Fourth Super League veteran signs for aspiring Championship side

Wakefield Trinity veteran Matty Ashurst has become the fourth Super League man to sign with one ambitious Championship side.

Ashurst follows in the footsteps of Wakefield Trinity teammate Iain Thornley in making the move to recently promoted Oldham RLFC.

The 35-year-old has penned a two-year deal with Oldham after leaving Wakefield following ten seasons with the club, the last of which saw him help guide them back to Super League.

Ashurst is yet another massive signing for Oldham who are showing plenty of ambition after winning League One with Sean Long’s men building a squad that looks capable of challenging in the Championship.

As well as Wakefield pair Ashurst and Thornley, the Roughyeds have also signed former Warrington and Salford prop Gil Dudson, as well as ex-Huddersfield Giants hooker Adam Milner.

Within that quartet, Oldham have signed a whopping 966 games of Super League experience which will pair with current players such as Jordan Turner and Elijah Taylor, to name just two of the Roughyeds’ impressive and experienced squad.

Super League ambition behind Oldham move for Ashurst

Replicating the success that both Oldham and Wakefield had in 2024 was a main focus for Ashurst who spoke with Roughyeds TV after penning his new deal.

“Last season was brilliant for Oldham so hopefully we can put a run together next year and do something special,” the 300-plus-game Super League veteran explained.

Ashurst started off his career with St Helens before making the switch to Salford Red Devils in 2012. A move to Wakefield for the 2015 season would lead to him representing the club 230 times, culminating in the Grand Final win over Toulouse Olympique back in October.

The veteran scored in that game and he noted the challenge of restoring Trinity to the top division as being comparable to the vision that Oldham hold.

“This will be a great challenge as the vision here at Oldham is similar to Wakefield, they want to do big things,” Ashurst explained.

“I watched a lot of Oldham when I knew I was coming here and it looks a great family club with a great team spirit and I was excited to get the opportunity to be a part of this.”

Saints connection as Ashurst and Long reunite

There is also a previous connection between Ashurst and head coach Sean Long with the pair crossing paths at St Helens, something both men noted when they spoke about the signing.

Ashurst explained: “I came through in a St Helens team with Sean Long in it and now he is my coach. I looked up to him massively as a kid watching the game and I was a bit starstruck in that Saints team. There was no better introduction into Super League.

“I want to help this club take the first steps to getting to Super League in a few years time. There is a really good squad to have a good go at the Championship and the 1895 Cup is a great opportunity too.”

Long added: “I worked with Matty at Saints and signed him at Salford. He is a really good professional who captained Wakefield to Super League. He has really good standards and is a true pro, a born leader.”