THE BRAKES have been put on Warrington Wolves’ new sensation Cai Taylor-Wray, who will be sidelined for at least four weeks due to a hamstring injury.
Academy product Taylor-Wray has enjoyed a stunning breakthrough in the early rounds of the new season, scoring four tries in as many games in all competitions.
His thrilling runs from fullback have justified the faith of head coach Sam Burgess, who gave Taylor-Wray the number-one jersey and allowed previous first-choice Matt Dufty to leave the club despite the 20-year-old only having eleven senior games under his belt prior to this year.
However, he suffered an injury in training earlier this week – ironically, when chasing winger Matty Ashton, who is being slated to return from a ten-month lay-off with a serious knee injury when Warrington play Castleford Tigers next Saturday (March 21).
Taylor-Wray was also sidelined for several months of last season with a hamstring injury suffered in a reserves game, although to a different muscle.
“Cai injured himself in training on Tuesday – he’s tweaked his hamstring,” Burgess said.
“The good thing is it’s the other side to the one he did last year.
“He was chasing Matty Ashton down – the boys compete hard at training and it’s just one of those things.
“It’s not as bad as it could have been so we’re looking at between four and six weeks – that’s the early prognosis.
“He was due to play this weekend (against Goole Vikings in the Challenge Cup fourth round) but as he dived to make the play on Tuesday, he just felt his hamstring.
“It’s unfortunate but it will be great for us as a team to figure out different ways to play without him.
“For Cai, it will be a good challenge and an opportunity for him to learn.”
Winger Josh Thewlis is expected to cover at fullback for what will be a much-changed line-up against Goole at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday.