AFTER nearly a decade at his hometown club, Jordy Crowther admits he had slipped into somewhat of a comfort zone.

However, he believes taking the chance on making a change has brought the best out of him and almost catapulted him back to square one.

Crowther had played his senior rugby league exclusively for Wakefield Trinity since debuting in 2014 before being snapped up by Warrington Wolves towards the end of last season.

He arrived at a strange time – his signing was Daryl Powell’s last piece of business as head coach and he was relieved of his duties less than a week later as Gary Chambers took over in the interim.

Nevertheless, he was able to make enough of an impact to convince The Wire to convert the short-term deal he had originally signed into a longer-term, two-year contract.

“Towards the back end of last year, I probably played the best rugby I’ve ever played,” Crowther said, reflecting on his time at the club to date.

“I’d been at Wakefield for nine-and-a-half years and I’d probably got a bit too comfortable.

“I fancied a bit of a change and it was like I was 17 again and trying to earn my stripes in a debut season.

“It took a lot of pressure off me and made me focus on my game, so I’m really enjoying it.

“As soon as I arrived, I was chomping at the bit to try and stay. Everyone made me and my family feel welcome and I couldn’t say a bad word about anybody here.

“When the opportunity came up to stay, I knew I had to repay that and get it done.”

Making Crowther’s move permanent was one of the first decisions Sam Burgess signed off on when his appointment as head coach for 2024 was confirmed.

And aside from missing two matches earlier in the year through a combination of suspension and concussion protocol, he has been ever-present in the South Sydney and England legend’s selections thus far.

“He’s the best there’s been in the game especially as a middle – he’s been there and done everything,” Crowther said.

“If I can pick his brain and take things from him, it’s only going to make me better.

“He’s a really good man-manager as well – he puts his arm around you when needed and sometimes, that’s all you need.”

So given his enjoyment of life at Warrington, can we expect a move over the Pennines from his native Yorkshire.

With wife Bethany and their daughter Frankie at home, it would appear that may have to wait although he insists the M62 commutes have not become a chore just yet.

“I’ve been trying to talk my Mrs into it,” he said.

“Because we’ve got a newborn, she wants to stay that bit closer to family, which is fine.

“It’s not too bad on a clear run to get in – it only takes about an hour.

“It’s just on the way home when you get stuck in traffic where moving over here seems like a better idea!”