
IT’S year two for Sam Burgess at Warrington, and a broadly positive first season at the helm means expectations are set high this time.
Nobody quite knew what to expect when Burgess took charge, but what he delivered was an exciting team that could attack with flair and defend well.
It took them to a Challenge Cup final, alongside a third-place finish in Super League and one week from the Grand Final.
The next step is to win a trophy and that looks a strong possibility, even if transfer movement has been minimal in the off-season.
It remains to be seen if their three additions – Dan Russell, Oli Leyland and former England sevens player Alfie Johnson – are immediate first-choice players, although backrower Russell will need to help cover the exits of Matty Nicholson and John Bateman to Australia while either Leyland or young Leon Hayes will have a key role at halfback.
Will a similar team and approach get them over the line this time?
Watch out for… Leon Hayes, whose breakthrough 2024 season was so cruelly cut short by serious injury. He impressed in ten appearances but broke his ankle in late April against Salford and, having earned a starting place, he will now have to fight for it again following the arrival of fellow diminutive half Oli Leyland from London. Should he win out, Hayes’ partnership with star man George Williams could develop into a successful one.
Fan’s eye view… There’s a lot of excitement and optimism for the upcoming season. Sam Burgess’ focus on nurturing young talent while balancing it with experienced players like George Williams, Ben Currie and Luke Yates is a great strategy and that blend creates a strong and dynamic team. The Las Vegas fixture against Wigan is an intriguing one and could serve as a great motivator for the season. The 2024 Wembley defeat was a tough pill to swallow, but it can definitely fuel the team’s determination to achieve greater success this year. Aiming for the Grand Final is the ultimate goal, and it’s certainly within reach. (By Alex Chicken, Chair, Warrington Wolves Supporters’ Trust and Squadbuilder.)
2025 squad: 1 Matt Dufty, 2 Josh Thewlis, 3 Toby King, 4 Rodrick Tai, 5 Matty Ashton, 6 George Williams, 7 Leon Hayes, 8 James Harrison, 9 Danny Walker, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Ben Currie, 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 13 Luke Yates, 14 Sam Powell, 15 Joe Philbin, 16 Zane Musgrove, 17 Jordy Crowther, 18 Oli Leyland, 19 Stefan Ratchford, 20 Connor Wrench, 21 Adam Holroyd, 22 Tom Whitehead, 23 Cai Taylor-Wray, 24 Max Wood, 25 Lucas Green, 26 Dan Russell, 27 Luke Thomas, 28 Jake Thewlis, 29 Zac Bardsley-Rowe, 30 Dan Okoro, 31 Alfie Johnson, 32 Nolan Tupaea, 33 Arron Lindop.
Rugby League World predicts: 2nd
First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 505 (February 2025)