Quote: wireone "He can certainly talk the talk and has said all the right things in the right way but let us not get carried away as he has not been bought primarily for talking.
I suppose the disappointing big signings we have made over the years makes me a bit cautious but I welcome him to Warrington and sincerely hope he becomes a Wire legend.'"
True. Remember when Matt Rodwell came over, he was brilliant at the media work in the off season. Intelligent and articulate, accessible to the media and the fans (remember him posting on Wolfweb), all the feedback was that everybody at the club thought he was a great bloke and popular with everyone. Looked good for being one of our most popular signings. Then the season started, he wasn't fit, wasn't the player he used to be, and the team was rubbish. Suddenly Rodwell became the target for all the fans' anger, because he was Mr accessible nice guy.
Ashton, if you're reading this forum here are some tips:
1. When the season starts, stop reading this forum. Unless you are in Man of Steel form next year, in which case it's ok to read it.
2. Make sure you say the right things to the press. Warrington fans will be very sensitive to anything that suggests either you want to go back to the NRL, or you are in any way not taking the English league seriously. Never under any circumstances criticise the fans even if they warrant it - once you say something like "our away fans are great but the home fans getting on our back don't help" then you are finished. For extra points if you refer to the club as 'the Wire' rather than Wolves it will mean a lot to the fans and this will suggest you are interested in the club's history.
3. Super League is likely to be easier than the NRL but a lot of Aussie players haven't handled the switch. The expectations will be high and the fans are ruthless judges. On the whole they are going to be fair, but harsh. If you are good they will acknowledge this and treat you with great reverence, if you are rubbish they will barrack you relentlessly and say they will pay your own air fare home.
4. If you are a forward enforcer, especially one with a bit of charisma that gets the crowd going, you will be a cult hero (if you are good). This will be fun, and you will end up as a legend in the memory for many years, like Boyd, Tamati, Jackson and co were from the 1980s. This means you will be able to come back and visit Warrington as a 50 odd year old and immediately be treated as a town legend.
5. Being good is more important than playing up to the crowd. They will soon see through it if you can't back it up. Chris Hill isn't a big personality and doesn't egg on the crowd but is a crowd favourite, because he's just good. In fact I don't know how big Hill's profile is in Aus but you are about to find he's one of the best forwards in the world and will set the benchmark at Warrington.
6. If you start slowly and are out of form don't panic, but at least show that you are committed and trying. The fans will give you some leeway if you look like you are engaged and trying and making mistakes. If you start ambling about looking like you don't want to be there, then you will rapidly become a hate figure.