WHEN Pat Richards left Australia for England in 2005 Benji Marshall was the young superstar at the Wests Tigers and Luke Brooks was still in primary school.
Eight years on and Richards says he can't wait to rejoin his old club in 2014 because the talent they had coming through back then reminds him of what he sees emerging today.
Richards was famously on the receiving end of that freakish Marshall flick pass in the 2005 decider that led to one of the most celebrated tries in grand final history.
But after conquering all there is to do in the English Super League, he says the future has him excited about returning home and helping the Tigers get back to where they were when he left.
"I remember when I was at the Tigers before there was a really good crop of kids coming through then and we ended up getting some success out of out," he said.
"A lot of people are very excited about what these kids can do and I'm really looking forward to getting back and playing with them.
"I watched them go last year and they have some great talent."
Richards will run out for Ireland on the weekend in their World Cup clash against Australia in Limerick with a personal cheer squad of about 40 family members in the crowd.
"It is going to be a special occasion," he said.
02 Oct 2005 NRL Grand Final - Wests Tigers vs Nth Qld Cowboys at Telstra Stadium. Pat Richards celebrates a try. Source: News Limited
"My parents are both Irish. They moved to Australia when they were 20 so it's a good opportunity to play against the country from where I was born in Ireland and I have a lot of family coming over from Dublin to watch the game."
While Ireland probably won't represent much of a challenge to the tournament favourites, plenty of focus will be on Richards to see where his game is at after an unbelievably successful stint at Wigan.
During his time over here Richards has won two Super League crowns and two Challenge Cups as well as taking out the competition's most prestigious individual honour, the Man of Steel in 2010.
But he says probably the most rewarding experience was the lifestyle his young family enjoyed.
"It's been a terrific experience for us as a family," he said.
"I have enjoyed living over here and the culture and the opportunity to travel is great.
"One day we had the day off on the Wednesday so we flew to Paris on the Tuesday night and just spent the day there. Things like that you can do all the time.
"It is only like an hour away and you can be anywhere in Europe.
"I was married (to wife Kim) before I left but we had both our kids over here.
Sport. Pat Richards with wife Kim and children Aidan and Brianna at Keswick in the lakes district, England. Supplied Source: Supplied
"We had our first son (Aidan) the second year we were here and (Brianna) next.
"My kids have never lived in Australia so they have the little English accents but they are looking forward to being around family, too.
"It will be great for all of us."
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