Hope’s silver service

WILL HOPE . . . six games, three trophies.

WILL Hope’s sporting life has developed a silver lining since he signed for Oldham on deadline day last July.

As promoted Roughyeds count down to Sunday’s Championship kick-off at home to London Broncos, dressing room talk concerns the back-row forward’s remarkable record of three trophy triumphs in only six games for the club.

Hope (22) made his Roughyeds debut against Swinton last season and kept his place for the last two games against Oxford and Keighley - which clinched League One honours.

In the close season he starred for Ireland in the European Championships then resumed silver service for Scott Naylor’s side by helping Roughyeds to beat Rochdale and win the Law Cup.

“Six games and three trophies. The lads have ribbed me about that but I’m not complaining,” said Hope, who is eagerly looking forward to testing himself at the higher level.

“We’re a closely-knit bunch. Most of the lads have been together three years and that makes a huge difference. I would say man for man we’ll be a bit younger than a few of the other teams and that will help too. We’ll have a lot of fresh legs. We’ll compete with most teams — perhaps not all — in terms of speed and strength.

“I think we’ll certainly stay up and my personal belief is that we should be aiming to finish somewhere near half way and we’ll cause a few upsets along the way.”.