Oldham secure PLT for 2025

Oldham have confirmed that star full-back Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e has agreed a new deal to remain with the club on loan from Hull KR for our 2025 Betfred Championship campaign. 

The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough year for the champions, scoring 15 tries in 18 Oldham games with some devastating attacking play as he was named Betfred League One Young Player of the Year.

PLT was also recognised by his Oldham team-mates with the Players' Player of the Year award, and his signing for 2025 represents a major coup for managing director Mike Ford, who has already added Super League quality in Adam Milner and Gil Dudson as the club plans for the Championship.

"I'm very happy to be playing on with Oldham," PLT told Roughyeds TV. 

"It was a really good year last year, not just because we had loads of success but because of how close-knit we were as a group.

"They welcomed me in straight away which made it a lot easier for me to make the adjustment into a new team.

"Next season will help my development massively.

"The Championship is an extremely hard comp, the jump in levels is going to be big and I need to match that.

"Playing at a high level is going to improve my game and all I want to do is develop and get better so I can eventually be a Super League regular."

The youngster was at Old Trafford at the weekend as his parent club Hull KR fell just short in their first Super League Grand Final appearance. 

As part of the deal the player has extended his contract at the Robins for a further year until the end of 2026, and PLT believes that continuing his development under head coach Sean Long at Oldham is exactly what he needs to keep improving as a player. 

He added: "This was probably the first year that I have played a full season and that really helped me understand the game.

"When you are just training but not playing you don't fully understand the little nuances like timing and instinct. 

"Playing under Longy has been great as he lets me express myself and gives me freedom as a full-back.

"I thrive under that as he basically lets me do whatever I want within reason.

"I had a little quiet patch during the year especially that first Keighley game where I made a few costly errors.

"But I needed an experience like that because I hadn't played in big games like that before so it really helped me and I felt I finished the season strongly because of that."

With Roughyeds fans already snapping up season tickets for 2025 as Boundary Park prepares to welcome the likes of Bradford, London and Toulouse, PLT says the passionate Oldham fanbase also played a massive part in his decision to stay.

"The fans here are amazing," he added.

"My first game against Hunslet I was surprised by how many people come to the game, even for League One the support was immense and I know it is going to get even better when we are in the Championship."

Oldham will announce more signings and confirm their coaching set-up for 2025 in the coming weeks. 

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