KEVIN Brown admits he was “trying too hard” in his early months at Wolves but is looking forward to kicking on with renewed confidence.

The 32-year-old stand-off joined The Wire from neighbours Widnes Vikings in December, but his first games for the club were hindered by injuries and patchy form.

However, in his last two games, Brown impressed for England in their 30-10 win over Samoa in Sydney before inspiring Wolves to a 34-20 Challenge Cup victory over the Vikings on Sunday.

Brown says he does not see himself as “a confidence player” but that he feels a lot better about his game.

“I was probably trying too hard to get off to a positive start,” he said.

“It was tough at first with how we were going as a team. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily a confidence player but having it definitely helps.

“The trip to Australia was refreshing for me. I’ve come back with some form and confidence and now I want to take that forward.”

Brown also revealed the unusual circumstances behind his call-up to play for the national side on May 6.

“I’d been at the races on the Sunday after the Hull FC game and I got a phone call from Kevin Sinfield at 10 o’clock at night,” he said.

“He told me I needed to be at the airport for 5am as I was needed in Australia. It came out of the blue, I didn’t have an inkling about it.

“A lot of my family were already in bed so, by the time I got round to telling some of them, I was already in Australia!”

In his first game against Denis Betts’ side since leaving them, Brown was given a hostile reception from the travelling fans all afternoon.

However, he found the perfect tonic by scoring a hat-trick of tries to fire Wolves into the quarter finals.

The former Wigan and Huddersfield man says he has never received such constant abuse from the terraces and admits scoring three tries was “very satisfying.”

“When I left, I said it was up to the Widnes fans if they wanted to sing my name or give me abuse,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure that, wherever I go, I don’t think it will be quite as bad and constant as it was on Sunday.

“The lads were laughing at it all by the end of the game and it did make scoring those tries a bit more satisfying.

“You have to be professional when things like that happen and just get on with playing the game.”

Brown and his teammates will be looking to move into Super League’s top-eight with victory over Wigan Warriors at Magic Weekend on Saturday.

Having started his career at the DW Stadium, Brown says playing against them is extra-special.

Saturday could also see Brown go up against George Williams, a rival for England’s number six jersey and a player the Wolves man rates very highly.

“He’s an unbelievable player. He’s very deceptive with his running and his kicking game close to the line is very good,” he said.

“It’s not just him though, they have plenty of talented backs and forwards that can make it tough for any opposition.

“It’s a team that is full of international players but so is ours. It should be a fantastic game and one I can’t wait to play in.

“They are doing it tough with injuries at the moment but, whatever team they have available, Shaun Wane will have them pumped up to beat us.

“Obviously, with my history with the club having made my professional debut for them, I always look forward to games against Wigan.

“I still live there, a lot of my family are from there and I really enjoyed my time playing for them.”