In its simplest form, if you compare the team for 2025 c/w the team that started 2024, we have replaced Nicholson with Yates and Drinkwater with Hayes / Leyland. From what Sam Burgess has said, Russell has been brought in to give us 'options' in the second row.

The halfback situation is a bit 'wait and see' as it depends upon whether / how quickly Hayes can come back from a serious injury, but having Leyland there gives us a Plan B.

In the pack Fitzgibbon's fitness is clearly a concern. He only played in 17 out of 33 games last season (and failed to complete 2 of those), so we're going to need Holroyd et al.

Before the 2024 season started, we lost Kasiano. He's never been replaced, and we've missed not having a big interchange prop. Musgrove doesn't seem to punch his weight and whilst Yates, Philbin, Crowther and Holroyd all give 100%, our pack lacks a bit of size.

I'm not worried about our 3/4s. Lindop, Wrench and Taylor-Wray are there for backup and to put pressure on the incumbents.

In summary, I see us as being neither weaker, nor stronger, than at the start of 2024.

[quote="Wires71":8xfew003]Reading on here it seems we are putting a lot of faith in Hayes who, after all, has played 11 1/2 games of top level RL.[/quote:8xfew003] It certainly does and it's a big ask given his age and lack of experience. In his favour, he is brave, confident, strong in defence and seems well organised with an eye for a pass and could be a really good foil for Williams. It still leaves us with no real long kicking game when we're looking to clear our lines when under pressure. From what I saw last season we have no-one with a decent long kick. That makes a difference in a tight game especially when someone like Harry Smith is in the opposition team. Hope he does really well this year and becomes a local legend. Burgess & others obviously rate him very highly.

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... -contract/

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... -contract/

Brilliant news, hope it's not just to fend off NRL clubs though.

Be surprised if his loyalty isn’t rewarded with vice captaincy. Williams captain.

[quote="Matt King's kitten":2ulgr281]Brilliant news, hope it's not just to fend off NRL clubs though.[/quote:2ulgr281] Well Canberra already tried that while he was still in his previous contract, I’m thinking this is 100% hands off with this new one.