Billy Magoulias' ambitions for Warrington Wolves spell

Billy Magoulias is no different – but he admits he is struggling to understand why it has never been done.

Having joined the club from Cronulla Sharks, the loose forward is getting settled in the area as well as putting in the hard yards with his new teammates in pre-season training.

And looking around his new surroundings on and off the pitch, he feels it is a championship-winning club in all but name.

It is clear he is intent upon changing that in 2022.

Magoulias in his new colours. Picture by Warrington Wolves

"We’re a well-respected club but at the end of the day, we need to win," he told the Guardian.

"Everything is in order ready to go but the only thing lacking is championships.

"The club provides awesome facilities for us to train and play. We as players need to be stubborn and chase that comp.

"That’s my goal straight out. I’m not here to muck around – I want to get out there and impact this team.

"I can see how much it means to everyone here and from a squad perspective, I just can’t understand why we haven’t been winning it.

"That’s the expectation – there’s going to be pressure but that’s what professional sport is."

It has certainly been a culture shock for the 24-year-old, having swapped pre-seasons in sweltering summer heat Down Under for the wintry weather we have seen recently.

Billy Magoulias in pre-season training. Picture by Warrington Wolves

As he prepares to be joined in Warrington by his partner Joanna, who arrives this weekend, there is something he admits to being surprised me.

"To be honest, I didn’t think the game would be as big round here with how big football is," he said.

"But you drive around and you see Warrington Wolves jerseys everywhere you look. It’s overwhelming to see just how much support the club has.

"Warrington is basically a city to me as it’s that big. It’s got everything.

"It’s been really enjoyable for me. Obviously the weather is a bit different but my energy has been on training and getting myself settled over here.

"It’s the part of the year where you just have put your head down and work.

"All is well and I’ve found the club very professional – it’s everything I expected and more.

"My partner is coming over this weekend. She just had some things to tie up back home so she’ll be arriving on Sunday."

Magoulias arrives with a reputation as being a ball-playing loose forward – a role that has become rarer in the game of late.

Magoulias in action for former club Cronulla Sharks

In the past few years, many teams – Warrington included under Steve Price – have seen the lock forward role as merely an extra prop, but the Greek international's signing indicates the more expansive style new head coach Daryl Powell wishes to implement.

"I think we see the game very similarly. He understands how effective my natural game can be," Magoulias said of Powell.

"I guess that helps because when you’re doing things at training, he understands why you’re doing them and we don’t clash. If anything, he encourages them.

"He’s been really good for me and he understands where we need to be.

"The game is transitioning now into bringing that loose forward role back rather than just playing three front rowers.

"Naturally, I’m a lock forward and every day in pre-season, I know I need to show what I can do and how I can affect the team."

There will be more to come from our chat with Billy Magoulias over the weekend