Bardsley is latest to sign on the dotted line

Oldham Roughyeds have secured the signing of promising loose-forward Sam Bardsley, who has grown-up, in rugby league terms, at Salford Red Devils.

Bardsley, who is 22, had numerous League One offers, but opted for Oldham and cited head coach Stu Littler’s track record in developing younger players as a key reason.

He said: “Stu has got history in developing players, for example Matty Ashton, Frankie Halton, Luis Roberts.

"I want to emulate what he’s done with them.

“I wanted to test myself at the right club and I felt Oldham was the right club.

"I want to play at the highest level I can - and I believe I can do it.”

Remarkably, Bradsley only started playing the sport with Folly Lane seven years ago when he was 15.

A year later, he was on the books of Salford at scholarship level and had been on and off with them, before signing for Roughyeds.

During his time at Salford he has trained with the first team, spent time at Leigh Miners Rangers and also played in Valencia Hurricanes’ inaugural rugby league game against Featherstone Rovers back in 2020.

Bardsley, who can also play in the ‘middles’ and back row, said: “I’ve never played anywhere outside of reserve level or scholarship level so I want to test myself.

"I feel Oldham is the right place to do it and now is the right time.”

He also offered the fans an insight into his character and what he brings to Roughyeds.

“I’m hard-working and somebody who clears everything up. I’m somebody who always turns up for the team and does the little things well," he added.

“I won’t be stringing a 40-yard pass or banging someone into next week, but I’ll be there clearing up, hopefully topping effort areas with lots of line speed and inside pressures"

Head coach Littler said: “Sam is someone I’ve kept my eye on for a couple of years.

“He’s ambitious, he’s got a good drive.

"He’s not coming to make up the numbers, that’s for sure, he’s coming to try to nail a jersey.

“We’re now getting to a stage within our squad where there is no obvious 17-man squad screaming out at people.

“It’s going to be a scrap to get into that 17 and that’s what we want, that’s what keeps people on their toes.”

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