A WARRINGTON Wolves priority for 2018 is an additional half back and Tony Smith says the search is ongoing.

The Wire missed out when Ben Barba elected to join St Helens, and current playmaker Kurt Gidley has since announced he will be calling time on his illustrious career at the season’s end.

Wolves brought in Kevin Brown after Chris Sandow walked out on the club late last year, while they also have homegrown talents Dec Patton, Harvey Livett, Morgan Smith and Harry Reardon on their books.

But Warrington want to add further strike power to their options in the halves.

“That’s ongoing. It’s just all part of the continuation of progression hopefully,” said Wolves’ head of coaching and rugby. “It’s a tough market, that’s for sure. It would be great if you could grow half backs on trees, but you can’t.

“It is an issue not just for us, but plenty of other people. When they’re good, most teams keep hold of them for a period of time.

“But there’s always something that moves at some stage and we’re keeping our eye on the market as best we can.”

Danny McGuire revealed this week that this will be his last season for Leeds Rhinos, cutting short a contract he had until the end of 2018.

The 34-year-old’s futureis yet to be announced but Smith confirmed Warrington have not made a move for the player he helped to blossom when in charge at Headingley.

“There is no move for Danny,” said Smith. “I have the highest respect for him, having coached him. What a quality young man and player he has been for Leeds.”