Sports editor Mike Parsons looks ahead to Warrington Wolves' return to Super League this weekend

WIRE fans will undoubtedly feel they have been the longest 149 days of their lives.

With everything that's been going on surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, not having a Warrington Wolves match to look forward to each week since that win at Hull FC on March 12 has hurt far more than a lack of activity in a regular off-season.

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Tom Lineham touches down in Wolves' win at Hull FC on March 12. All pictures by Mike Boden

It's been the same for all fans across the sport and we all know it couldn't have been any other way, but finally to have the chance to see Steve Price's team back in action again this weekend is priceless – even if the viewing has to be done on TV.

Having seen some of the action from the catch-up games between St Helens and Catalans Dragons plus Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos at the weekend, we're in for an intriguing few months as the 2020 Super League and Challenge Cup competitions are completed.

Less penalties at the ruck due to the new 'six again' rule and the temporary removal of scrums look like meaning games are going to be considerably faster and with less downtime, so the fittest teams that can last the pace and players with the biggest engines could well be the ones to rule the roost.

I fancy The Wire have players on their books to revel in these conditions but in truth we just don't know which of the 11 squads are going to cope the best, only time will tell, but the unknown factors and unpredictability are going to make for some exciting rugby league.

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Daryl Clark, above, and Matty Ashton, below, could be among The Wire players to wreak havoc against tiring defences in the faster new-look Super League for the rest of 2020

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And then towards the back end of September midweek games are going to get thrown into the mix too – as if the demands on the players were not already gut busting!

Ambitions, hope, togetherness, courage, mental strength, the badge on the shirt and knowing the town is behind them will give the players necessary fuel to give it their best shot and that's all that any fan can ask.

Imagine this, though, and I'm not looking to tempt fate or jinx things – just picking up on a discussion I heard recently.

What if, in this disrupted, unfamiliar and altered campaign, this talented Wire group cope well with all that is thrown at them and not only steer the club to its fifth Grand Final in nine seasons but actually win the title and are crowned champions for the first time in 65 years?

The conversation, I heard, brought up that there might be a wish among some fans for the title drought to end in a different year, that perhaps it wouldn't mean as much this year if it was to happen when supporters haven't been present inside the stadiums for the full journey.

But I have to disagree, and ask Liverpool FC supporters what they think about what their team was finally able to achieve.

Surely supporters want what's best for the club they support whatever the circumstances.

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And as Warrington are a club with such high ambitions and been the bridesmaids more often than any of us would like, you take success when you can get it and what a boost for the business side in this difficult economical climate that it would be to enter what will hopefully be a more traditional 2021 season as champions and defend the title with a certain Greg Inglis on board.

It could be a catalyst for far more success.

Yes, this is an unprecedented season in an unprecedented year, but what seems clear to me is that the Herculean effort that's going to be needed to come out on top will mean the victors, whoever they are, will be thoroughly deserving of it and will be the pride of their town.

It would mean a hell of a lot to be crowned champions this year, so let's get behind the team from afar any way we can and you never know – it might just be our year.