Predicted Warrington Wolves team for first game of 2022

With the season getting underway on February 10, focus now for Warrington Wolves and their rivals is getting their pre-season spot on.

New head coach Daryl Powell will assemble his players for training on November 15, with six new signings joining the fray.

As we revealed earlier this week, though, there will be no more with Wire chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick confirming there will be no further incomings for the new campaign.

With that in mind, sports reporter Matt Turner has picked what he feels would be Wire's 17 for the first game of 2022 if everybody is fit (James Harrison and Greg Minikin have not been considered as they are already ruled out of the early rounds)...

FULL BACK – STEFAN RATCHFORD

One of the safer bets – Matty Ashton and Josh Thewlis are alternatives but I think the former will be used more on the wing.

While Thewlis had another solid year of development in 2021, I imagine it will be Ratchford who lines up in the number one jersey again.

Stefan Ratchford. Picture by Mike Boden

RIGHT WING – JOSH CHARNLEY

A big hope for 2022 is that a more expansive style of play sees Charnley return to his tryscoring best.

With Tom Lineham having departed, wing options are limited (at least while Greg Minikin is injured) and rumours of the former Wigan man being shopped around Super League clubs have been confirmed as wide of the mark.

Charnley remains a devastating finisher and it is critical he does not remain underused.

Josh Charnley. Picture by Mike Boden

RIGHT CENTRE – PETER MATA'UTIA

The new signing looks set to fill the space vacated by last season's top tryscorer Jake Mamo, who in turn fills the spot he left open at Castleford Tigers.

Who got the better end of the deal? Time will tell but the Samoan international is a solid operator in both defence and attack.

His versatility will also be a huge asset – he can cover at full-back and in the halves if necessary – and he provides a goalkicking option, although I suspect Stefan Ratchford and Gareth Widdop will have them covered in that department.

Peter Mata'utia. Picture by SWPix.com

LEFT CENTRE – TOBY KING

I will certainly be interested to see how Toby King develops under Daryl Powell.

Judging by his Castleford sides through the years, the left has consistently been their strike edge and as such, King will be a huge weapon.

That is, of course, if he can get himself into the form he showed in the first half of 2021 before a quieter end to the season.

Toby King. Picture by Mike Boden

LEFT WING – MATTY ASHTON

Is he a full-back? Is he a winger? Ashton will probably feature at number one at stages of next season but for the most part, I see him out on the flank.

While it may keep him away from buzzing around the middle looking for second-phase ball that would let him open up sides with his express pace, the lack of wing options mean he is surely a nailed-on starter out wide.

If he can stay fit, he could be a solid bet to feature in the upper echelons of Super League's try-scoring charts.

Matty Ashton. Picture by Mike Boden

STAND-OFF – GEORGE WILLIAMS

Into the brains trust we go and this pick is about as safe as you can get.

He showed glimpses of what he can do when he slotted into the Wire team last year but this is what he was really brought in for – to spearhead the Daryl Powell era.

Now, all Wire fans will pray for a full and injury-free pre-season for the man who will surely take over the number six jersey.

George Williams. Picture by Mike Boden

SCRUM-HALF – GARETH WIDDOP

Some of Widdop's displays in 2021 ­– particularly in the early part of the season – were scintillating.

Comfortably the club's best player of last season, the prospect of a fully-fledged partnership with George Williams is a pretty mouth-watering one.

Taking a full part in pre-season will be his base again and as he enters the final year of his current contract, supporters will hope for even better still.

Gareth Widdop. Picture by Mike Boden

PROP – JOE PHILBIN

This was a tricky one but I've gone with Philbin for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, new recruit Joe Bullock's shoulder surgery means he won't be back in full training until mid-January, so he may well have some catching up to do before the season starts and thus his minutes could be regulated.

Second, the Warringtonian has been labelled as the next in the queue behind Chris Hill and Mike Cooper for a few years now. It is time for him to take that starting spot with both hands.

Joe Philbin. Picture by Mike Boden

HOOKER – DARYL CLARK

Another surefire pick in what could be an intriguing season for the Wire number nine.

Reunited with the coach who brought him into the senior fold at Castleford and under whom he won the Man of Steel back in 2014.

Powell now has a more rounded rugby league player at his disposal than he did then, so can he take Clark's game to a new level again?

Daryl Clark. Picture by Mike Boden

PROP – MIKE COOPER

To many supporters, not signing a monster prop – an enforcer, if you will – to take the weight off Cooper is a glaring error.

Again, time will tell but much will depend on the veteran Warringtonian once again.

Like a fine wine, though, he appears to be getting better with age.

Mike Cooper. Picture by Mike Boden

RIGHT SECOND ROW – OLIVER HOLMES

This has been Jack Hughes' position for the past six seasons, but I get the feeling Daryl Powell wants a little more attacking threat from his back rowers.

That is where I think Holmes will come in, with Hughes playing as more of a middle option.

Like Mata'utia, he is a player Powell knows he can 100 per cent rely on and will play a big role.

Oliver Holmes. Picture by SWPix.com

LEFT SECOND ROW – BEN CURRIE

It is fair to say Currie's rebuilding process following his brace of ACL injuries is now complete.

He looked as close to his best as he has been since he was struck down and will once again be a key weapon in Powell's arsenal.

If the left proves to be the new boss's strike edge again, Currie will be another to benefit – well timed with a World Cup at the end of the year.

Ben Currie. Picture by SWPix.com

LOOSE FORWARD – BILLY MAGOULIAS

The decision to sign a ball-playing loose forward in Magoulias as opposed to the giant prop fans were crying out for shows the kind of style Powell wants to implement.

An old-fashioned 13 is something Warrington have not had since Joe Westerman left but is the kind of player the new coach has been keen on having in his sides.

Magoulias' role as that link between power and guile will be key.

Billy Magoulias

INTERCHANGES

ROBBIE MULHERN

A solid debut season in 2021 despite being hit pretty hard by Covid-19.

Towards the back end of the campaign, he showed some promising form and is a generally safe pair of hands off the bench.

Robbie Mulhern. Picture by Mike Boden

JOE BULLOCK

As explained earlier, Bullock will not have had much of a pre-season by the time February rolls around which means he may be eased in slowly.

However, as the season goes on he will be needed to reach the new level he believes he can get to under Powell's tutelage.

Joe Bullock. Picture by SWPix.com

JACK HUGHES

I think Hughes may get the nod over the likes of Jason Clark and Matt Davis for a bench role as an option for both the middle and the edge.

Of course, he is currently the club captain – performing the role from the bench is not necessarily uncommon but if this was to be the case, I suspect the on-field captaincy would go to either Stefan Ratchford or Mike Cooper.

Jack Hughes. Picture by Mike Boden

DANNY WALKER

Walker's development through 2021 was really quite impressive, meaning Daryl Clark no longer needs to be flogged for 80 minutes every week.

A solid performer whenever called upon, he was rewarded with the England Knights captaincy and a spot in the senior England squad to face France.

Danny Walker. Picture by Mike Boden