WOLVES have re-signed prop Mike Cooper from St George Illawarra Dragons from next season.

The 27-year-old made the move to Australia in 2014 but has signed a three-year deal to return to The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Since moving down under, Cooper has made 60 NRL appearances as well as gaining three England caps, but he said the temptation to move back home was too much to resist.

“One of my big aims is still to win Grand Finals with the club I supported as a kid,” he said.

“I’ve been in the NRL for three years now and have played at the highest level in our game but now it’s time to come home. I feel I have grown as a player and as a person, and have had a fantastic experience over here."

“I have played in a lot of big stadiums over here, in front of big crowds but I still miss the buzz of a Friday night at the HJ.

“It will be sad to leave the Dragons as they have looked after me first-class since I arrived. I have even got some of the fans wearing Warrington shirts and singing Warrington chants but it’s now time come home to be with family.

"It is evident speaking to Tony and Simon that work has been put in on and off the field as the club looks to be the professional leading light of Super League, and it’s almost there. I see no reason why with the squad in place Warrington can’t be up there, in finals."

Wolves head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith says Cooper’s return was something he had been hoping for for some time.

“Its great news and a great signing for the club,” he said.

“It’s probably something that we hoped for a few years ago, that Mike would eventually return to our club, but it’s probably a little sooner than we thought considering how well he’s done.

“It’s a real shot in the arm for the club and we really look forward to taking on a player who seems like a veteran here in his early years, at such a young age.

“He is a very proud Warrington boy and we are more than happy to embrace him and look forward to working with him again.”

Having played his junior rugby with Latchford Albion, Cooper made his Wolves debut in 2006 and became renowned for his hard hitting and barnstorming carries.