WARRINGTON Wolves made an audacious bid to sign one of the world’s best players – years before sealing a deal to bring Greg Inglis to the UK.

Inglis will join The Wire in 2021.

But a chat with fellow Golden Boot winner Johnathan Thurston on Australia’s Channel Nine, shows that both could have been pulling on the primrose and blue.

Thurston said he was offered a deal to sign for Wolves in 2018 when he announced his retirement but was put off by the cold.

He said he spoke to coach Steve Price about a possible one-year deal in England.

In the past two years Wire have secured the services of Aussie star Blake Austin, England half back Gareth Widdop and Josh Charnley among others.

And chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick said they will continue to recruit the best.

He added: “It shows the ambition of the club from the point of view of the chairman, the owner and myself. We are absolutely determined to bring success to Warrington.

“And we are willing to think outside the box, if we can, to bring in the world’s best players. And we will continue to do that.

“The video of Greg Inglis signing had 200,000 combined views on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“There was a spike in retail as well following the announcement. And it was trending second on the UK on Twitter to Easyjet. This is fantastic exposure for the club.”

Fitzpatrick confirmed talks continue with the trio out of contract at the end of 2020, Jason Clark, Ben Currie and Matt Davis.