MARTYN Reilly, one of 12 of Oldham Rugby League Club's new signings for 2021, has told Roughyeds fans: "Look forward to next year. You've a lot to get excited about !"

The rugged forward joins Oldham from fellow Championship side Dewsbury Rams with his Rams team-mates Luke Nelme, also a prop, and winger Tommy Brierley.

An essential for any successful rugby league team is a big, strong, mobile set of forwards and head coach Matt Diskin has put his cards on the table by bringing in experienced pack men like Reilly, Nelmes, Liam Kirk from Bradford Bulls and Shaun Pick from Batley Bulldogs.

With a large squad of 27 – designed to cope with the abolition of dual registrations and new loan rules that will discourage the temporary movement of players between clubs – Diskin will have options throughout the side.

With fresh hopes of a vaccine defeating Covid and prospects of a return to sporting normality by next Easter, Reilly has an upbeat message.

"I'm looking forward to starting pre-season training as an Oldham player," he said. "We've been away from the game for a long time in this madness of a year and I can't wait to get back. Disco (coach Diskin) and Chris (chairman Hamilton) have made the best of a bad situation and have built a very strong side for 2021. As a player, I'm really looking forward to being part of it.

"You guys (Oldham fans) have a lot to be excited about. As I say, Disco and Chris have made some good signings and have also kept hold of a lot of good players from last year.

"I'm looking forward to meeting you all – hopefully at the first game if restrictions are lifted – and getting to know you. Here's to a good 2021."

Fellow newcomer Tyler Dupree, also talking to Roughyeds fans on the club's social media sites, expressed similar upbeat thoughts about his move to Oldham, and added: "I can't wait to get my first training session as an Oldham player under my belt. Hopefully, we'll see you at the first game. Stay safe – and stay well."

Oldham, who will be under the command of Diskin and his two assistants, fellow Yorkshiremen Brendan Sheridan and Jode Sheriffe, struggled earlier this year before Covid caused the 2020 Championship campaign to be written off.

The boss, however, is much happier now than he was when he took charge of newly-promoted Oldham for the first time in February.

He said: "I'm much more confident now than I was back then. The squad's looking good."

Reilly and Dupree are joined by fellow new-boys Nelmes, Kirk and Pick, all forwards, and backs Tommy Brierley, Ben Holcroft, Ryan Ince, Ben Heaton, Max Roberts, Callum Green and James Barran, a local lad who lives in Lees and was a Wigan Warriors product, like Holcroft, Roberts and initially Green, although Green was latterly with Warrington Wolves.

They join 15 players who were at Oldham this year.