Cooper coming home to the Wolves

WARRINGTON-born prop forward Mike Cooper is to return to his home town from next season, having signed a three-year deal with Wolves.
The move has delighted head coach Tony Smith who believes Cooper’s time Down Under has made him “a veteran in his early years.”
Cooper, 27, made the move to St George Illawarra Dragons and the NRL back in 2014 having developed through the ranks of his home-town club after with grassroots club Latchford Albion.
He made his Warrington first-team debut back in 2006 with the support of SquadBuilder earning himself heritage number 1068 and has experienced a Challenge Cup Final and a Grand Final with the club.
Renowned for his hard-hitting tackles and barnstorming runs down the middle of the field Mike has made an impact in the NRL competition, making his Dragons debut in March 2014 against Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium. He is now approaching 60 appearances for the club.
Now an England International, Cooper made three appearances last year in the Test Series against New Zealand.
Smith said: “It’s great news and a great signing for the club. 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. It’s testimony to Mike that he wants to come back home and play for his home-town club.
“He is a very proud Warrington boy and we are more than happy to embrace him and look forward to working with him again. I enjoyed my time working with him and he has come on as a player a whole lot since then as well so I think his addition will really strengthen our club.”
Cooper said: “One of my big aims is still to win Grand Finals with the club I supported as a kid.
“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 have gained a lot of experience over here, playing against State of Origin players week in, week out. I’ve not missed many games either. I feel I have grown as a player and as a person, and have had a fantastic experience over here. 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.
“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 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.”