
Former Wigan Warriors centre Iain Thornley has highlighted Oldham’s Super League aspirations when discussing why he signed for the Championship club ahead of the 2025 season.
Thornley is one of several ex-Super League players to sign for the Roughyeds for 2025 with the centre joining after a successful season with Wakefield Trinity. Whilst at Trinity, he helped the club win the Championship Grand Final, League Leaders Shield and the 1895 Cup.
With Oldham, he’ll be hoping to replicate such success with Sean Long’s side no stranger to silverware albeit in the division below after winning League One in 2025.
The former Wigan Warriors man has now outlined the reasons why he signed for Oldham whilst also discussing the pre-season generally.
“Definitely, that’s part of the reason why I came,” Thornley told the club’s YouTube channel when asked about the side’s capability of becoming a successful team.
“I don’t want to just be a number in a team or be in a team that is not really doing much.”
Ex-Wigan Warriors man heralds Super League ambitions of new club

Credit: John Clifton/SWpix.com
Thornley even cited Oldham’s Super League aspirations as an indicator of the club going in the right direction and making them a team that he was happy to sign for.
He explained: “They’ve got aspirations of eventually getting to Super League but we’ve got to start this year in the Championship and make a good foothold for ourselves.
“Part of looking at the team and have we got the credentials to do that? I think we have, it’s all about how many injuries you get in the season as well. That can either make or break your season.”
The success that Oldham have found has come after the takeover which has seen them return to Boundary Park, a stadium that Thonrley can’t wait to play at.
He said: “I went to the stadium the first time and I was quite impressed by that so I’m looking forward to seeing all the fans down there and cheering us on.”
Thornley is one of many ex-Super League men to sign including Matty Ashurst, Adam Milner and Gil Dudson and with so many signings Thornley is expecting Oldham to take a while to get into their rhythm.
“I don’t think any team is there in game one, it takes a few games to find your feet. I think we will be ready but it will take a few games before we’re maybe firing on all cylinders.”
