Toby signs on for next season
ROCHDALE Hornets have announced the signing of Toby Adamson, who became the second new player to join the club for the 2018 season this week.
The Dewsbury Rams second rower has been at the Tetley’s Stadium since 2015, making 58 appearances and scoring nine times.
Three of those appearances came against the Hornets this season, and before that he spent three years with North Wales Crusaders, with his career starting at Salford Red Devils.
He is a player Alan Kilshaw has kept his eye on throughout the year, and Adamson explained that once the Rochdale boss got in touch the deal was finalised quickly.
“Alan got in touch with my agent and said he had seen me play a few times this year, and I think he had noticed me when he was doing video reviews of Dewsbury and other teams we had played,” he revealed.
“I had a decent game when I played against Rochdale, and after Alan had got in touch with my agent the deal was done pretty quick within one or two weeks.”
The 27-year-old earned the praise of his former coach Neil Kelly, as he was awarded the coach’s player of the year award at the Rams’ awards evening.
He admitted that his new coach Kilshaw played a huge roll in his decision to switch to the Crown Oil Arena for 2018.
“I’d probably say he was one of the main factors in me signing for Rochdale.
“You have to get on with the coach and you have to be on the same wavelength, and you end up seeing them more than your mrs you’re with them that much.
“I met him before I signed to see the training facilities and I got a really good vibe from him.
“He’s a good bloke and I’d asked some of the lads who are already there how he was as a coach and they had nothing but praise for him.
“I’ve got really good vibes about him and I’d probably say that’s one of the main reasons why I signed at Rochdale.”
Pre-season is over a month away, but that hasn’t stifled his excitement to get started at his new club, as he looks forward to the fresh challenges ahead.
“I can’t wait to get started,” Adamson continued. “I’d been at Dewsbury for three years and to get a change and get a new club is always a good challenge.
“There’s coaches there who have never seen me train before so it’s like a fresh start for me, and even though it’s six weeks until pre-season I’m buzzing and raring to go.”
As well as size and power, he also brings a wealth of experience at Championship level having represented Dewsbury
‘I feel like I’m ageing quite well and I’m quite mature as a player’
and Crusaders during his career.
The back rower feels he can add a lot to the squad and is keen to help the learning curve of the younger players within the group.
“I feel like I’m ageing quite well and I’m quite mature as a player.
“I’ve made over 100 appearances at Championship level, and I’ve been playing at quite a decent level week-in, week-out so I can definitely add some experience to the team. Hopefully I can guide some of the younger lads and bring quite a lot to Rochdale next season.”
Settling in at a new club could be a daunting task, but having already played alongside a lot of his new team mates that is something Adamson isn’t worried about.
“I don’t think it will be tough to settle in at all.
“All rugby league lads are generally the same, just a good group of lads and I’m fortunate because I know Gary Middlehurst and I used to play with Lewis Palfrey. I played with Rob Massam and Jono Smith at Crusaders and I also know Danny Yates so I know quite a lot of the boys already.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the lads and I’m excited for the first day with them.”
After helping Dewsbury pull away from the relegation zone and reach the Championship Shield semi-finals, he is aiming to replicate that in 2018.
“As a team I think we should be aiming to make the top eight, and I don’t think that is an unrealistic goal because Alan has recruited well in the offseason. With the squad we have and the additions that are being made, I definitely think we can push for that top eight spot and get into the Shield playoffs.
“From a personal perspective I just want to play every week and just keep doing what I do.
“Hopefully I can help out in attack when needed and bring some stability to the defence.”