Waterhead teenager handed dream Oldham chance

Oldham's commitment to developing the stars of rugby league's future has seen teenage Waterhead forward Marcus Geener sign a one-year deal with the Roughyeds for 2025. 

In a major breakthrough for the club's re-established pathway system, the 18-year-old has signed a contract that will see him train with Oldham's first team throughout the 2025 Betfred Championship season, while continuing his development as a player for Waterhead. 

"I'm buzzing as I have always wanted to play for Oldham and said that to my dad since I was a little lad," Geener told Roughyeds TV as he joined his new Oldham team-mates for pre-season training at Melrose. 

"I used to ball boy here, I have been down watching for years so as soon as I got the phone call from (Managing Director) Mike Ford to say 'we want to sign you professionally' it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever made."

The England Community Lions star represented his country in the under-19s European Championship victory in Belgrade this summer and was one of nine local teenage prospects given the chance to train with Oldham earlier this year, as the club committed to retaining the best of the region's young rugby league talent. 

"I will be playing every week still at Waterhead in a tough competitive Conference League after our promotion and getting game time but still developing," he said.

"I'm only 18 so being with Oldham every Tuesday all season and doing a full pre-season I will hopefully develop physically, and then skill-wise being around players like Jordan Turner and being coached by Joe Wardle and Sean Long it is best for me to develop and I'm looking forward to it. 

"I want other kids to see they can do it as I have gone and done it.

"There is a way that if you are on a pathway you are going to end up playing for Oldham or signing and I'm an example of that."

Oldham head coach Sean Long says he was impressed by Geener in 2024 and wants to see more from the youngster in 2025.

"He's a really humble bloke who we have had in from pre-season last year.

"He gets on with all the lads, he's intelligent, learning his craft in the back row and the lads love him. He's part of the team and we are glad to have him on board.

"I have said so many times that we have lads who leave Oldham and go elsewhere.

"Well we have Marcus here now as part of our journey and it is great to have him.

"There are more people out there like Marcus so we want to tap into these lads to be a part of this club."

Waterhead boss Keith Brennan believes the deal will be a positive collaboration for both clubs.

"The most important thing is that he just needs to play rugby, there is no point training all week with no end goal.

"So we can't wait to see what he can do for us. We had a couple of hints of him last year and he is such a good kid with tremendous pace. 

"He is tall and athletic and when he does fill out over the next couple of years he will be a fair handful I can tell you.

"He wants to learn and get better and being around our open age lads has been good for him already so being around great players at Oldham can only bring him on further. 

"I spoke to Mike and we have agreed a deal that suits everyone.

"He has been around our first team a bit last year so it won't take him long to get back into the swing of things.

"He will no doubt come back with a good pedigree training with Oldham.

"He definitely has all the attributes and most importantly a great attitude."

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.