HAD things gone as anticipated, Luke Yates would currently be in the “finding your feet” process at Warrington Wolves.

With his move from Huddersfield Giants brought forward to take effect in mid-season, however, he has been able to undertake his first pre-season as a Wire player having fully integrated into the squad.

And while he was only with them for a relatively short time, he made the striking claim that he has never been in a dressing room that is as closely bonded as this one.

The 29-year-old made an instant impact upon joining Warrington in July, making 11 appearances and establishing himself as part of Sam Burgess’ starting front row.

But as well as the on-field talents the squad clearly possess, Yates was equally struck by the bond they share off the pitch.

“I’ve never been in a tighter group than this,” he said.

“The things you get told to do in terms of team-building like going for coffee together and things like that, we do that every morning anyway without anyone leading it.

“Everyone’s in together, meeting early and getting our work done. The foundations have already been built there.

“Coming in early takes away the need for finding your feet. It means I know everyone, the coaches and the systems so I can just focus on getting my head down for the weeks we’re in.”

Luke Yates made an impressive impact in the 11 Wire appearances he managed after joining in July (Image: Paul Currie/SWpix.com) Yates and his teammates are currently on a warm-weather training camp in Tenerife fine-tuning their preparations for the new season.

With their first on-field action a little over a week away, the time for putting the fruits of their labour on display is close.

For the Australian, he says the past few weeks have been “an eye-opener” but highlighted one particular area in which he feels the change in regime for him as been reinvigorating.

“From the outside looking in, I didn’t really know what to expect,” he said.

“I’m really close to Lachlan Fitzgibbon and I was talking to him about what they were doing – he was saying they were training so hard and flogging each other every day but at the same time, probably working that bit smarter as well.

“Coming in and doing this pre-season has been a bit of an eye-opener for me in terms of training that little bit smarter.

“The wrestle stuff has been intense. We’ve been doing a fair bit of jiu-jitsu as well and then Sammy and Rich (Marshall, assistant coach) take most of the wrestle and contact stuff.

“The way they do their running is very different to what I’m used to – that’s been a nice change.

“I’ve been on the same strength and conditioning system for five years between Salford and Huddersfield and what they do is great, but having that change has been good.

“That and the intensity of the wrestle has probably been the key difference.

“There’s so many good young lads in this group as well – the quality of them has surprised me but it’s really good to see.”