DOM Crosby says he is back in the right “mind space” to show everyone his true self on the rugby field.

And the prop forward is hungry to repay all involved with Warrington Wolves for the support he and his family received in tragic circumstances in 2017.

The 27-year-old two-times Grand Final winner with hometown club Wigan Warriors, including the 2016 success against Warrington at Old Trafford, was full of optimism for a fresh challenge with The Wire last February.

But everything changed for him and partner Megan when their new-born daughter Ada died in March.

With the death of his grandfather adding to last year’s suffering, Crosby understandably only played seven matches prior to Friday’s comeback against Widnes Vikings.

Marrying Megan in December, when the couple announced at their wedding that they are expecting their second child in May, as well as the rehabilitation from a shoulder reconstruction helped to channel energies on looking ahead again.

“As bad as 2017 was, we finished on a high,” said Crosby.

“It was a tough year, losing my daughter and my grandad, but I’m looking forward to this year and I feel I’m mentally and physically stronger than I’ve ever been.”

Nobody outside of Dom’s immediate family could possibly imagine what he and his wife went through last year.

“There was a lot of things that people probably don’t know, but the club knew and they were very supportive,” he said.

“I can’t thank them enough for their support, not only to me but my family as well.

“I’m really grateful to the fans, the staff and all the players for standing by me.

“I just want to repay the club now for how good they’ve been. I’m just happy to be back playing again and being in the right mind space that I am now.

“I’m looking forward to the Wigan game – I don’t think there’s a bigger game for testing ourselves than against Wigan at The Halliwell Jones Stadium – and this year I want to improve as a player.

“I don’t think I’ve shown the true Dom Crosby and how good I can be in Super League, so for me this year it’s about improving week on week.

“And as a team, if we improve every week and work on the things we need to, it will help because we want to be up there and challenging for the trophies and winning things as a club.”

He is also focused on building his match fitness and would like to achieve a place in The Wire starting 13, something he has not experienced yet.

The shoulder rehab from the operation in September impacted on his pre-season training.

“The injury had been niggling me for a while,” he said.

“I had it at Wigan. I knew it needed doing at some point, but it was just a case of when.

“With what happened last year I just decided to get it done a bit earlier than I expected, rather than waiting for the off-season.

“I was really determined to get back sooner than scheduled to repay the club and to get back playing again.

“I wasn’t really able to do upper body weights in the close-season, I just stayed on the bike and rehabbed for a good few months.

“It’s credit to all the club’s coaches that I’m now ready to play.

“In terms of the 13 and 17, I know where I’m at and as long as I can do a job for the team I’m willing to play wherever.

“I have started games at Wigan and everyone wants to start in the 13. If I can help the team off the bench I’ll do that.

“I’m sure if I keep improving week after week I’ll be close to a starting spot.”

If selected in the 17 on Friday it will only be the second time Crosby has played against the club he supported as a youngster and spent six seasons with in the top flight.

“It’s a big game for me with being a Wigan lad and from what I achieved with that club," he said.

"But I’m looking forward to playing them, I’ve got mates there, and it should be quite eventful.

“My only other game against Wigan ended sour really, when they managed a draw with the last play of the game at Magic Weekend in Newcaslte last year.

"We probably deserved a bit better that day. I think Wigan are the benchmark this year. They’ve been playing really well so it will be good to test ourselves against them.

“Wigan are obviously a team of very good players and they’ll be tough to stop, so we know it’ll be a hard game.

“For us this week has been about tidying up errors and penalties, focusing on ourselves and what we can do better from the games we’ve had previously.

"I think that win against Widnes had been coming and it had been a bit frustrating because we knew we were better than what we’d been doing.

"It was good to get off the mark and hopefully that can kick-start our season and we can get going now.

“We’ve got a lot of improvement in us and hopefully we’ll improve week in week out.”

Squaring up with Wigan means members of his wedding party will be going head to head.

Best mate Jack Hughes, another ex-Wigan forward who is now a Wire teammate, was best man on that day while Liam Farrell - the Cherry and Whites back-rower - also had a role.

“Jack did a good job as best man, he never stitched me up too much," said Crosby.

"A few of the Wigan boys were at my wedding. Faz was one of my ushers.

“I speak to them regularly and I’ll probably go for a brew with them this week. It’ll be all fun and games on Friday.

“There’s always a bit of banter flying about and you can’t beat that. We’re all so competitive as players.

“But cross the white line and friendship hides, it’s just another team, and you want to do your best for your team. There’ll be no going easy on each other.”