Nothing stale about Wolves this year (From Warrington Guardian)

Nothing stale about Wolves this year

WARRINGTON Wolves deliberately set out to lower the age of their squad this year in a bid to prevent players from going 'stale'.

The retirement of veterans like Mike Forshaw and Darren Burns plus catches of top young players contributes to the average age of players in the ranks coming down to 25 for 2005.

The young newcomers to the squad, 20-year-old Chris Bridge from Bradford, 21-year-old Nicky Royle from Liverpool St Helens, 17-year-old Andy Bracek from St Helens, 19-year-old Simon Grix from Halifax and promoted Academy teenagers, Steve Pickersgill and Phil Berry, are all considered to be stepping up the competition for starting places in Wolves' Super League X team.

Wolves' head coach Paul Cullen, who is going into his third full season in charge, said: "The squad I inherited was far too old and far too injured. We had far too many players who were too old to play in our under 21s team.

"We had four or five players getting stale every week because I couldn't play them anywhere."

That is all changing as Cullen explained: "If you look at our squad profile now, players with squad numbers from 21 to 26 are all of Academy age and can play in our under 21s.

"If you then consider I take 18 men for first team match duties, that leaves two other bodies. Well, those two other bodies can play in the under 21s as two over-aged players are allowed to play in the senior Academy team.

"So, in theory, if the under 21s and first team are playing on the same weekend, I'll have 18 players in preparation for the Super League game and eight others who can hone their skills and freshen themselves up ready to make impact and challenge for a first team place.

"I've never had that facility since coming back to the club.

"Last year we had guys getting stale and when I wanted to use them, they were not match fit, they were not mentally prepared or psychologically prepared. They were just very good in the gym or on a training field and it's just not the same.

"So, there is method to the recruitment policy."

Injuries and form will also play a part and Cullen said: "Of course, it won't always work as perfectly as outlined. We'd like to think at some point that the six Academy age players will be taking positions off the first team players who have got the shirts at the time on merit."