Proper Forward Oliver Partington has returned to Wigan Warriors on a five year deal which will see him return to his hometown team until the end of 2030 while Kruise Leeming moves to Catalans Dragons on a one-year loan as part of the deal..
Having developed through the Wigan system earlier in his career, Oliver made his debut for the Warriors against Castleford Tigers in 2018 – playing a further 90 times before moving to Salford in 2023, then switching to Catalans midway through the 2024 season.
The 27-year-old now returns to The Brick Community Stadium as a more complete and established Super League forward having 170 appearances to his name. Oliver will link up with the current squad for the pre-season training camp in Tenerife next week.
Leeming will make the move to the South of France to join Catalans Dragons on a one-year loan arrangement. Since joining the Warriors at the start of the 2024 season, the 30-year-old has made 57 appearances, scoring 12 tries. Leeming was a key part of the team that won all four trophies – World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup, League Leaders Shield and Super League Grand Final – in 2024.
On rejoining his hometown team, Partington said: “I am absolutely buzzing to be coming back to Wigan. I’m really looking forward to earning the respect of the group and the fans. To play for Wigan Warriors was always my childhood dream and I’ve lived that dream once – I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to live that dream again.
“I would like to thank everyone at Catalans for the last year, I enjoyed my time there and I will miss the people and the place.”
Warriors Head Coach, Matt Peet said: “We are all excited to welcome Oliver back to the Club. We always hoped we would get the chance to get him back one day and the timing feels perfect. He is a player who always wore the Wigan shirt with pride, and he has been away and developed himself on and off the field as he enters the prime of his career.”
