Joe Greenwood: I have come back from NRL a better player

Drew Darbyshire

Photo courtesy of Richard Long

Wigan star Joe Greenwood thinks he has returned from the NRL a much-improved player and now wants international honours.

The 25-year-old joined the Warriors in June on a deal until the end of the 2021 season from NRL outfit Gold Coast Titans.

Greenwood made 22 first-grade appearances for the Titans in his 18-month stint in Australia, and he thinks the experience of playing in the NRL has improved his game.

When asked if he has come back a better player, he said: “I reckon so.

“I would say that I have learned quite a bit. It is a faster game over there, so you need to adapt quickly, but I learned a lot from some of the senior players over there and I’m just trying to bring that bit of experience to the Wigan side now and pass over what I’ve learned to the younger lads.

“I am still getting used to the plays and stuff here [at Wigan]. I went straight into the deep end here because I flew over halfway through the year when they had already played 20-odd games. I am still getting match-fit now and there is still some detail I need to improve on but hopefully I will just keep getting better every week.”

Greenwood is currently involved in the England Knights Performance Squad, and with a two-game tour to Papua New Guinea coming up this autumn, Greenwood thinks the Knights is a good stepping stone to progress through to the senior side.

He added: “I just want to play for my country and that is my biggest aim, but you have got to play well for your club first and kick on from there.

“Hopefully I can play for the Knights and then hopefully I can push on into the first-team with England.”