Roughyeds swoop for star centre Thornley

Oldham have made another big signing ahead of their return to the Betfred Championship with the acquisition of Grand Final and Challenge Cup winner Iain Thornley on a two-year deal. 

The experienced centre arrives at Boundary Park fresh from winning the Championship title with Wakefield, having won major domestic honours with Wigan Warriors in a career that has also included stints at Catalans Dragons, Leigh and Hull KR.

The 33-year-old follows Adam Milner and Gil Dudson as Oldham's major off-season recruits, and Thornley told Roughyeds TV that he is joining a club on the up.

"I want to be part of clubs that have ambitions," he said.

"At Wakefield I was part of a club that won all three trophies and got promoted.

"Oldham want to do something similar, it will be stepping stones each year but hopefully we can have a good year next year.

"I'm really excited. I have heard a lot about the place and people have nothing but good things to say about the club.

"I will give everything for Oldham. I pride myself on my defence and taking the ball in hard so I cannot wait for that first game.

"I have won Challenge Cups and Grand Finals with Wigan and been part of the Challenge Cup final team at Catalans.

"Last year was very special with Wakefield too. I have learned that you should never stop learning."

Thornley has warned that the step up to the Championship is going to be a steep learning curve for the League One champions, but believes there is plenty of quality at Oldham to have another successful campaign. 

"I could see the big scorelines from last year so to be a part of this now in the Championship is exciting," he added.

"It is a big step up from League One to the Championship.

"Players are a lot more knowledgeable, so being ready for that is going to be difficult.

"The sooner you get used to it the sooner you get results off the back of it."

Head coach Sean Long believes Thornley can make a big impact at the Roughyeds and ticks every box of the kind of player the club is looking for.

"Iain has won a lot and is a winner," said Long. 

"I want a winning culture and winning mentality with good people who want to work hard and put the team first and he fits that."

Oldham are already back in pre-season training at the regenerated Melrose facility and plan to reveal two further signings later this week.

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