Ex-Warrington Wolves forward Matty Nicholson has opened up on his ‘surreal’ NRL move after linking up with fellow Englishman Morgan Smithies.
The pair will be reunited for the second time in their club career after both having previously played for Wigan Warriors, the club where each man made their debut.
Nicholson would make just one appearance for Wigan Warriors before joining Warrington Wolves but the pair grew up in Halifax together and both played for amateur side Siddal. Since then, they’ve become Wigan, England and now Canberra teammates.
As such, former Warrington Wolves man Nicholson has described it as an ‘easy transition’ with the 21-year-old recently speaking to NRL.com about joining the Raiders.
“It’s been a nice easy transition, obviously I’m living with Morgs (Morgan Smithies). It seems a nice place to live and I’m really enjoying it so far,” Nicholson explained.
He had previously explained how moving across the Pennines and joining Wigan at 16 had helped make the transition easier, explaining that it is ‘something that I’m used to’.
Ex-Warrington Wolves man Matty Nicholson on ‘surreal’ NRL move
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
However, in Smithies, there is a huge home comfort for Nicholson and that will certainly make the switch easier, even if he can’t quite believe it himself.
He exclaimed: “It always helps when you’re new to a club and you know one person. We’ve been closer for a number of years so it’s been surreal to come over and live with him.
“Growing up, you’d never imagine that two local lads who lived ten minutes away (from each other) would be playing at Canberra Raiders.”
English talent finding its way to Canberra has been commonplace in recent years and Nicholson explained how advice from Warrington Wolves teammates George Williams and John Bateman, both former Raiders, helped his decision.
“The Englishman who have come here before have done well. I had quite a few conversations with George Williams and John Bateman before I came here and they had nothing but good things to say.”
Nicholson actually replaces an English star with Elliott Whitehead departing the club, something that helped provide the opportunity for the former Wire second-rower.
He explained: “When I was negotiating, they knew that Smel (Elliott Whitehead) was going to move to Super League so there was an opportunity there for me and that’s one I’ve got to take.
“I want to keep working on my game every day and come round one, I’ll hopefully have a chance at being in that starting 17.”
