WARRINGTON WOLVES have winger Josh Thewlis and forward Joe Philbin back in contention for Saturday’s trip to Hull FC.
Thewlis missed last Sunday’s win over Huddersfield Giants with a hamstring injury while Philbin has been absent for the past three matches due to a foot injury.
Ewan Irwin retains his place in the Warrington squad despite not featuring last time out because of a leg problem, and coach Sam Burgess says the young halfback has an “outside chance” of featuring in Hull.
But there is no place in the squad for fullback Cai Taylor-Wray, nor for Kelepi Tanginoa, the back-rower who continues to manage a knee issue, as Warrington hunt a sixth straight win to stay in the League Leaders’ Shield race.
Hull FC make just the one change to their squad, with forward Connor Bailey back in contention after almost four months out with a broken collarbone and Ben Johnson dropping out.
SQUADS
Hull FC: 2 Harvey Barron, 3 Davy Litten, 5 Lewis Martin, 6 Jake Arthur, 7 Aidan Sezer, 8 Herman Ese’ese, 9 Amir Bourouh, 10 Harvie Hill, 11 Joe Batchelor, 15 James Bell, 16 Sam Lisone, 18 Ligi Sao, 19 Tom Briscoe, 21 Arthur Romano, 22 Connor Bailey, 24 Logan Moy, 25 Matty Laidlaw, 26 Hugo Salabio, 29 Will Hutchinson, 32 Lloyd Kemp, 39 Ethan O’Neill
Outs: 35 Ben Johnson
Ins: 22 Connor Bailey
Wolves: 2 Josh Thewlis, 3 Toby King, 4 Albert Hopoate, 5 Matty Ashton, 6 George Williams, 9 Danny Walker, 10 James Harrison, 11 Adam Holroyd, 12 Sam Stone, 13 Ben Currie, 14 Sam Powell, 16 Liam Byrne, 17 Jordan Crowther, 18 Ewan Irwin, 19 Leon Hayes, 20 James Bentley, 21 Luke Thomas, 22 Joe Philbin, 23 Arron Lindop, 25 Max Wood, 35 Lachlan Webster
Outs: 1 Cai Taylor-Wray, 34 Kelepi Tanginoa
Ins: 2 Josh Thewlis, 22 Joe Philbin
Referee: Chris Kendall
STATS
Hull FC’s HARVEY BARRON has scored a try in each of his sides’ last three meetings with Warrington.
Last ten meetings:
Warrington 12, Hull FC 4 (SLR13, 5/6/26)
Hull FC 34, Warrington 2 (SLR26, 13/9/25)
Warrington 24, Hull FC 10 (SLR16, 28/6/25)
Warrington 16, Hull FC 28 (SLR7, 12/4/25)
Hull FC 18, Warrington 24 (SLR15, 22/6/24)
Warrington 24, Hull FC 6 (SLR10, 3/5/24)
Warrington 36, Hull FC 10 (SLR2, 23/2/24)
Hull FC 4, Warrington 18 (SLR23, 26/8/23)
Hull FC 30, Warrington 18 (SLR14, 4/6/23)
(at St James’ Park, Newcastle)
Warrington 34, Hull FC 6 (SLR7, 1/4/23)
Super League summary
Hull FC won 26 (includes wins in 2005 and 2020 play-offs)
Warrington won 39 (includes win in 2012 play-offs)
3 draws
Hull FC highest score: 46-14 (H, 2007) (Widest margin: 40-6, A, 2005 EPO)
Warrington highest score: 80-10 (S8, H, 2018) (also widest margin)
HERMAN ESE’ESE needs one appearance to reach 200 for his career.
- 62 for Hull FC (2024-2026)
– 20 for Dolphins (2023)
- 16 for Gold Coast Titans (2021-2022)
– 62 for Newcastle Knights (2018-2020)
– 31 for Brisbane Broncos (2016-2017)
- 1 for Canterbury Bulldogs (2015)
– 6 for Samoa (2017, 2019)
- 1 for New Zealand (2018)
JORDAN CROWTHER needs one appearance to reach 150 (Super League).
– 61 for Warrington Wolves (2023, loan, 2024-2026)
– 88 for Wakefield Trinity (2014-2023)
(including play-offs & Super League Super 8s)
GEORGE WILLIAMS needs six points to reach 500 (Super League).
– 161 for Warrington Wolves (2021-2026)
– 333 for Wigan Warriors (2013-2019)
(including play-offs & Super League Super 8s)
MATTY ASHTON needs three tries to reach 100 (Super League).
– 97 for Warrington Wolves (2020-2026)
(including play-offs & Super League Super 8s)