Warrington Wolves talking points before Hull KR clash

The Round Four meeting sees two sides who have made similar starts to the season go head-to-head, with The Wire seeking a third straight win while Rovers will look to respond to their first setback of the year.

Our Wire reporter Matt Turner picks out five key Warrington talking points ahead of the game at Craven Park below...

A truer indication of where Wire are at

It is probably fair to say that, in terms of results at least, Warrington Wolves are about where most expected them to be after three games.

They weren’t favoured to win in Perpignan while they were favourites for home games against Hull FC and Castleford so in that respect, everything has gone to form.

While there’s still improvements to be made in pretty much every area, performances have got better over the three matches and Sam Burgess appears to be happy with the progress made.

Thursday, however, will be a true test of that.

They may have lost at Salford last time out, but travelling to face a fully-stocked Hull KR squad who like them have designs on contending for honours will give us a more accurate reflection of where Wire currently sit.

Having lost to Catalans in Round One, Wire have since picked up home wins over Hull FC and Castleford Tigers (Image: Mike Boden)

Matching Robins’ intensity key

In general, games at this time of year are all about “the grind” – and that is exactly where Hull KR are strong.

A pack that punches well above its weight is combined with hard-working outside-backs and sprinklings of stardust but knitting it all together is an impressive work ethic and team spirit.

Smarting from their Round Three loss and with their raucous home crowd behind them, the Robins will no doubt come flying out of the traps and if Wire are to be in with a chance, they have to match that level of intensity.

If not, they could easily find themselves overrun.

Hull KR will be looking to bounce back after losing at Salford last time out (Image: SWPix.com)

George Williams – will he or won’t he?

It wouldn’t be the first time Wire have attempted a bit of kidology when it comes to their star half-back’s fitness.

They have dangled the carrot in the past when he has been close but not close enough to a return from injury and indeed, he was named in the 21-man squad to face Hull FC in Round Two when in reality, he never had any chance of playing.

Now, every Wire fan will be hoping his surprise inclusion in this week’s squad has more substance to it and that he is indeed ready to return slightly earlier than expected from an ankle injury.

This week in particular, having Williams back would be a huge boost following Josh Drinkwater’s withdrawal, and it would mean the chance for the George Williams-Leon Hayes partnership fans have been so keen to see to have a run-out.

Should he not make it, Sam Powell would appear the favourite to slot into the halves alongside Hayes while Stefan Ratchford, who moved into the pivots when Drinkwater limped off last week, another option.

George Williams was expected to miss at least another week with an ankle injury but is in contention to play against Hull KR (Image: Mike Boden)

How will Currie be utilised?

Jordy Crowther’s return from a combination of suspension and extended concussion protocols sees Wire regain the services of a man Burgess proclaimed as the team’s best ball-playing middle.

How he is used will no doubt depend on how things look elsewhere on the field – if Sam Powell is needed in the halves, for example, Crowther’s likely role would be as the alternative hooking option.

Whatever happens with him, however, Ben Currie has surely done enough to earn another crack as a starting loose forward.

Two encouraging performances there, particularly against Castleford last week, has seen a longer-term role in the middle discussed for the back-rower.

That said, this week will surely see his defensive capabilities in that position put under pressure given Hull KR’s tendency to attack the middle third.

Ben Currie has impressed at loose forward in the past two matches (Image: Mike Boden)

A different test for Hayes

His Super League career is still in its infancy, but Leon Hayes has handled everything that has been thrown at him so far with aplomb.

Defensively, he has belied concerns about his diminutive stature by getting through an impressive amount of work, while he has shown signs of growing in confidence with the ball.

Whether it is George Williams, Sam Powell or Stefan Ratchford, he will have a new half-back partner to gel with in a game that will see a fervent home crowd baying for a mistake at his every touch.

He will already break new ground by simply playing – he will have featured in three first-team games in a row for the first time while he will also have doubled the number of first-team appearances he started the year with – but dealing with the kind of atmosphere Craven Park can bring will be another tick in the box for him.

Leon Hayes will have a new half-back partner on Thursday (Image: Mike Boden)