Josh Drinkwater says it may take some getting accustomed to playing rugby league on the sidelines, but he thinks Oldham is the ideal match for him. Drinkwater, a former Warrington Wolves half-back, signed a one-year contract with Oldham ahead of the next season, which was announced Wednesday afternoon.
Drinkwater is no stranger to the Championship; he participated in it in 2016 after leaving the NRL to play in the second division alongside Leigh. But after playing consistently in the Super League for the last eight years with Leigh, Catalans Dragons, Hull KR, and Warrington, his signing is viewed as a major coup for Oldham.
In preparation for life back in the Championship, the recently promoted team has recruited some high-profile additions. Drinkwater has joined Boundary Park with players like Adam Milner, Gil Dudson, Iain Thornley, and Matty Ashurst. They have since demonstrated a great deal of ambition, which was a key factor in Drinkwater’s decision to support Sean Long.
Going from a full-time team to a part-time one is certainly new for me. I gave it a lot of thought, and I first spoke with Mike (Ford) over the phone, Drinkwater told Roughyeds TV. “I spoke with Longy about his preferred playing style when we first met, and it truly fit and suited me. Pre-season will be pleasant and cool, and training at night will be a little odd, but I can’t wait to meet all the boys and get started.
“If it weren’t for this club’s ambition, I wouldn’t have arrived. I want to do things, and I’m here to play rugby.
“You witnessed how well the team performed in League One the previous season and the additions they made for the Championship. Going into the upcoming season, I believe there will be a wide open competition; Wakefield and Leigh, who were once the favorites, are not there.
“I’ve been around for a long and now have experience. I understand the competition since I played Championship with Leigh back in 2016, and it’s completely different from Super League. I enjoy playing on the ball and controlling teams, even if the fields can be much more muddy and slower.
“I discussed that with Longy, and he also wants that. If it wasn’t a good fit for me, I wouldn’t have signed. I’ve played over here much too much and I’m too old.
Naturally, Drinkwater fills Long’s former position, and the chance to work with such a legendary player was another reason for the 31-year-old’s departure from Warrington Wolves at the end of the 2024 campaign.
When it comes to rugby league, Drinkwater continued, “his career speaks for itself, and we seem to have the same understanding and like to play the same type of way.” It’s very much the same as what I performed at Warrington. I can understand his style of play and what he wants to do because he is obviously good friends with Martin Gleeson, who was our attacking coach the previous season. I also believe that his style suits with my own.
