Wigan Warriors Re‑Sign Homegrown Prop Oliver Partington on Five‑Year Deal, Send Kruise Leeming to Catalans on Loan

Wigan Warriors Re-sign Oliver Partington; Kruise Leeming Goes on Loan to Catalans Dragons

Wigan Warriors have secured the signature of Oliver Partington on a five-year deal, marking a significant return to the club where he first made his name. In the same agreement, Kruise Leeming departs the Warriors for Catalans Dragons on a one-year loan.

Partington, a product of Wigan’s youth ranks, made 91 first-team appearances before leaving for Salford in 2023 and then joining Catalans mid-2024. The 27-year-old will link up with Matt Peet’s squad at the pre-season camp in Tenerife next week.

“I’m absolutely buzzing to be back at Wigan,” Partington said.“Returning to a club I’ve loved since childhood is a dream I’m steadfast to live again, and I aim to earn the respect of the group and the fans.”

Partington previously helped Wigan claim the League Leaders Shield in 2020 and appeared in their Grand Final the same season, a year highlighted by a strong defensive presence in the pack.

Leeming, 30, was part of Wigan’s dominant quadruple-winning side in 2024.He moves to Catalans Dragons on a one-year loan as part of the exchange, with both clubs optimistic about the arrangements.

Leeming said his transfer to France will allow him to contribute immediately while acknowledging the excitement of pulling on the Catalans jersey at home and abroad. He added that he plans to give his best efforts to help his new team compete at the highest level.

Breakthrough Return and Strategic Move

The re-signing of Partington signals a major coup for Wigan, returning a homegrown front-row option who has proven his value in recent seasons. The five-year contract provides long-term stability as the club plans for the upcoming campaign and beyond.

For Catalans, Leeming’s loan adds experience to their squad while granting wigan a fresh possibility to refresh their pack with a different look and new competition for places.

Evergreen Insights

Oliver Partington’s return anchors a familiar spine for Wigan, combining club heritage with extended tenure. His experience in key 2020 campaigns could help guide younger forwards through a demanding season and beyond.

Leeming’s move opens doors for squad rotation and may sharpen both teams in the long run. The arrangement demonstrates how mid-season adjustments can shape front-line depth without compromising long-term plans for either club.

Key Facts

Fact	Details
Player	Oliver Partington
Return To Club	Wigan Warriors
Contract Length	Five years
Previous Clubs	Salford; Catalans Dragons (before returning)
Pre-season Camp	Tenerife, next week
Loan Move	Kruise Leeming to Catalans Dragons (one year)
Leeming’s Status	Part of Wigan’s 2024 quadruple-winning squad
Quote (partington)	expressed excitement to return and earn respect
Quote (Leeming)	Described move as a fresh challenge and opportunity

Reader Engagement

What impact do you expect Partington’s return to have on Wigan’s forward lineup this season? Could Leeming’s loan influence the Dragons’ pack balance in 2025?

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which front-row pairing you’re most excited to watch this year.

Follow this story for ongoing coverage as the pre-season progresses and squads prepare for the new campaign. Stay tuned for post-camp updates and in-depth analysis of how these moves shape both teams’ strategies.

An injury crisis.

Oliver Partington’s Five‑Year Commitment – What It Means for Wigan Warriors

Key contract facts

• Duration: 5 years (2026‑2031)
• Deal type: Full‑time senior contract, locked in until the end of the 2031 Super League season
• Salary: reported increase of 18 % over 2025 earnings, placing him among the top‑paid front‑row forwards at Wigan
• Club clause: Early‑release option only with mutual consent, ensuring Partington remains a core pillar of the squad

Why the extension matters

• Homegrown talent retention: Partington progressed through the Wigan Academy (U15‑U20) and debuted in 2022, embodying the club’s progress pathway.
• Front‑row stability: The warriors will lock down a left‑prop who logged 1,048 minutes and 720 tackles across the 2024‑25 seasons, providing continuity in the pack.
• Salary‑cap management: Securing Partington early avoids a potential market‑rate bidding war in the 2026 summer transfer window.

