NEW Wolves signing Matty Blythe has spoken of his pride at returning to play for his hometown club.

The versatile 28-year-old left The Halliwell Jones Stadium to join Bradford Bulls on loan in 2013 before making the move permanent the following year.

However, head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith moved to re-sign the Wolves academy product on a one-year deal in August.

Comfortable in the centres and the second row, Blythe has already made 60 appearances for The Wire and, ahead of his second debut, revealed just how much playing for the club means to him.

“It’s such a big thing for me and my family to be back here. I can’t tell you how excited I am,” he said.

“I’ve got my heritage number tattooed on my arm, that’s how much pulling on the primrose and blue shirt means to me.

“Warrington is where my family is from and where I was brought up, so to run out at the Halliwell Jones again wearing that shirt will just be so special.

“It really is a unique feeling representing your hometown and I’m proud to get the chance again.”

Blythe is one of three Warrington-born signings for the 2017 season along with England international prop Mike Cooper and ex-St Helens second rower Andre Savelio.

He, along with the rest of the Wolves squad who were not in Four Nations action, is in his second week of pre-season training and says he is pleased with how things are going.

Blythe also thinks a short commute to training is helping him with his preparations for the new season.

“I’m really enjoying the training. It’s tough but it’s just about getting our bodies tuned up,” he said.

“It’s going to be a long pre-season but everyone is ready to work hard. You have to here because the competition for places is so intense.

“We’re in good shape but you’d expect nothing less really. The lads have been really professional and we’ve hit the ground running.

“There’s lads that I knew from when I was here before and some that I’ve never worked with but I’ve fitted straight back in great.

“I think it definitely helps living just round the corner as well. For the last few years I’ve been having to commute to Bradford which is always a bit tricky.

“I made it work but now I feel like I’m really investing in my career with this move.”

When Blythe first moved across the Pennines to Odsal, Bradford were still a Super League club but dropped into the Championship in 2014.

After a fifth-place finish in the second tier saw them narrowly miss out on the Middle 8s in 2016, the club were placed into administration for the third time since 2012 last month and had their RFL membership cancelled.

Blythe expressed his sympathy for his former club’s plight but said his focus is now on Warrington to compete on all fronts again.

“I really enjoyed my time on loan there and really wanted to stay so I signed permanently,” he said.

“When they dropped into the Championship, I had offers to stay in Super League but wanted to help Bradford get back to where they belong.

“Times are difficult for them at the moment but it’s a great club and I’m sure they will bounce back.

“As far as we’re concerned, I thought the lads were really unlucky to lose two finals last year but there’s enough in this squad to be up there.”