Now fully converted to the front row, Pickersgill is coming closer and closer to establishing himself as a first team regular at the Wolves, playing eight Super League games last season and added the Warrington Wolves Foundation Award in 2007 to the Senior Academy Player of the Year he picked up in 2006. Local born with a physique and maturity ahead of his years, Pickersgill was identified as an exceptional talent while playing for Crosfields, joining Wolves at the age of 14 under an educational apprenticeship in conjunction with Warrington Borough Council. Turned down interest from Bradford, Wigan and Widnes in order to sign professionally in 2002 with sponsorship from the Squadbuilder Scheme. Has a strong Warrington pedigree with father Roy representing the club in the 1970s and brother John in the Wolves Academy team, and played in consecutive First Division Academy U18 Grand Final victories in 2003 and 2004. With the impressive feat of appearing in every Warrington U18 and U21 game in 2004 behind him, he touted Australia and New Zealand with England Academy.