Cross-code Thornley back on familiar territory

Having impressed while on an extended loan at sister club Leeds Carnegie, his proximity to the Super League champions made him an obvious target when it became clear the rangy three-quarter might not stay with Sale Sharks.

They were fully aware of his talent, form and potential heading into 2011, but, when it came to the crunch, it was former club Wigan Warriors who facilitated his return from union.

So, instead of attempting to become the long-term successor to Keith Senior, the 21-year-old now finds himself trying to fill the boots of another quality veteran international.

There were genuine concerns among the Wigan faithful about how they would cope without George Carmont upon his retirement last autumn given the consistent class the Samoan favourite had brought to their side over the previous five seasons.

But with three tries already, Thornley – who signed last May – is showing enough in the early part of this campaign to assuage those fears as the Warriors arrive at his old stomping ground Headingley this evening.

“I can’t really complain,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“I’m playing week-in, week-out and picked it (league) all back up pretty well since coming back.

“Obviously, George was a big player for the team and the club especially with his defensive attributes.

“In the six months I had with him before he went, I just tried to learn as much as I could from him and put that into my game.

“I watched how he reacts to situations in training and when he went to do his video clips I’d watch them with him, too, and I’d obviously try and analyse what he did in games as well.

“Since the start of the season, I’ve been playing a lot more than I thought I might and I’ve been enjoying it. It will be good to get back over there to Headingley on Friday.”

It will be a different Headingley to the one he is accustomed.

There are likely to be more than 15,000 fans there this evening as opposed to possibly the 2,000 he was playing in front of when featuring in that 26-game Carnegie stretch in 2011-12.

However, that period held happy memories for Thornley as he gained the regular football – albeit in the Championship – he had failed to land at Sale since leaving Wigan as a precociously talented teenager in 2010.

“I played a lot of rugby with Leeds Carnegie and really enjoyed it up there,” he recalled.

“They helped me learn a new sport, spent a lot of time on me and did me a lot of favours so I owe them a lot of thanks.

“When it became clear I might be leaving Sale, Rhinos did show a little bit of interest and there was some stuff flying around, but nothing really materialised.

“Carnegie did offer me a really good deal to stay, though, and that was hard to turn down.

“But I wanted to play top-flight rugby and, being in the Championship, that was difficult especially when Wigan were in.

“It’ll be weird turning up there on Friday, though, and heading into the away dressing room.

“I’m still in touch with a few of the Carnegie lads – I went back to see them all in November at a get-together with some of those who had left – and I expect some will be there this weekend, but I can’t see them cheering for me.”

Thornley has an interesting background. An England Academy international after joining Warriors from the famous Wigan St Patricks amateur club, he had still yet to make his Super League debut when Sale called.

NRL clubs had also noted the teenager’s promise, but he opted to follow in the footsteps of Wigan legend Jason Robinson and try his hand with the Sharks.

At the time, many in league thought that would prompt a surge of talent heading to the 
15-man code but, in truth, it proved no more than a trickle.

Thornley said: “I really enjoyed playing union. I thought when I was still young and injury-free it was a good time to do it.

“But, then, I could see there would be a spot in my position at Wigan again with George retiring and a big opportunity to play a lot of rugby back here. They offered me a three-and-a-half-year deal, too, and I’m glad I’m back.”

Leeds have found their own solution to that centre conundrum in the shape of Joel Moon, who will be raiding the opposite side to Thornley tonight.

Ordinarily, the Wigan player would be facing Kallum Watkins, someone he knows well.

“I got to see the Rhinos down at Kirkstall where they and Carnegie train,” he said. “But I knew Kallum before. I actually played against him when he was at Latchford Albion and I was with Wigan St Pats as kids.

“I could tell then he was a talent. He was their main player and someone we always looked for. He played full-back and it’s strange how he’s ended up playing there again now after switching from centre.

“We beat Latchford a few times, but I remember one year – I think it was Under-15s – they did defeat us and that loss meant we finished second. He’s made great progress and is obviously doing great for Leeds and England.”

Wigan are undefeated on their last four visits to Headingley but are still smarting after Leeds knocked them out of both the Challenge Cup and Super League play-offs in 2012.

Wigan, of course, will look to Sam Tomkins to recreate the magic of last June when the England full-back terrorised Rhinos in an embarrassing 50-8 defeat.

The big hope is he does not become the latest Wiganer to defect to union, but Thornley is just loving life outside him.

“Sam’s just a great player who creates so many opportunities,” he said. “You know, if you go on Sam’s shoulder, nine times out of 10 he will create something. But Leeds will be a challenge.”