Ben Davies, a popular member of the Whitehaven squad for the last two years, has confirmed he has joined Oldham.

Davies, 26, who has played in Super League for Wigan Warriors, Castleford Tigers and Widnes Vikings has signed a two-year deal with the Roughyeds.

Most of his 37 games in the top flight were with Widnes and he then had a spell in the Championship at Halifax before going to Whitehaven.

With the Cumbrians, he played 56 games across the last two seasons and one Whitehaven supporter tweeted Davies had been an unsung hero, wishing him all the best with Oldham.

In actual fact, Whitehaven didn’t play him at Bower Fold on September 11 because there were relegation issues riding on the game and they were aware Davies was very probably Oldham-bound.

Leigh-born Davies said: “I put up my hand to play, but the lads in charge said it was a weird situation. I could see that.”

Davies, who lives in Leigh and works as a window fitter, says he enjoyed his two seasons at Whitehaven, but driving up the M6 and back two or three times a week eventually wore him down.

“Travelling was no longer an option,” he said.

“I live in Leigh, my girlfriend lives in Stockport and she is expecting a baby.

"I couldn’t be going up to Cumbria any more, so Oldham suits me fine.

“Lots of the lads who play there I know. I could see from talking to Chris (Hamilton) that the club is going places so I had no hesitation in signing."

He added:“I was sorry to see Haven go down. It’s a good club with good people, and I’ll miss a lot of them.

"But I had to move on. It happens. It’s life.

“All my thoughts and ambitions are with Oldham now.

"I played twice against them in the season that’s just finishing and I was impressed with the way they went about things.

“Their style should suit the way I play.”