League: Wright grabs Warriors lifeline

Jonathan Wright can play on both sides of the park. Photo / Getty Images

New signing was laying bricks in Sydney heat after his Sharks contract ended.

While most NRL players were planning their off-season trips to exotic destinations, new Warriors signing Jonathan Wright was wondering if his professional football career had come to an end.

After finishing the season with the struggling Cronulla Sharks, the 27-year-old centre-winger found himself off contract and desperate for a new opportunity.

Two months spent working as a brickie's labourer in the sweltering Sydney heat gave him plenty of perspective and time to weigh up his options before he found a lifeline across the Tasman.

"It's the nature of the beast in the NRL," says Wright.

"One day things are all going good and then you are off contract with the team that came last.

"I was doing a bit of labouring and was still stuck in limbo and working hard. It was 40C heat in Sydney and I was doing concreting and laying pavers so it was pretty full on.

"It was pretty tight but I got through it and got this opportunity and I'm really keen. It's good to be back here now and starting to get back into training."

Wright, whose wife is from Auckland, says the move to the Warriors brings some respite after enduring a difficult two years on the periphery of the Sharks' drugs scandal.

"It's awesome [here]. The two years I was at the Sharks it was a circus. There was no positive energy around at all, it was always negative.

"It was really hard on all the boys especially those involved in what was happening but even those who weren't , like myself and a few others, it still affected us and the team as a whole.

"It was a tough year and it was good to get a fresh start and a fresh challenge and a new adventure for my footy career."

Wright's ability to play on both sides of the park makes him a handy acquisition yet he realises he faces strong competition for a starting berth, with the likes of Manu Vatuvei, Konrad Hurrell, Ngani Laumape, Glen Fisiiahi, and David Fusitiu'a already on board.

"I've learned to play anywhere and I enjoy playing whichever position. Wherever the coach or team needs me I'm happy to be flexible," he said. "He's [coach Andrew McFadden] just saying settle in first and get into training and learn what the requirements are here with the professionalism and how he wants the club to go forward.

"I love the style that the Warriors play. They play with mongrel and throw the ball round and it's very exciting footy but then again they are disciplined too. I'm really excited for that and looking forward to hitting the ground running."

Meanwhile, Fisiiahi is enjoying being back training with the Warriors as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery after nerve damage forced him to sit out the majority of this season.

"It's coming along good, slow but it's getting there," Fisiiahi said. "I'm building into it slowly. The coaching staff know that I can't really do contact yet.

"I'm seeing the surgeon next week and he'll give me the green light about whether I can progress.

"It's just been fun training with the boys again."

The 24-year-old flyer says he is "no chance" to play in the NRL Auckland Nines next February and is focused on being ready for round one of the NRL.

"I'm looking at the bigger picture and really want to get my shoulder right first and make a stamp on this year seeing as it is my last year at the club. I really want to make my mark on the NRL."