ROOKIE Warringtonian scrum half Dec Patton says helping Wolves to win the Super League Grand Final for the first time would be a way of thanking all those who have given him a lending hand.

The former pupil of Newman High and St Gregorys High Schools came through the junior ranks at Latchford Albion and is grateful to family, friends, coaches, teachers and anyone else who has played a part in helping him to achieve his dream of playing first-team rugby for The Wire.

“It would be nice to reward everyone for all their support,” said the 21-year-old, who initially started playing the game at Woolston Rovers, aged six.

“It’s nice to be out there playing where I always dreamed of playing.

“My mum and dad are really proud, having watched me as a young lad and now seeing me out there. It’s unbelievable.

“I’ve seen a few Tweets that the Latchford club have put out and it’s nice to see that they’re still following my progress, having grown up playing there.

“It’s unreal to be involved in all this, especially with it being my hometown club. I never really thought I’d get the chance to play in this game or alongside the players we’ve got.”

Patton, son of former Warrington Wolves academy and reserve team player Lee Westwood, acknowledges it is “a team game” and knows selection is not guaranteed, having spent most of the year as understudy to former NRL giants Chris Sandow and Kurt Gidley.

“I play in a key position, so you never know but at the end of the day it’s a team game and whatever is decided I’ll certainly do my best for the team,” he said.

“I must be doing something right because I keep getting picked so I will carry on doing what I can for the team.”

Patton came into the side the week after the Challenge Cup Final loss to Hull FC at Wembley and not missed a game since, with Sandow having been sidelined by a knee ligament injury.

He crossed for two tries as Wolves got their campaign back on track with a gutsy win against Catalans Dragons in Perpignan, while his accurate penalty kicking nudged his team out of reach as The Wire clinched the League Leaders’ Shield at Hull FC a fortnight ago.

His outstanding kicking in general play has also been instrumental in Wolves’ run to Old Trafford, while he has shirked none of his defensive duties either as his recent run of five starts extends his appearances to eight this year.

He got his first taste of Super League action last year, Tony Smith calling him up to add some freshness and enthusiasm to the team’s creativity department and he played his part in an 80-0 drubbing of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

That call-up came just 16 days after he and partner Natalie Jones, daughter of former Liverpool and England right back Rob Jones, welcomed their daughter Frankie Rose into the world.

Eight more appearances followed but he has had to be patient since, biding his time for an opportunity while playing in the reserves at Victoria Park after overcoming knee surgery that resulted from an injury he sustained in his one appearance for Wolves’ partner club Rochdale Hornets against Gloucestershire All Golds in Championship One in April.

That all seems a long time ago now as he prepares for the biggest club game in any Super League player’s career, thanks to the 18-10 defeat of St Helens on Thursday night.

“It feels unreal,” he said.

“That was the toughest game in recent weeks. We seem to have got a roll on.

“Against Saints I think it was about who broke first, a battle of the forwards and field position. Thankfully we came out the other end.”

Wolves trailed 10-8 at the break after conceding eight points in the closing minutes.

Patton said: “We didn’t put our heads down. We said this is where we kick on again, work harder.

“Two silly penalties gave them four easy points. They weren’t looking like troubling us but got an offload and broke away.

“We regrouped in the changing rooms and said we didn’t want it to be our last 40 minutes of the season. We dug deep.”

With the League Leaders’ Shield already in the bag, while the Challenge Cup was one that got away, Wolves are 80 minutes away from putting more silverware in the trophy cabinet.

“This is the main one,” he said.

“The lads have had a taste of the Challenge Cup and the defeat spurred us on to go up to Hull to win the League Leaders’ Shield.

“If we can go to Old Trafford and turn Wigan over it would make it a tremendous year for us.”