Oliver Partington has opened up on how quickly his return to Wigan Warriors was completed after his switch was confirmed on Sunday.
Partington has penned a five-year deal with the Warriors after making the immediate switch from Catalans Dragons, with Kruise Leeming going the other way as part of the deal.
The loose-forward spent just one season in the south of France, but the move means he has now returned to the club where he started his career back in 2018. Partington made 91 appearances over the course of five seasons for his hometown club but left to join Salford Red Devils ahead of the 2023 season.
Since then he has been a regular in Super League, honing his talents and skills and at the age of 27, he returns to Wigan in the midst of his prime years.
Of course, the decision to move from Perpignan to Wigan on short notice is a big one, but Partington has labelled it a no brainer.
Partington on his Wigan Warriors return
“It’s been just over a week since I found out Wigan wanted me to come back to the club,” Partington said in a video posted on Wigan’s official site. “Originally it was going to be four years but next year but after speaking to Matty [Peet], he was pretty keen to get it done this year.
“It was a big decision for me and my family to move back home after living out in France for a year but it was a no brainer in the end because it’s such a big club and it is my hometown club and one I love a lot.
“Deep down I always had a little feeling that I could end up back at Wigan with it being my hometown and such. I did love my time here, it’s just a shame it didn’t work out the first time.
“I understood the reasons why and I was grateful for the opportunity to go and explore elsewhere, play for two different teams and I think I’ve come back a more mature player and person.”
Asked about where he might play under Peet, Partington, who has joined up with Wigan on their pre-season camp in Tenerife, added: “Matty likes to move the ball through the middle. All the middles can pass and pass well so it’s just adding to that in any way I can really and share the role with Kaide [Ellis] maybe, taking some pressure off him and him taking some pressure off me.
“I think the main reason I’ve come back here is my defence and what I can do in defence. I do pride myself on that and I know Wigan do as a club, they’ve always prided themselves on defence and hopefully I can add to the team in any way possible.”
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