League One high-flyers Oldham RLFC have made a statement signing and brought former Warrington Wolves half-back Riley Dean back from Australia, signing the 22-year-old on a deal until the end of the 2026 season.
It’s a huge coup for the League One side who are going all in to ensure that are promoted to the Championship for 2025 and then try and compete in that division.
That’s certainly something that a signing such as Riley Dean will do for them with the former Warrington Wolves man standing out on the few occasions he played in Super League
Having started the season on loan at Featherstone Rovers, Dean was quickly recalled but would end up playing just one game for Warrington Wolves before being loaned to Castleford Tigers.
In total, he only made five Super League appearances last year, one fewer than his 2022 season, and eventually, he parted ways and opted for a move down under.
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Oldham sign ex Warrington Wolves half
Credit: Imago Images
Dean’s spell down under with Mackay Cutters, a feeder team for North Queensland Cowboys, has been cut short with the 22-year-old already back in England and potentially in contention to play this weekend.
The club will be hoping he’s over any jet lag as Oldham face off against Keighley Cougars in a top-of-the-table clash that could end up determining who gets promotion.
Speaking on his move, Dean said: “I can’t wait to get going and this is a good opportunity for me to hopefully cement myself in this Oldham team for an exciting journey to be part of,” Dean told Roughyeds TV.
“It was a great experience and a new way of life in Australia, learning some life lessons and that was an opportunity I wanted to take.”
Why Riley Dean has signed for Oldham
Credit: Imago Images
On the opportunity presented at Oldham, he cited Sean Long as one of the key reasons he made the move, the pair worked together during Dean’s 11-game loan spell at Featherstone last year.
Speaking to Roughyeds TV, Dean said: “This now is an opportunity that I did not want to let go and I’m glad I have taken it. I get on with Longy, he is a really good bloke outside of rugby and he doesn’t really put the ball down that often.
“He is one of the big reasons I have come back, with the depth and bank of knowledge he has got – if I can take five per cent of that it is good enough for me. ”
Long added: “I have kept in touch with Riley for a long time and coached him at Fev. He was talking about coming home so we worked it out, he knows how I play and how we defend and it is great to get it over the line now for the last few games of this season.
“He controls the game and has been learning his craft in Australia tackling those big lads out there. He will bring calmness and clarity and will slot right in – if selected!”
