TONY Smith sees Kurt Gidley as the man to add decision-making prowess to his Warrington Wolves team in 2016.

That would seem to suggest head of coaching and rugby Smith sees the 32-year-old Newcastle Knights skipper and utility player, signed on a one-year contract, slotting into the halves.

Gidley will bring the experience of more than 230 NRL games for Newcastle and 24 representative matches for New South Wales and Australia to The Halliwell Jones Stadium next season.

Smith said: "Kurt's been an extremely committed player to one club over his career, and we like the fact that he has been loyal.

“He will bring some of the big-game experience that he has been involved in for a number of years and we are delighted to be bringing some more experience in, particularly into our backline to help guide us around.

“He's got a great sense of Rugby League and when to do what. Kurt's a very good decision-maker and we need some of that in amongst our already talented backline.”

Smith is an admirer of Gidley’s attitude too.

“He's an extremely professional player who has looked after himself for many years and is well known for doing everything right both on and off the field,” said Smith.

“People who have played with him and coached him speak very highly of him in terms of professionalism and his focus on the team. He's very much a team player."

Gidley’s high levels of fitness and competitiveness have seen him feature in several Australian television programmes.

In 2011 he competed in TV series Australia’s Greatest Athlete and last year starred in a programme as one of six elite athletes to be tested to see who has what it takes to make it in the sport of IronMan.

Director of football at Newcastle Knights Michael Hagan, and Gidley’s coach at the Knights from 2001 to 2006, said: “He was a good example of a junior player who worked harder than anyone else as a young bloke.

“And I’m not surprised to see him achieve so much in the game, to be captain of Newcastle and also New South Wales on a couple of occasions, as well as represent his country.

“He’s a really good example of someone whose worked hard and is enjoying the rewards at the end of all that.”

Wolves’ chief executive Roger Draper says the signing of Gidley sends out a clear message.

"At Warrington Wolves our aim is to become one of the leading Rugby League club's in the world both on and off the pitch,” he said.

“Signing a player of Kurt's calibre is a clear indication of this ambition as his experience will enhance our squad and help our team continue to deliver on-field success."