Warrington Wolves star lifts lid on injury frustrations

From the high of helping The Wire lift the Challenge Cup in August, that memorable afternoon at Wembley proved to be the final time the second rower pulled on a primrose and blue jersey that year.

He played no further part as the season petered out and for many supporters, the reason why has been a mystery.

Having returned in Thursday’s 19-0 win over St Helens, though, the former London Bronco lifted the lid.

“Not too many knew but I had a few injuries that hindered me towards the back end of the season,” he said.

“I was really struggling with a few things and it was really frustrating for me.

“I had a good pre-season, though, and that allowed me to put all of that behind me.

“I was 18th man at Wigan so just missed out but to have a decent stint against Saints is something I’m really happy with.”

Matt Davis' last Wire appearance before the Saints game was last year's Challenge Cup Final. Picture by Mike Boden

As he has become accustomed to doing since joining The Wire from the Broncos prior to last season, Davis was summoned from the bench to help his side stifle the defending Super League champions.

His tigerish attitude in defence and willingness to battle well above his side perhaps epitomised his side’s display.

However, the 23-year-old says that performance will count for nothing if it is not backed up at Wakefield Trinity on Sunday.

“Austo (Blake Austin) said in the huddle after Saints that it would have been no good to have not won after playing so well at Wigan,” he said.

“If we don’t go to Wakey and do the job, though, it won’t mean too much.

“We need to keep building without getting ahead of ourselves. We’ll take it week to week and not get carried away.

“There’s a lot of morale about us. When we come up big in defence, everyone’s getting around celebrating.

“That’s not a forced thing. It comes from the togetherness we have.

“We want to do that for each other and it’s a natural instinct to go and celebrate things like that.

“We’ve come together so much more as a group than where we were at times last year.

“Hopefully that can continue and we can build on it.”