STEVE Price says the returning Ben Pomeroy needs "a couple of weeks" before coming into contention for a place in The Wire's first team.

The experienced centre's return to The Halliwell Jones Stadium was confirmed today, Wednesday, on a deal until the end of the season.

Pomeroy played four times for Warrington at the back end of 2017 and made a good impression and arrives having spent the first half of the season playing in the French domestic competition.

The 34-year-old Australian holds a British passport so does not count towards The Wire's overseas player quota.

As well as his regular position in the three-quarters, Price says Pomeroy is also in his plans as a second-row option after their numbers in that area were depleted by the season-ending knee injury suffered by Ben Currie.

"Pom played a number of games here last year, and I know a little bit about what he did back in the NRL," he said, "There was no hesitation from me to get him involved with the squad as he’s a quality person. He’s hard-working and he’s a team-first player.

"The luxury with him is that he has the ability to play back row.

"His main position is obviously centre, but it gives us a bit of a window for versatility.

"He won’t play on Friday. He needs to fit into our systems first.

"It is similar to the situation we had with Josh Charnley coming in.

"It was a couple of weeks before he got an opportunity. We’ll dictate that through his training."

Pomeroy established a winning combination with fellow new arrival Peta Hiku last year despite injury restricting him to four appearances on the right flank.

He featured in the opening two games of Wire's season-ending 10-match unbeaten run, scoring on debut in the 50-10 home win against Leigh Centurions.

But after helping The Wire to their best away win of the year, 16-10 at Wigan, a broken toe kept him out until the last two matches in the Middle 8s.

He got his name on the scoresheet again in the 68-0 success at Featherstone Rovers and twice in the season's finale at home to Hull Kingston Rovers.

At the start of the year there was no space at The Wire for Pomeroy, a former Penrith Panthers, Cronulla Sharks and Catalans Dragons player.

Instead, he returned to the French championship with the FC Lezignan club he starred with last year before heading to The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

It was with Lezignan in the French Magic Weekend event, April 21-22, that Pomeroy - along with a couple of unnamed others - once again caught Wire's eye during a talent-spotting mission.

Chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick, who played for French club Tonneins between stints with Widnes and Salford in the opening decade of the century, was The Wire's man in Carcassonne.

He said: “I went to the French League Magic Weekend to look at some playing talent.

“We have to explore different avenues to see if we can unearth some new talent because the market here is so difficult at the moment.

“So I managed to watch all the five games over the weekend and there were a couple of players on show we would like to explore further.

“While over in France I had the opportunity to watch Ben Pomeroy play and had a chat with him after the game. He loved his time with Warrington and he is keen to come back.

“It gives us added strength in depth. It is a good opportunity for both parties, for Ben to come back across and for us, it gives us some added depth to our squad.

“He is an outstanding professional and he will be a real positive influence on the group.

“One of the biggest benefits he brings is his versatility to play back row, in the centres and at a push, on the wing.”