Broncos have set the benchmark

WATCH OUT . . . Oldham’s Phil Joy looks for a gap against the Broncos.

DON’T judge the Oldham team by its opening-day defeat by London Broncos, says chairman Chris Hamilton.

Roughyeds started life in the higher division by losing 22-0..

Despite defeat at their new Bower Fold home, Hamilton refused to be downhearted - and is sure Scott Naylor’s men will learn from their first experience of second-tier rugby league.

He said the professional Broncos “demonstrated what they are capable of”, with a very simple game plan.

“You can see that if you’ve got all week to work on stuff, it makes a difference.”

“It was a good test for us. The first five games we thought ‘wow’ - but what we achieve this season won’t be determined by what happened against Broncos.”

The fixtures don’t get any easier in coming weeks. After Leigh Centurions on Sunday, Roughyeds host Dewsbury Rams then travel to Featherstone Rovers. The first match in March is at home to Bradford Bulls.

Hamilton went on: “Obviously it’s going to be incredibly hard against full-time teams. But if we show that same level of effort and commitment against some of the other teams, we won’t be far off.

Oldham prided themselves in the League One title-winning season of 2015 with their ability to play full-throttle rugby for the whole of the 80 minutes. Opponents were swept aside as they wilted under intense pressure.

“The lads know how physical it’s going to be and we will be without doubt the fittest non-full time team in the division,” said Hamilton. “I’m absolutely confident in that.

“When you are playing full-time teams, you’ve still got to kick on and when you are tired, you’ve still got to make that extra effort. The lads have got a taste of it now - and they will be better for it.”