Matty Nicholson has the attributes to make his move to Canberra Raiders a success, says Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess. Nicholson made the switch to the Australian capital in the off-season after spending two and a half seasons with Warrington at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The back-rower made 50 appearances for the club in that time and touched down for 17 tries, including 10 last season in what was his most impressive season to date in his career. That form alerted Canberra, who made him their second English recruit in as many years with the 21-year-old joining fellow Yorkshireman Morgan Smithies at the Raiders on a three-year deal.
The Wigan Warriors academy product has started pre-season training under Ricky Stuart and he’ll be doing all he can over the next few months to catch the head coach’s eye before the start of the new NRL season in March. Of course, making the switch to the NRL promises to be a big step up for Nicholson and while Burgess believes has plenty still to learn, he’s willing his former player to make a name for himself down under.
“I think he’ll go really well,” Burgess said while speaking on The Run Home with Joel & Fletch. “He’s obviously really young, he’s only 21 or 22 I think. He’s a great athlete, he’s fit and he’s a student of the game so I’d love him to go over there and do well.
“He has a bit to learn in his game but he’ll certainly do that in the NRL. I’d have loved to keep him here for one more year and send him over there with another 12 months hard work and trying to fix up his physicality but he’ll do that in Canberra. I’m sure you’ll see a lot of him, he’s a good athlete.”
Should he impress on the training field, Nicholson could be given the opportunity to make his debut for the Raiders against New Zealand Warriors in Las Vegas at the Allegiant Stadium. Warrington Wolves take on Wigan just a couple of hours earlier at the same venue meaning that should he travel, Nicholson will have the chance to catch up with former teammates on both sides.
