Thompson to try his luck in Australia

Liam Thompson has left Oldham Roughyeds and will try his luck with a move to Australia.

The 25-year-old has made 105 appearances in his five years at Oldham but will start a new chapter of his life in the Wollongong area of New South Wales.

Thompson has found a job in Sydney and two clubs have made him an offer in which he is currently considering.

The back-rower represented England Schoolboys in his younger days and was part of the Academies at Wigan Warriors and Widnes Vikings before signing for Scott Naylor’s Oldham outfit in 2013.

On his decision to try his luck on the other side of the globe, Thompson said: “This is something I have to do.

“If I don’t do it now, I never will and then I would spend the rest of my life thinking ‘what if’.

“I’m not tied to a job or a personal relationship and I’ve finished my studies so now is the time to go.

“I’m looking forward to playing in New South Wales, but I still haven’t made up my mind about which offer I’m going to accept.”

Thompson didn’t have the best of luck with injuries in his first two years at Oldham but he became a regular from the 2015 season onwards and has been a key figure in Naylor’s side ever since.

And former Bradford Bulls ace Naylor is sad to see him leave the Roughyeds.

He said: “We’re really sorry to be losing Liam, but he’s right when he says now is the time he must go if he is ever going to do it.

“He’s been a great lad for the club over five years. For most of them, he’s been there or thereabouts when we’ve been dishing out club honours at the end of each season and in one of those years, he was a very worthy recipient of the Player of the Year award.

“We hope everything works out for him and we thank him for his wonderful service to the club over five years.”