IAIN Thornley has some bad news for a side in Wigan – he may be off duty for the next three weeks.
And mums and dads watching kids’ games on the touchline can expect a quiet time as he does not want to become one of those pushy parents.
The Warriors’ centre is making the most of his second chance at his home town club, a chance he thought would not come as he was studying an electrical apprenticeship while playing part-time at Leigh.
But his forthcoming Challenge Cup final against Huddersfield means he may not be able to be his amateur club Ashton Bears’ waterboy, which he has been this season.
Thornley said: “My brother’s playing there at the minute, that’s why I’ve been helping out, and they’re six from six, top of the league and they’ve never won it.
“When I can, fixtures permitting, I’ll go and do my waterboy duties. I think they’ll be off for the next three weeks but next week we play Friday, they play Saturday, so we’ll see.
“I’ve a lot of family and friends involved at Ashton Bears – one’s the chairman, my friends’ wives work behind the bar. My mum and dad have always helped out at what’s a special club for me. It’s where I started,
“I was quite surprised when Wigan contacted me again. I thought that opportunity had gone when I was last here but they liked what I was doing and being a Wigan lad, I wasn’t going to turn it down!
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“Leigh went full-time when they were promoted late on and I fancied another go at it.
“I got about 80 per cent of my apprenticeship done but the lad I was training with has said I can always go back to him.
“Having a lot of it done gives me piece of mind, I don’t need to focus on things for life after rugby, I’m doing this knowing that when my time does come I’m good and sorted.”
While Thornley could have his head in the clouds as Wigan go for their first Challenge Cup win since 2013, which he was part of, his feet remain firmly on the floor.
The 30-year-old will still take the role of dad at son James’ under-7s matches for Ashton Bears – and even though he could show the kids a few pointers, he is not one of those parents who shouts and screams.
He added ahead of tonight’s dress rehearsal at Huddersfield: “He scores a lot more tries than me, seven last weekend. He’s been telling me all week how to score!
“I’m not one of those competitive parents as I hated that when I was growing up – parents shouting and screaming, I can’t stand it.
“But I just give him a thumbs up every now and then when he looks over asking, ‘Am I doing all right?’ That gives him that little bit of encouragement.”
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