IT has been an incredible 12 months for Warrington rugby league international Mike Cooper.

This time last year he had bowed out of Warrington Wolves on the back of a Grand Final appearance and started a new chapter in his life, with girlfriend Katie, in Australia.

Now Cooper can reflect on living the dream on the south coast of New South Wales, carving out a name for himself in the NRL with St George-Illawarra Dragons, gaining selection to England's senior squad for the first time as well as looking forward to becoming a dad.

The 26-year-old former Bridgewater High School pupil, who came through the ranks with Wolves after starting out with Latchford Albion, said: "It's been a bit of a crazy year, difficult at times, but the rewards have been huge."

Those rewards include the lifestyle he is sharing with Katie, the friends they have made, his current Four Nations tournament tour with England and playing in all but one of the Dragons’ NRL matches during 2014, despite arriving at training with none of his new teammates knowing who he was.

Having signed an initial two-season contract with Warrington Wolves boss Tony Smith’s former club, Cooper hopes to be breathing Dragon fire for years to come.

Cooper has offered an interesting insight to his life over the past 12 months and picks up the story from when he and Katie arrived in Australia last October and got settled into their new home in Bulli, a historic coastal coal-mining village in the northern suburbs of Wollongong 72km south of Sydney.

“I’m quite an organised person so I made sure that everything was sort of in place and ready for us to start life as soon as we got here,” said the prop forward.

“The Dragons had done a lot for us to make sure that we were settled. We moved into an apartment within a week of being here and we took it from there.

“I went into training to meet everyone and then we went away for a couple of weeks. We went up to Cairns and did some sightseeing, the barrier reef and all that sort of stuff.

“Then I started training the first week in November which was surreal, being with a completely fresh group of people and almost all of them Australians and Kiwis.

“I remember that I was really looking forward to having a fresh start with everyone and making new friends.

“The club arranged for Katie to start work pretty much as I started training. She used to work in the hospital in Warrington and she now works at the local pharmacy.

“It was fortunate that former Warrington Wolves player Brent Grose lives only a minute away from us. We met up and it was good too that Katie and his wife Kylie have become good friends.

“So, there were people to meet straight away and we have met some fantastic people since we’ve been here.”

Settled in, preparations for Cooper’s first season in the NRL became the primary focus.

“It only took a couple of weeks to feel comfortable at training in these new surroundings,” said Cooper.

“We started off initially with a five-week six-day programme until Christmas,” said Cooper.

“The training schedule is that high and that intense as were doing long days like normal job hours, getting in at 8am and going home at 4/5pm. There was a lot of time to get to know everyone.

“There was a fair bit of banter at first. There’s not been many English players playing for the Dragons so to get a pommie lad turning up out of the blue – and none of them knowing who I was – it was funny.

“It was interesting, not just with the rugby league, but in life having to really open yourself up.

“It’s not easy to move to the other side of the world like we did and not know anyone, so away from the field it’s been a good life experience as well to see what you’re actually like as a person.”

Pre-season training clearly went well for Cooper though, with the advantage of hindsight now telling us he was a permanent fixture in the Dragons 17 in 2014 under two different coaches, with Paul McGregor taking over the coaching reins from Steve Price part way through the campaign.

“I felt when I got there I wasn’t far off the mark physically,” he said.

“Probably my strength was a little bit down. Some of the lads I work with do a lot of extra weights sessions.

“In terms of running and speed, I wasn’t that far off which is testament to the training at Warrington.

“I spent a lot of time with the fitness staff getting myself right for things such as flexibility. It’s a huge amount of pressure on you to be as supple as you can.

“I remember the first couple of trial games we had. I made sure I had a really aggressive game and made sure people knew who I was and that I wasn’t afraid of anyone.

“It was interesting that the average age in the Dragons squad was 22-23, with only four forwards in the team over the age of 24. So I was classed like a senior player and I was told to make sure that I have that authority after having played in big games in England.

“That was probably strange for the other lads because they didn’t know who I was. So I had to really stamp my authority straight away, even in the training games that we had.

“I was pretty ruthless in the way that I was playing in training. They seemed to like it and that’s probably what led to me getting in the first 17 of the year.”

And Cooper said that was a real confidence boost for him for the rest of the year.

“It was. I hadn’t given myself any targets for the season – I just wanted to get in the 17 at some point and take it from there.

“In round one we had a decent win in Sydney against Wests Tigers and I had a solid game.

“After that, I missed only one game which was through injury. I missed a clash against South Sydney Rabbitohs.

“I was consistent all year and halfway through the year I started in the front row which was a target of mine once the season had got going.

I’m really proud of what’s been achieved this year. It’s been difficult at times, but the rewards have been huge.

“I really like being at St George, being part of the club. The history of the club is something I’ve never seen before. All around Australia, we have more fans than any other team in the competition.

“To be a part of all this in my first year, when there are some seasoned international players who take a bit of adjusting to get into teams and don’t play as many games as I have in the first year, makes me feel really proud.

“I’m grateful to the Dragons for giving me the opportunity in the first place, sticking by me, and hopefully I’ll be in their plans for the future.

“It’s the best decision I’ve ever made, signing that contract to come here.

“I’m 100 percent happy being a Dragon and I can see myself staying here and playing a lot of years at this club.

“I get on really well with everyone, the fans have really warmed to me which is nice and it’s just a fantastic place to play your rugby league.

“We’re living close to the beach, it’s just two minutes down the road and the weather’s nice all year so there’s not much to complain about to be honest.

“Wollongong is about an hour south of Sydney along the south coast and we’re just north of Wollongong in a place called Bulli. As well as Brent Grose currently living nearby my Dragons and England teammate Gaz Widdop lives in the next suberb about two minutes away so that’s good too.

“There’s about 17 beaches between Sydney and the bottom of Wollongong, so it’s a pretty nice spot where we are and we are very lucky to be able to come and live here.”

When Cooper left Warrington Wolves, the door was left open for him to return one day. Does he think that will happen?

“There is an agreement, with Warrington being my hometown club and that being where I’ve had a number of years playing,” he said.

“Things change as you go along. I don’t know how long we’re going to be here for. We’ve got a lot of things to think about, especially with a baby being born in March.

“At the minute, I’m very happy here and who knows, I may return to Warrington one day or may not. I’m not sure how things are going to be.”

The huge change in their lives this year will be extended with the baby’s arrival.

“It just adds to what’s been an amazing year,” said Cooper.

“A lot’s happened this year and certainly a lot of things are going to change our lives for the future. Having the baby is going to be a big change for us.”

As for the rugby, England selection topped off his debut campaign in the NRL but he said it was not part of his thinking that a move Down Under would enhance his chances of representing his country at the highest level.

“Not really and I was a bit concerned people might think that was the only reason I got in the squad. I didn’t want that to happen at all,” he said.

“My only goal, especially when I started training, was to get in the Dragons 17.

“When you see how high the competition is here for places in the squad – and that’s from the under 20s, to reserves and first grade – there was no thinking of potentially making the England team.

“I just wanted to get into the first 17 and earn the respect of my teammates and coach.

“Halfway through the season once I had got into the starting line-up I thought if I kept playing well and kept starting, there may be a chance of getting in.

“I played every junior level available for England, going back to under 14s, so I’ve been in the system and pathway for a long time now.

“It’ll be amazing to get a first cap. I’ll be very proud to wear the shirt if I get chance. It would be an unbelievably proud moment for me and all the family – a dream come true.”