Hunger is Bridge to success (From Warrington Guardian)

Hunger is Bridge to success

MIKE Forshaw believes Chris Bridge is being given the chance to make a name for himself at Warrington Wolves.

Forshaw is also expecting big things from another former Bradford player, Logan Swann, this year.

Bridge, after a successful operation to clean out his ankle, is now signed by Wolves on a three-year deal and Forshaw first got to know the talented youngster when they were at Bulls together prior to the 2004 season.

The two could spend some time together again at Warrington as former Great Britain international Forshaw, who retired as a player after a great 2004 season at Wolves, has been helping out at training.

Forshaw, who now works as the Rugby Football League's first performance lifestyle advisor, says: "Warrington have been tailing Chris for a couple of months. He's had an injury and he's got over that so I think he's a great addition to the squad.

"He got a chance at Bradford, took it well but could never get a consistent run in the team.

"He's a quiet lad but he's got to open up this year and he's got to be really hungry to play in the first team because he's been given a great opportunity now and I hope he takes it.

"I think Paul Cullen is doing a great job as head coach at Warrington. After bringing Chris in, Chris will probably be a lot more receptive to Paul than he was to Brian Noble at Bradford."

Forshaw, who has won all the major club honours in the game, sees great potential in the 20-year-old former Academy international.

He says: "Chris slips out of dummy half very well, he's got great footwork and good pace. And he's very deceptively strong.

"I remember when we were playing at Bradford last season and we were in the game at half-time. Chris came on for Bradford and scored a great try."

Swann, who made his Wolves debut in the friendly against Salford City Reds on Sunday, was Forshaw's replacement at Bradford when he left there after the Bulls' Grand Final success of 2003. Forshaw does not think Britain has seen the best of the New Zealand international Test star yet.

He adds: "I think Logan is a great signing for Warrington and Bradford might regret letting him go, to be honest. I think Bradford kind of banked on signing Gareth Ellis and now that has fallen through, they may come up a little bit short this year.

"A lot of Kiwi players can take a year to settle in. People will remember Logan hurt his knee in the World Club Challenge win last year and it set him back for 10 weeks. I think Warrington will see the best of Logan this year."

In general, Forshaw believes Wolves over performed when they finished sixth in 2003 and under performed when they finished eighth last year.

There are no predictions from him on this year's finishing spot but he knows that to be a success Wolves need to step to a higher level of intensity than they have been used to before.