STAR centre Anthony Gelling turned down former side Wigan before agreeing to join the Wolves for 2020.

The Cook Islands international penned a two-year deal to join Warrington until the end of 2021.

In the process, he rejected the chance to rejoin his former employers, with whom he won a Grand Final in 2016.

Instead he preferred to sign for arch rivals Warrington when he left Widnes last year.

The two clubs are again expected to be battling it out at the top of the table in 2020.

Wolves chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick said: "He had interest from Wigan but he decided to come here instead.

"Wigan have recruited quite well for 2020 with the likes of George Burgess and Jackson Hastings but I still think we have the better squad, I think Anthony was influenced by that."

Warrington kick off the 2020 season on January 30 with a trip to Wigan.

The Wolves beat the Warriors three times in four meetings last season, including a tense Challenge Cup quarter final win and a thumping victory at Magic Weekend at Anfield.

And Fitzpatrick says the club is determined to make it a clean sweep this year.

He added: "We played them four times in 2019 and beat them three times and it was very disappointing that we did not beat them four times.

"I expect us to complete a clean sweep against them this year with our recruitment and the quality of our squad.

Warrington Guardian: On Friday Wolves and Wigan will battle it out at the DW Stadium, a fixture that Wolves won with a last-gasp penalty in 2012

Wire fans will be aiming to pack the DW

"We are hoping to get a massive following in that away end for the first game at the DW.

"It really doesn't get any bigger in terms of a first game of a new season."