ADRIAN Morley can have as big an influence on Warrington as Aussie superstar Andrew Johns according to coach Paul Cullen.

The town was gripped with Johns fever when the half-back spent a month guesting with the Wolves at the end of the 2005 season.

Crowds boomed and interest in the club soared because of the presence of the man described at the time as the game's greatest player and Cullen has sensed something similar with the arrival from Sydney Roosters of ex-Leeds favourite Morley.

"We've already seen the effect," said Cullen. "It's almost the Andrew Johns phenomenon.

"The training sessions step up a couple of gears because of the quality of personnel you are now working with. Our guys have got smiles on their faces, they're enjoying the training routines.

"He's a very dominant character and a proud and professional man. Adrian is up there with the very, very best."

Salfordian Morley, 29, who spent six seasons in Australia's NRL, arrives with the reputation as one of rugby league's toughest forwards with a disciplinary record to match.

He finished his Roosters career with a seven-match ban, the 11th time he had been in trouble Down Under, but made his comeback as one of Great Britain's most impressive players in the Tri-Nations series.

"We know what we've bought," Cullen said. "We're not looking to change his game in any way, shape or form. We simply want to provide the environment that he can express himself in."

Cullen believes he can finally turn Warrington into title challengers and can point to his other international recruits to back up his claims.

He has also snapped up Great Britain second-rower or centre Paul Johnson from Bradford and New Zealand back-rower Vinnie Anderson from St Helens.

"If Lee Briers can't get to play behind a Great Britain pack, I'll put an international pack in front of him at Warrington," said Cullen in reference to his skipper's continued absence from the national team. "We have three outstanding international players in their own right and we have another three players that we can throw onto the pile that are absolutely busting a gut to make an impact.

Excited

"Paul Rauhihi and Rob Parker missed the vast majority of last year with some serious injuries and Jon Clarke only played half the season.

"I'm very excited by the the way pre-season has gone and the potential we have for this year.

"If there are any wrongs to be set right from last year, we now have the personnel to do it."

Meanwhile, Cullen is refusing to be distracted by the speculation linking him with the vacant Great Britain coaching position.

Wigan boss Brian Noble, whose three-year contract ran out on December 31, is unlikely to be re-appointed if the Rugby Football League opt for a full-time national coach.

Cullen would be an obvious candidate to replace him if Warrington were to agree to release him.

Cullen enhanced his growing reputation by masterminding a Federation Shield success for a young England team in the autumn but insists he has unfinished business at Warrington.

"No questions have been asked officially or informally and I'd be very surprised if there was any change to the structure," he said.

"My focus is the Warrington Wolves and nothing else.

"I enjoyed every single second of my time with England but I knew it finished the day we won the final.

"My only priority is the Wolves. I've dedicated everything that I've got to get us into finals.

"And, if we achieve that, I might have a look at what's around at that point." Tweet