WITH a new head coach taking the reigns, many expect 2022 to be a transitional season for Warrington Wolves.

However, chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick insists instant success can be achieved – even if it does take time for The Wire to reach full tilt.

Daryl Powell's arrival also brings about a significant player turnover, with six new players coming in and the likes of Chris Hill, Blake Austin, Tom Lineham and Jake Mamo departing.

Supporters may be heartened, however, to look back on the last time The Wire changed coach as Steve Price took the club to both major finals in his first season in charge after taking over from Tony Smith.

Fitzpatrick believes it will take a few rounds for the squad to click with the "totally new" style of play Powell has promised to implement, and he also highlighted the number of post-season operations Wolves players have undergone this time around as a factor.

Nine first-team squad members went under the knife following the 2021 season and while the majority will aim to be ready for Round One on the weekend of February 10, the likes of James Harrison and Greg Minikin will not be available until well into the new campaign.

"I don’t want to say it will be a transitional year – we’ve got a very competitive squad and hopefully, we will be up there competing – but it’s going to take time for the coaches to get their messages and style of play across," Fitzpatrick said.

"The players will have to gel into the style Daryl wants to play, we’ve had a lot of operations in the off-season which is not uncommon but there’s a few more this year than there have been in previous years.

"Do I think it will take all season for the players to click? No, but it will take a number of rounds for the players to get on Daryl’s wavelength.

"We can have success, but it will take time. It’s a totally new style of play to what we’ve been used to over the past few years."