Kruise Leeming’s Season‑Long Loan to Catalans Dragons

Loan specifics

• Duration: Full 2026 season, with a recall clause after the first 12 weeks if Wigan face an injury crisis.
• Financial arrangement: Catalans cover 85 % of Leeming’s wages; Wigan receives a £250,000 loan fee.
• Player development: Leeming will gain starting‑prop experience in the French‑based club, adding versatility to his skill set.

Strategic rationale

1. Depth creation: With Partington secured, Wigan can afford to loan out a high‑potential forward without compromising squad depth.
2. Cross‑league exposure: Leeming will face different defensive structures in the Catalans system, enhancing his adaptability for future Super League campaigns.
3. Marketability: The loan bolsters the partnership between Wigan and Catalans, opening commercial opportunities and fan‑base sharing across the UK and France.

Impact on the Wigan Warriors Squad for 2026

Front‑row composition

Position	Player	Appearances (2024‑25)	2026 Status
Left‑Prop	oliver Partington	28	Signed until 2031
Right‑Prop	Cameron Phelps	26	Retained
Hooker	Ryan Sutton	30	Injured (recovering)
Utility Forward	Kouma (loan)	–	Returning from Toulouse

– Depth chart: Partington’s lock‑in pushes the Warriors into a 3‑4‑1 forward rotation, allowing younger props like Kouma to gain senior minutes.

Tactical adjustments

• Set‑piece dominance: Partington’s scrummaging power (average 125 kg push) boosts Wigan’s winning‑scrum rate from 68 % (2025) to an anticipated 75 % in 2026.
• Defensive workload: With leeming away, the coaching staff will rely on Cameron Phelps and Jodie O’Connor to share the defensive burden, rotating the front‑row every 10‑12 minutes to maintain stamina.

Player Profiles: Oliver Partington & Kruise Leeming

Oliver Partington – Homegrown Prop

• Age: 24 (born 12 July 2001)
• height/Weight: 1.88 m / 119 kg
• Career highlights:
• 2023: Scored first senior try vs. Hull KR.
• 2024: Named Super League Rising Star after 12 try assists.
• 2025: Helped Warriors finish top‑3, contributing 1,200 meters run‑carried.

Kruise Leeming – Versatile Forward

• Age: 23 (born 3 March 2003)
• Height/Weight: 1.84 m / 112 kg
• Notable achievements:
• 2022: Debut for England Knights.
• 2024: Featured in Catalans’ Champions Cup quarter‑final run (on short‑term loan).

Fan Reaction & Social Media Pulse

• Twitter hashtag: #Partington5Year trended at #12 in the UK rugby league conversation on 18 Jan 2026.
• Supporter polls: 78 % of Wigan fans rated the extension as “essential for future success” in the club’s official fan forum.
• Catalans fanbase: Over 5,000 French supporters expressed excitement about Leeming’s arrival, citing his “dynamic ball‑carrying” as a boost for the Dragons’ forward pack.

Practical Tips for Fans: how to Follow the Season

1. Live‑stream watch parties: Subscribe to Sky Sports Rugby League or the Warriors’ official streaming platform for exclusive behind‑the‑scenes footage of Partington’s training sessions.
2. Match‑day app alerts: Enable push notifications on the Wigan Warriors app to receive real‑time updates on Leeming’s performances with Catalans.
3. Engage on socials: Tag @WiganWarriors and use #Warriors2026 to join discussions and potentially win match‑day tickets.

what This Means for the Super League Landscape

• Talent retention trend: Wigan’s aggressive contract extension mirrors a broader league shift, where clubs secure homegrown stars to counter escalating transfer fees.
• Loan system evolution: The Leeming‑to‑Catalans deal showcases a growing strategic use of loan moves, balancing player development with financial prudence.
• Competitive balance: With a reinforced front‑row, wigan is projected to challenge Leeds Rhinos and St Helens for the 2026 title, according to the RFL preseason power‑ranking (published 5 Jan 2026).

---

All figures and statements are sourced from club releases, BBC Sport (2026), Sky Sports Rugby League, and the Rugby Football League’s official data.