SAM Powell insists he was not “close-minded” enough to think there would not be a time where he played against hometown club Wigan Warriors rather than for them.
However, even he admits doing so for one of their near neighbours in Warrington Wolves is an unexpected twist of fate.
After 12 seasons in the Warriors first team encompassing more than 250 appearances, the hooker has joined The Wire for the 2024 season for his first permanent taste of life away from the DW Stadium.
He will have to wait a while for a reunion with his old club – the sides are not scheduled to meet until June 1 – but now he is ready to fully throw himself into being a Warrington player.
“To spend so much time at a very good club is an honour and one that I'll look back on very fondly,” he said.
“The times it has given myself and my family and the experiences are great, and I'm very aware that I'm joining another very good club.
“I've never been close-minded to thinking I was going to spend all my career at Wigan.
“The way it was going, it probably looked like that but it's professional sport at the end of the day and it comes down to a matter of opinions.
“I look back at my Wigan career now with my wife and my kids, and there's nothing but good memories and great times.
“I haven't got long left in the game – I'm not stupid – so I just want to enjoy myself here and give my input where I can, but I wasn't always close-minded to think that I wouldn't be anywhere else.
“I've come here very open-minded. Although I know people who play for the club at Warrington, I don't know too much about it, which I think is good for myself.
“It’s something I'm going to have to do, learn very quickly about the history of the club which we've been through a little bit and try to get a bit of a sense of what it means to the fans because they're obviously passionate.
“I love coming here on a Friday night – the atmosphere is great so it's something I want to be a part of.”
Powell’s move to The Halliwell Jones Stadium reunites him with former Warriors teammate George Williams – a player he is keen to link up with again.
They featured in the same Wigan side 149 times between 2013 and 2019, when the half-back left Super League for a spell in the NRL with Canberra Raiders.
“He's a quality player as we all know,” Powell said.
“I'm looking forward to when he gets back – I'm sure he'll up the standards here which international players should do along with Matty (Ashton), Danny (Walker) and Benny Currie so I'm looking forward to getting them in and getting some partnerships, I think that's important.
“I remember how George plays – he plays what he sees and he's an exciting player so I'm really looking forward to him being here.”
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