KEY POINTS:
Foundation captain Dean Bell is returning to the Warriors 12 years after finishing his playing days at the club.
As the club's community and development manager, the former Kiwis captain's duties will include overseeing the club's development programme, spreading the Warriors' gospel in the community, player welfare and managing the club's under-20 side (which will be coached by Tony Iro when it comes into existence next year).
"We have attracted one of New Zealand's great icons of the game to return to the Warriors," said director of football John Hart as he introduced Bell at a press conference that also featured a rare appearance from the club's co-owner, Eric Watson.
Bell claimed seven Challenge Cup victories, six English titles and a host of personal accolades during a career spent predominantly with Wigan in the club's glory days of the late 80s and early 90s.
"Everyone knows Dean was one of the hard men - he fronted and continued to front," Hart added.
But most recently Bell has worked in a variety of backroom roles at Wigan and saw first-hand the Lancashire giant's decline from perennial champion to relegation-threatened battler in the English Super League.
"Don't buy crap players," was Bell's pointed response when asked if he'd learned any harsh lessons at Wigan.
Watson was upbeat throughout proceedings, telling Bell it was a "privilege and an honour to have you back in the country and have you working with us".
The millionaire backer restated his commitment to a club he described as being in "pristine condition". He said his aim remained the same as when he bought into the club seven years ago: To beat the Aussies at their own game and win a championship.
"New Zealand looks for a lot from the Warriors and we, as an owner and investors, a way for us to give back and, through the sporting abilities of this team, to lift the spirits of people in this country."
Bell, who worked at a retread factory and an abattoir before pursuing a football career overseas, said the buzz he felt in the tunnel when preparing to lead the Warriors out for the first time in front of a packed house in 1995 had stayed with him. He had hoped for the chance to give something back to the club ever since.
That chance almost came five years ago when he had first been courted by the club but he had turned the opportunity down as he "didn't get a good feeling about it".
He feels differently now. Joining the Warriors was important to his personal development after his career had stagnated at Wigan, he said.
Although his role at the club will be multi-faceted, his goal was simple: "Ultimately, I am like everyone else, I want to win a championship."
Bell will take up his role at the beginning of August.
