Comment on Matty Russell's signing for Warrington Wolves

Opinions shared seem to range from those who are pleased to see him back for a second spell at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, believing he can do a good job, to those who just can’t get their heads around why Daryl Powell would want him on board after a number of seasons that could be described as being out of the limelight.

Those in the latter camp can argue that since Russell was released by Steve Price in 2018 he has played for teams sitting lower on rugby league’s ladder than The Wire – only just in the case of Toulouse Olympique last year, but we won’t go there!

And that has meant he has gone a little under the radar, and some would say his career has gone backwards since the days of appearing in Challenge Cup and Grand Final deciders in primrose and blue, with those most recent showpiece appearances being in 2016.

On the other side of the coin, those happy with him being given a second chance at The Wire will be thinking back to his all-or-nothing ball carries to get the team on the front foot which is something that last season’s team could have done with when it lacked penetration to get out of their own danger area far too often.

And they would point out that with whichever club he has performed there has always seemed to be 100 percent commitment from Russell, even if he hasn’t always got everything right (then again, who does?). That kind of attitude can rub off on others around you though.

Not that it’s necessarily relevant to those who just want to see their heroes winning, but Russell was always setting the appearance standards too – I don’t mean in terms of consistency and durability, I’m referring to best dressed, shiniest teeth and finest sun tan!

For me, he is a typical Powell signing – the kind of capture that would have left Castleford Tigers fans a little perplexed when he was in charge there.

Powell has shown prior to Wire that he has a knack for getting the best out of players that have not been on the ‘hot property’ list elsewhere.

Just taking wingers as an example, there wasn’t too much excitement over the Pennines when Powell brought in Denny Solomona or Greg Eden.

New Zealander Solomona had not set the world alight at London Broncos but Powell found something in him and the players around him to the point that he notched an incredible 42 tries in 29 appearances in 2016.

And when Powell brought Eden back to his home town from a disappointing spell with Brisbane Broncos in the NRL he notched 41 tries in 31 matches in 2017, taking over the scoring-machine mantle from Solomona as he swanned off to rugby union to cash in on his renewed reputation and confidence.

There have been many other instances, with the most familiar ones perhaps being the rise to prominence of Luke Gale and Paul McShane, two huge influences on Castleford’s successful League Leaders’ Shield campaign five years ago yet they had clearly played well within themselves before Powell got hold of them.

There is no intention with this article to heap try-scoring pressure on Russell, nor to suggest that his arrival is the missing piece of the jigsaw that will make all the difference over the next 12 months. He has plenty of new teammates who need to play their part if that is to happen.

The point I am making is that it is very difficult to judge in advance what a player can give to a team before he has settled into it under the influence of a particular coach.

Only time will tell if Russell’s return works out or not.

However, Russell is nobody’s fool, he’s been around the block, endured some tough seasons, gained a wide variety of experience, and found his way back to a club that should be contending for honours under a coach who has had a reputation for getting the best out of players that some other clubs did not fancy.

He knows all too well that this second opportunity with The Wire could be his best chance of a strong finish to his career. If it goes wrong, there will not likely be a queue of trophy-hunting suitors waiting for him.

The 29-year-old Wiganer is therefore highly motivated and this was clear in the conversation I had with him this week.

He gave off a maturity, too, in the way that he wants to play a part in other players’ improvements as well as his own.

Motivation is a huge factor in sport. A side can have the best player in the world in its ranks but that player can be reduced in effectiveness if not feeling motivated to give of their best.

Hopefully Russell’s desire to make the most of his new opportunity can lead to him being another great rejuvenation in Powell’s coaching career.

I don’t expect he will start the season, because I believe Powell will give Josh Thewlis and Matty Ashton first chance on the flanks.

And Greg Minikin may then be next in line.

But ultimately the ball is in the winger’s court to deliver and show Powell he’s the man for the job while rewarding the club for putting faith in him.