WEMBLEY: Warrington is home from home for Wolves stand off Kurt Gidley and his family

But Kurt and his wife Brooke are bringing their own Aussie charm to this weekend’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley and are hoping to celebrate with a dance-off after the match.

Kurt arrived at the end of November with his wife and daughters, four-year-old Arabella and 20-month-old Macy.

The family took to life in the town just as easily as Kurt settled into his role in the team, with Arabella and Macy enjoying trips to Walton Hall Zoo to see the pigs and the goats.

Brooke said: “The girls are loving it – they loved seeing the snow at Christmas because they haven’t seen snow before.

“There are a lot of things we like about Warrington, the people here are so friendly. It’s a great place to live, we’ve really been welcomed.”

Kurt said: “There hasn’t been a great deal of downsides to moving here to be honest. Part of the reason we chose to come over here was I wanted to change rugby-wise and experience a different culture and country.”

The family have holidayed in Mallorca and Chamonix in France, which they described as one of the most beautiful places they had ever been.

Brooke said: “As soon as they get a few days out of training we’re off.

“An hour’s flight and you can be in a different culture, a two-hour flight in Australia would get you to Queensland!”

Asked if there was anything they miss about home, she said: “We live at the beach so that’s one thing we miss and sometimes the weather.

“Bubble O Bill I missed the other day – it’s an ice cream we’ve got over there.

“Sunsets I miss but not much really to be honest, I was actually surprised.”

Kurt has spotted lots of comparisons between Warrington and the family’s hometown of Newcastle – where he has spent much of his career with the Knights – on the west coast of Australia.

He said: “I see a lot of similarities to the town – Newcastle’s a coastal town by the beach but it’s a working class town and Warrington I think is a real working class town, a one-team town a bit like the Newcastle Knights back home.

“The supporters here have been outstanding. I’d heard a lot about how they get behind their team and the songs at the game and the chants.”

Kurt loves to hear the fans sing, especially when they chant ‘your defence is terrified, Gidley’s on fire’.

He said: “I knew the song came from the Wigan Athletic ‘Will Grigg’s On Fire’ so I like that to start with.

“It’s nice to hear your name being sung by your own fans. It’s a completely different atmosphere to Australian NRL fans.

“I can hear them quite clearly. I don’t know all the words to all the songs but I would like to learn them.”

Brooke said: “The noise and the passion of fans here, there’s nothing like it. Over here it’s fantastic, you can’t help but get excited.

“Macy knows some of the words actually – she’s only one-and-a-half and she goes around the house singing the songs.

“She has picked up the melody of her favourite songs and when we go past the stadium to Tesco she starts chanting, ‘Wolfie, Wolfie!’ The girls love Wolfie.”

Brooke and the girls are looking forward to the final, where they will be joined by Kurt’s dad, brother, three friends and Brooke’s parents.

Kurt, a former Australian international, is hoping to give the Aussies something to cheer so loudly about that he can hear them on the pitch.

Brooke said: “We can’t wait – I didn’t realise how much we have to get dressed up!

“We don’t have any games like that in Australia so it just adds to the excitement.

“Today Arabella is modelling the blue skirt that she will be wearing, which matches her Wolfie top for Wembley.”

Kurt said: “I’ve never stepped foot inside Wembley myself, I’ve played at some big stadiums around the world but Wembley hasn’t been one of them so it’s exciting.

“I talked with the other guys who have played there before in these games.

“They say obviously there’s a great atmosphere and it’s one of the most recognised grounds around the world that everyone wants to play at.

“My brother Matt has played there twice in the Challenge Cup (for St Helens in the mid 2000s) and I spoke to him in the lead up to the semi final and he is always great for some advice, footy-wise or outside out footy.

“Another close mate of mine, Danny Buderus, played at Leeds in a Challenge Cup Final. Both of them have some great memories of it and we’re very close and speak constantly back in Australia.”

Kurt used to watch the Challenge Cup back home and expects lots of Aussie NRL players to be tuning into the game.

He said: “I’ve never played in a Grand Final.

“This is probably as big a game as I have ever played so I’m excited about it and hoping we get the job done and get to celebrate after it.”

The couple met on a night out in Newcastle when Kurt impressed Brooke with his extraordinary dance moves and they will celebrate their five year wedding anniversary in November.

She said: “I think a lot of the qualities that make him a great football player make him a great person.

“He’s loyal, passionate, hardworking, committed. And a great dad too.

“We first met when we had a bit of a dance-off that Kurt won – he does have a few moves actually!”

He added: “The more drinks, the more moves I’ve got!

“There will definitely be some dance moves busted out after the final, for sure.”