HE left Newcastle Knights a club legend, now Kurt Gidley says his next challenge is to win the trust and respect of his new fans, teammates and coaches at Warrington Wolves.

The 33-year-old is aiming to end a personal trophy drought and intends on extending his stay longer than the initial one-year contract he has signed with the club.

Knowing 2015 was to be his last season at Newcastle, Gidley took the chance to familiarise himself with Super League on television.

And after bowing out on his 250th appearance for his hometown club, 15 years after his first, the former Knights captain is excited by the fresh task on offer at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

“I had some special moments during my career for the Knights back home,” said Gidley, who moved to Stockton Heath last Thursday along with wife Brooke and daughters Arabella and Macy, aged one and three.

“But it all starts as a fresh slate for me from now on and I’ve got to earn the Warrington fans’ trust and respect, and certainly that of my new teammates and coaches.

“I was never going to go to another NRL club. I’ve been lucky enough to represent my home town, play in front of my family and friends, but I’ve never had to leave Newcastle.

“That’s good, but I wanted to experience a different team, different county and culture. That was the main part of why I wanted to challenge myself over here in Super League.”

The likes of Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus and Brian Carney, as well as brother and former St Helens man Matt, were all on hand to offer the former Australia international advice on Wolves and Super League.

But Gidley’s ambitions remain the same as they always have, to be successful.

“I aim for the top and the top is to win a comp,” added the former State of Origin and NRL All Stars man. “I still haven’t won a comp in my career as far as first-grade.

“I experienced, I guess, the parts of winning a competition in 2001 when I played one first-grade game for the Knights, but didn't play in that Grand Final and haven’t played in one since.

“So to come over to Super League brings a new challenge for me, but I want to be a successful player and be part of a successful team.

“I know the Challenge Cup is very prestigious over here and there’s plenty of pride in that competition and the Super League competition – I want to go as far in both as I can as part of this team.”

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Gidley feels his best rugby has come at full back, but is equally adept in the halves and will play where head of coachng and rugby Tony Smith needs him.

“For me, I’ve played full back and in the halves during my career,” he said. “I think I’ve played my best footy at full back and that’s probably the most comfortable position I feel I can play.

“But as we’ve seen at the Knights this year, I started at full back and played most the year in the halves, because we had injured guys out of the halves.

“I’ve always said I’ll play wherever the coach thinks I best fit in the team and I’ll leave it up to him.”

Smith is already impressed by Gidley's attitude and professionalism, with Wolves hoping the former New South Wales representative will add experience to their squad.

Gidley added: “I’ve always been an enthusiastic player during my whole career at the Knights.

“I’ve been part of some great representative teams with great coaches, so hopefully I can bring some leadership within the team.

“I’ve got to be controlled in some of the things I do as well. I’m excited to be here, that’s my main emotion at the moment, getting to know everyone and they’ve all been really welcoming.

“I spoke to Tony a few times throughout the year and watched a few games when I knew I was coming here.

“It gave me a good chance to look at players within the team, see how they play and what their strengths are, how I can work around them.

“I’m excited to meet up with a couple of the Aussie guys here, but it’s been great to meet the English guys I’ve watched over the past couple of years in Super League as well.”

One man Gidley is familiar with is potential half-back partner Chris Sandow, and he has backed the former Paramatta Eels man to be a hit next season.

“I was happy to see him come over to Super League as I thought he still had plenty to offer in footy,” he said. 

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“He was copping a fair bit of criticism, especially from the media back in Australia, so I look forward to teaming up with him.

“Playing full back against him, it’s been pretty unpredictable to guess what he’s going to do.

“I’ve seen some wonderful things that he’s done back in NRL during his career and I know he’s still got all those parts of the game in him and hopefully we can work well together.”

Away from Wolves, Gidley hopes to experience English Premier League football, as well as explore the country with his family.

“We’d like to explore this country," he said. "For me personally, and I’ll get it right, football not soccer. I’ve been to a few before but I want to experience the crowds at those games.

“Certainly I want for me and my family to see some of the sights in England, definitely get down to London for a few days especially over the Christmas period, which I’ve heard is really good down there.

“I’ve never been to Scotland or Ireland so I’m keen to stick around this part of Great Britain to start with and tick off a few things, and then try and get a couple of days here and there around Europe.”

But for the most part Gidley, and wife Brooke, will be kept busy by their two young daughters.

"I’ve played my footy my whole career, but it’s different when you have kids," he added. "They’ve got no idea about win, lose or draw, but you still want to do them proud at the end of the day."