“WE are going to see a new Ben Currie next year.”

That was Warrington Wolves head coach Steve Price’s prediction in what is a big year for the second rower.

For the first time since his catastrophic brace of knee injuries, Currie will go into a season with a full pre-season programme under his belt.

He enjoyed a break for his wedding to fiancée Louise Kerwin and a honeymoon to Jamaica, but Price believes the 25-year-old will have kept himself ticking over while he was away.

Currie’s contract with The Wire is about to enter its final year and the hope is he will rediscover the form that made him one of the English game’s hottest young properties.

“We’re hopefully going to see the best of Ben Currie next year,” Price said.

“He’s missed 18 months overall with injury and it takes a lot of coming back from.

“He came back in extremely early – he didn’t give himself much of a break.

“He’s on his honeymoon now but if I know him, he’ll still be working hard out there so he can come back and hit the ground running.”

Even while injured, Currie found himself consistently named in England’s Elite Performance Squad by head coach Wayne Bennett.

When the return of the Great Britain Lions team was announced with Bennett at its helm, he would have at least been in the mix for selection among a talented group of players in his position, such as John Bateman, Elliot Whitehead and Josh Jones.

However, he and Warrington came to the joint-decision to inform Bennett that he did not wish to be considered for selection in order to give himself a full pre-season.

For a player who has been to Rugby League World Cups with both Ireland and England, it will have been a hard call to make.

“That’s a decision myself and Ben made. We felt it was best for him going forward,” Price said.

“Two ACL injuries is horrific and it brings a lot of head noise.

“He played nearly all season last year with nothing to worry about, though.

“With all that in mind, we are going to see a new Ben Currie next year.”