Simon Grix insists hometown club Halifax, who he re-signed for today, have the potential to return to Super League.
Fax confirmed the coup of local-lad Grix after he was released from his playing contract at Warrington last week.
The 29-year-old, who was part of the last Halifax squad to play in Super League back in 2003, returns to the Shay on a one-year deal.
A three-time Challenge Cup winner and two-time Grand Finalist, Grix has missed the entire 2015 season after suffering a horrendous double leg fracture last year. However, as he continues on his road to recovery, Grix revealed his delight at signing for his hometown club.
“I’m really happy to be back,” he said.
“Timing is everything. Things have aligned with where Halifax are at now. I’ve always harboured thoughts of returning here, and although it’s probably a few years sooner than I thought it would happen, I’m here now and ready to go.
“After missing a full year through a bad injury, it’s made me think about my life after playing. I’m going into my last year at university, which I was going to do while playing full-time, but this gives me an opportunity to concentrate on that through the day.”
Despite leaving the Wolves behind on a playing level, he will continue to work with their performance team. However, he revealed exclusively to League Express that he had turned down full-time offers to join Fax.
“I had a few offers, but to be honest I didn’t want to play for anyone else in the Super League other than Warrington. Given all the circumstances this is the best fit. Having Marshy (Richard Marshall) here gives me somebody here to trust and hopefully we can benefit from one another.
“Richard is driving things on the field and I do believe the club are trying to match that off the field. If we keep aspirations high, Super League isn’t an unrealistic dream, so I think it’s a good place to be.
“Last time I was here I was a kid and the club was a joke to be honest with you. It wasn’t a good environment for any young player to be in. But the club has changed and I want to be part of that change.”
Grix admitted that the injury that has kept him out for 12 months had made him question whether his playing career was over, but he is determined to prove he can recapture the form that has seen him reap in the plaudits throughout his nine-year stay at Warrington.
“The injury was as bad it gets and it hasn’t been straight forward,” he said.
“There’s been a few operations and nerve issues, but now I’ve had the plate out of my leg and things are a lot better.
“Time will tell. I’ll certainly be doing everything in my powers to play at a level I’ll be happy with. If I do that I think it will turn out to be a good move by the club and myself.”
