate to say the lads enjoyed themselves — it was too demanding for that — but they knew it was for their benefit and it will certainly have done them a power of good.”

In 100 minutes of sweat and toil, club captain Lewis Palfrey and Co. boxed, wrestled and had a crack at martial arts. It was their only session between Christmas and New Year and when they report back on Tuesday, preparations will begin for the first of three warm-up games, at Keighley on January 10.

Naylor went on: “We’ve been training hard since November and it’s good to reach the turn of the year with everyone fit and healthy and looking forward to the opening game.

“We’ve had the odd bump and bruise along the way, but physio Patrick Hoyte has worked hard in taking care of the players’ welfare and its looking like everybody will be fit for the Keighley game, including Adam Clay after his ankle surgery.

“Overall, it’s been a great pre-season and the players can now look ahead to the next phase — the three friendlies — knowing they’ve trained exceptionally hard to prepare themselves for what lies ahead.”