A WEEK has gone by since the 2019 Super League season finished.

St Helens became champions defeating surprise Grand finalists Salford in front of a record TV audience on Saturday.

Now attention has turned to 2020.

For Warrington Wolves, this year has been one of success with a Challenge Cup win at Wembley and disappointment as poor league form since May saw a fourth place finish and a first round play-off exit.

But with Gareth Widdop arriving to join Blake Austin in the halves for 2020, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic.

Attendances at The Halliwell Jones Stadium were 12.5 per cent up on 2018 while membership sales for 2020 have started strongly.

Club chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick says the coming months are busy at the HJ.

Warrington Guardian:

It is a busy time for Karl Fitzpatrick, right, seen in conversation with head coach Steve Price. Picture: Mike Boden

He added: "It is a really busy time for us with membership launching and our hospitality packages launching too.

"Our new 2020 kit will launch in early to mid November.

"And we have our firework display at the stadium on November 5, with more than 1,000 tickets already sold.

"As well as the fireworks, there will be bands, food stalls, some of the players in the concourses and the chance to have your picture taken with the Challenge Cup."

On the pitch, pre-season training will get under way next month with first team players back from mid November and those on international duty set to return late December to early January.

Six Wire players have been selected for the four games against New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and first Tonga.

And one of those is the only player set to go under the knife as 2019 comes to an end.

Fitzpatrick said: "We are in a relatively good, healthy position.

"Normally we would have a number of players needing ops at the end of the season. Potentially Jack Hughes may need a small procedure after GB duty but it certainly won't put him a doubt for round one."

Fitzpatrick says it is a boost for Wire's new half back pairing to get to know each other for the Lions over the coming weeks.

He added: "It would be good for them (Widdop and Austin) to get some game time to get to know each other, even if it is different coaching and different players than when they will be here.

"But it will give them a chance to understand each other's games.

"Even if they don't play together, that can happen through training and they can start to build a relationships and understanding.

"To have six in the squad is fantastic for the club. We have also have five in the academy set up which is superb as well."

Pre-season plans will include a trip to Portugal in early January and two pre-season games.

Warrington Guardian:

The Wire will return to Brown's in Portugal after the visit earlier this year

One at home against Salford will be Mike Cooper's testimonial, the other will be at Swinton before Super League kicks off in February.

The league fixtures for the new season are due out next month.