I've been critical of him in the past, indeed I wouldn't have picked him for the game, but I thought he had a stormer. Keep it up Iain!

I'm the opposite mate. I see a real classy centre that just needs to polish up a few areas. He's streets ahead of Gelling and I would have picked him.
I agree he had a cracking game yesterday. Was strong in defence and only 1 knock on which is acceptable in those conditions. As u day, he needs to keep that level through to the end of the season!

I was made up he got that try. You could just sense a weight lift from his shoulders. He needs to believe in himself more IMO. He's a huge lad and he's an athlete and if he backs himself he'll go on to become a top top player.

He just looks like a lad wrestling a few insecurities at the moment but as he matures and as he puts in more of those types of performances he'll really kick on.

I expect a big finish to the season from him now.

I agree, did well to finish the try, some good runs and did well defensively. If he can keep it up hes got the left centre spot now.

I thought he was the right choice for the game. He gets a lot of criticism for his defence but he actually reads the game very well; better than Gelling seems to. Thornley's biggest problem tends to be occasional bad defensive lapses but overall there's a very good defender there.

Matty Smith wrote something about the squad players for the BBC website and he characterised Thornley as the worrier of the team, so that chimes with what you say here.

He had a great game yesterday so hopefully he will kick on from here.

+1.
I would have played Gelling, but Thornley, apart from one dropped ball was superb yesterday.

I'd not read that but you can see it a mile off. He looks more worried about what he could do wrong then excited about what he could do right.

He'll hopefully learn to just throw himself in to games. His talent will ensure the rest.

To use a Stevoism, "what about the fend?!"

Out of all the post-match interviews yesterday, Thornley's was the one I enjoyed the most. He looked delighted and bewildered in equal measure.

after suffering yesterday & by the way i wish you big congratulations ! i thought iain thornley was one of the outstanding players on the pitch . physical , strong & good in defence . took his try very well !! well done that lad . he impressed me no end & never really noticed him previous to this game either !! .

His try was reminiscent of a centre who featured in the first few finals of the 8 in a row. Otherwise it's not fair to the lad to mention him in the same breath at the moment.

Thornley had a very good game yesterday and took his try very well. I am really pleased for him as he has taken a lot of undeserved stick from some this season and some of his faults have been exagerated a lot, particularly from the pro Gelling posters.

He only had three SL games prior to this season and then was not given the 4 shirt but played there to replace George Carmont.
I think he has done well and 17 games in was our last ever present. At that point he was looking jaded and should have been rested prior to 17 games.
He appears to me to have the talent but lacks experience, compared to George he's completely inexperienced.
Yesterday should go some way to help give him the four shirt for next year.
Lets hope he can continue that form from yesterday, also so can the team.