Neal: Were not thinking about relegation

Oldham might have avoided the drop to League 1 by three points last season but Roughyeds forward Adam Neal believes they have nothing to worry about this time round.

The 26-year old has returned to Oldham for 2017 campaign after a season with the Sheffield Eagles.

Neal said: “Going into this season the aim is to just get better really and relegation is not even something that is in the mind.

“This year we want to add a bit more to our attack.

“I think Oldham are known as a team whose defence is good and we grind games out but I think we can a bit more of a dimension.”

A few weeks into pre-season, Neal admitted there are a lot of misconceptions about part-time teams such as the Roughyeds.

“A lot of people probably don’t think it’s as tough as it is,” he said.

“In terms of the stuff we’ve been doing it’s just like you would with a full-time team.”

During his time away from the club, Neal has noticed a massive improvement in what is being done off the field.

“The club has progressively massively in terms of the backroom staff and the way things are run,” he told Love Rugby League.

“You can see the effort behind the scenes and just with the staff and the way things are.”

When asked about the signings that have come in, Neal stressed that they have built on what were an already good group of players.

Scott Leatherbarrow, who has joined the club from London Broncos, is just one of a number of new faces to arrive at the Greater Manchester club.

“The guys there are good anyway but we have strengthened really well,” he said.

“Scott Leatherbarrow, who I played with in the academy at Warrington, is a really good player.”

Neal did suggest there could be a few more arrivals because of the size of the squad.

“I think there will be a few additions later on in the season if it’s needed because I think we have only got a squad of 22,” he said.