WARRINGTON WOLVES 2022 SQUAD NUMBERS

1 Stefan Ratchford

2 Josh Charnley

3 Peter Mata’utia

4 Toby King

5 Matty Ashton

6 Gareth Widdop

7 George Williams

8 Joe Philbin

9 Daryl Clark

10 Mike Cooper

11 Ben Currie

12 Oliver Holmes

13 Jack Hughes

14 Jason Clark

15 Joe Bullock

16 Danny Walker

17 Matt Davis

18 Billy Magoulias

19 Robbie Mulhern

20 James Harrison

21 Greg Minikin

22 Josh Thewlis

23 Connor Wrench

24 Ellis Longstaff

25 Ellis Robson

26 Rob Butler

27 Riley Dean

28 Eribe Doro

29 Jacob Gannon

30 Morgan Burgess

31 Tom Whitehead

So looking at this, does this mean Charnley is swapping Wings??

That's a good lineup I think 1-13. I doubt the bench would look like that though. Magoulias, walker, Mulhern and Bullock off the bench is likely if all are fit.

I would like to see Magoulias play before deciding whether he is good enough to make the match day 13 but I obviously hope he does make the LF spot his own now I've seen his mouth watering highlight reel.

Given what we know about Magoulias would rather have had him at 13. Guessing Hughes still in there he is staying as captain.

Prefer Philbs as an impact player and not a starting prop but he's possibly the best option out of the front rows we have in the squad

When looking at that squad what struck me was that after Ashton at 5, these are the only other outside backs in the squad - 21 Greg Minikin, 22 Josh Thewlis, 23 Connor Wrench.

Ashton and King both have a history of picking up injuries and Minikin is out for a while so I think we look a little light in that area although Currie and possibly Hughes can play at centre if needed.

Looks like Keanan Brand has gone somewhere else too, no mention of where though.

I think Brand was one of those signings that are a sign of the past. He got a chance at Widnes because they were forced to use their own academy products as they couldn't afford to sign and pay for established players. He stood out a little in an otherwise poor Widnes team. He's probably a solid super league player for a lower-half-of the-table club, but he's not shown himself so far to be any better than what [iwe[/i have coming through. The difference was that at the time we weren't blooding our own academy players, and if we did they wouldn't have stood out against the likes of Gelling etc. Now we are seeing the likes of Thewlis and Wrench, I'm quite happy we are producing our own academy products that are up to the standard of the ones other clubs have handed down to us. In fact it's arguable that the current crop of youngsters are as good as any being produced by the usual suspects of Leeds, Wigan and Saints, as shown by the recent call-ups.

If we aren't going to booster the squad with established backs, I'd rather us blood our own academy players for a few weeks instead of utilise Brand. He'd be better off with a regular first team spot at Leigh or Wakefield anyway.

I agree, don’t mind a “steady” prop to start. But a little cannonball should be off the bench for 10-15 minutes of chaos in each half. Mulhearn to start for me

Shouldn't a supposed international prop, like Philbin, be looking to further himself into something more than impact player at this stage of his career?

I'd also reckon that Powell will be the type of coach looking to progress Philbin into a more senior pack role and get more of a use from him than brief 10 minute cameos. Certainly, if Philbin wants to be a top player, he will need to start contributing more than what he did for most of last season, where he was a little underwhelming.

Nothing wrong with being the best at your role. Props rotate, you need to work out your strengths and be the best at that bit. He is a bowling ball, and that can change momentum.

I agree Brand didn’t look great in the limited time he had with us. Also agree that Thewlis and Wrench are really exciting prospects. The issue for me is that we have very thin cover for outside backs in the squad. Let’s hope Ashton and King stay injury free next season

FTFY

Definitely. However, I'm struggling to recall the last time he made much of an impact, either when starting or coming off the bench.

2019 I think.

2022 is a big year for him, I hope he doesn't turn in to one of those players who only picks up form when his contract renewal is coming around (given he is contracted till the end of 2024!) Same comment for Toby King, 2 players who now need to be stepping up to be senior players, delivering week in week out. Both looked great up until they signed new terms, and fell away after doing so.

Quote ="The Speculator"Definitely. However, I'm struggling to recall the last time he made much of an impact, either when starting or coming off the bench.'" I wonder if https://gripzofficial.com/ (his clothing business) is distracting him?

Quote ="The Speculator"Definitely. However, I'm struggling to recall the last time he made much of an impact, either when starting or coming off the bench.'" I wonder if https://gripzofficial.com/ (his clothing business) is distracting him?

See now people said this about King, but he got injured, widdop got injured, lineham got suspended (probably) that whole side got changed around.

Also, after he came back, how many bombs did we kick for him, which he'd been lapping up for fun at the start of the year.

First part of the season, it got slightly monotonous that was our one mode of attack, he came back into the side, we didn't do it.

Jebus, we didn't even try a hit n hope against kr in the play offs when we were desperate

FMC. players aren’t human, they shouldn’t have off days, loss of form. Some people even seem to think it is their fault when they get injured, what else does the phrase “injury prone” hint at.

Widdop was back by mid August though I think, from then on in he had Widdop, Currie and Thewlis who was playing well enough to keep Lineham out of the side anyway. His next step is to challenge for a centre spot in the national side, to do that he needs to find a consistency in his performance and certainly offer more of a threat than a high ball.

That decline in form may well have been injury related, but he’s just been given a nice new contract, he needs to be a consistent threat for us, with a left edge of Widdop, Currie & Ashton there should be plenty of opportunity with Powell improving things.

I think Powell will enjoy working with King, D Clark, Widdop, Williams and Currie in particular, I think he will see those as the key players for us. Give them some imple attacking structure for support players etc and we will be looking very dangerous. He has a lot to work with in our squad and I would hope most of our players will relish an opportunity to play with a bit more freedom.

Quote ="Captain Hook"Some people even seem to think it is their fault when they get injured, what else does the phrase “injury prone” hint at.'" 1) Gary Wheeler (as an example) managed 101 games in 14 years. Was this just bad luck or was he injury prone? 2) Do you reject the proven links between lifestyle choices and injury in professional athletes and that the individual has no causal impact on likelihood of injury? 3) Is the New Scientist wrong to use the term "injury prone" https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn ... jury-prone or just Warrington fans?

Quote ="Captain Hook"Some people even seem to think it is their fault when they get injured, what else does the phrase “injury prone” hint at.'" 1) Gary Wheeler (as an example) managed 101 games in 14 years. Was this just bad luck or was he injury prone? 2) Do you reject the proven links between lifestyle choices and injury in professional athletes and that the individual has no causal impact on likelihood of injury? 3) Is the New Scientist wrong to use the term "injury prone" https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn ... jury-prone or just Warrington fans?

Mulhearn and Cooper will be good again next season. Would love to see Philbin get back to his best. In Harrison’s absence we then need to see at least one of Bullock or Butler (preferably both) step up to a similar level and Doro kick on via regular reserves/first team bench appearances. A lot to ask I suppose but Will be watching with interest.

I noticed we released Longstaff.
I didn't hear about that - a little surprised we let him go. Free agent.
Maybe Toulouse or Ottawa ?

Released Longstaff???? Don't give me nightmares, I think not.

Longstaff got squad number 26 only 3 days ago? Something we don't know about?

If we release longstaff I swear I will contemplate not watching us again!