Head coach Gary Thornton looks ahead to season opener

Rochdale Hornets head coach Gary Thornton says his new-look side are ready to hit the ground running in the Betfred Championship.

Following the introduction of an expanded Championship division of 21 clubs for 2026, the new season gets underway this weekend as the Hornets visit local rivals Swinton Lions in Round 1. 

The Hornets have recruited heavily during the off-season following a number of key player departures, including the retirement of captain Duane Straugheir and other experienced heads in Gregg McNally and Martyn Ridyard.

But Thornton, who will enter his fourth full season as head coach, says the squad is looking in a healthy position ahead of Sunday's trip to Heywood Road.

Speaking at Monday's Championship season launch event in Wakefield, he said: "We've freshened things up, brought some new players in. It's been a good pre-season - shortened by the early start to the campaign - but the boys have worked really hard.

"It's a different challenge, a tough challenge against some high-level clubs, but it's one we've wanted as a group.

"We've got some really tough games this season, especially with the way the fixtures are structured. Some have easier draws than others, given the system this year, and I'm expecting some strange results.

"Obviously, our fixture list is different than most. We're tenants of our home ground and are dictated a little bit by the football club, who are having the pitch re-laid in the summer, so we've got a lot of home games early on and the chance to get off to a quick start. 

"We need to make those early home games count. It'll be tough to manage such a lopsided schedule, but hopefully after the first half of the season we can find ourselves in a reasonably strong position." 

An extensive recruitment drive over the winter months has seen a number of new faces arrive at the Crown Oil Arena. 

Seven of those additions have been handed starting shirt numbers, suggesting a much-changed line-up when the new season begins. 

The Hornets' only pre-season friendly resulted in a 16-6 win at Goole Vikings last weekend, and Thornton admits it was not just the senior heads brought in who have caught his eye.

And given the financial resources available, he admits the hard work behind the scenes has ensured their squad is as healthy as possible heading into the new campaign. 

"Three of our main players retired last year, and they're obviously big figures in the dressing room, quality players and leaders too," Thornton added.

"We knew we had to refresh things, especially in pivotal areas of the field. With the budget that we've got, we've brought a few experienced heads in but also given some younger players a chance to show what they can do - players who want to make a name for themselves.

"I love that personally, because they'll bring enthusiasm and want to prove to people what they're about. 

"I think the balance is really good and everyone has worked really hard over the last few weeks. Hopefully we can kick on now and take that form into the season."