George Williams has promised he will not get lost in the emotion ahead of his first game against the club he has supported as a boy this weekend.
For the first time in his professional career, Williams will line up against Wigan as the half-back's new club, Warrington, take on the Warriors at Magic Weekend in Newcastle. The England international turned down a return to the DW Stadium to take on a new challenge at the Halliwell Jones Stadium earlier this summer.
And Williams admitted it will be a strange experience taking on his hometown club for the first time, but he will put that emotion to the back of his mind.
"It's a new thing which I've never done before so it'll be strange, but I can't get caught up in all of that," he said. "I've got to forget that, I'm a Warrington Wolves player and I've got to do my job for the team.
"It'll be pretty weird. I'm Wigan born and bred and I was a Wigan fan growing up, so it'll be strange. It's something I've never experienced before but I'm really excited it's at Magic Weekend. It couldn't really on a bigger occasion except for a final. I went for some food with Oliver Gildart yesterday and he might be playing opposite me, so there's some good chat started already."
When asked how close he came to a return to his boyhood club instead of joining Warrington, Williams admitted: "It was tough. It's my hometown club and I grew up there, but when I spoke to Warrington and learned more about the direction the club is going, I'm really excited."
Williams also admitted he is gradually feeling his way into life as a Wolves player alongside Gareth Widdop in the halves.
"As a half-back you've got to call the structure of the team and that took me a week or two, but naturally it's come to me and I'm enjoying it now," he said.
"I'm just trying to find a role for myself. We've not had too many games together, me and Gaz and that's only going get better. He's been really good this year and been Warrington's go-to man, so I'm happy to be at the side of him and do what's best for the team."
