Flatliners

Performance director Steve Anderson's attacking tactics are resulting in a whole new learning curve for the Wolves players, who will be 'breaking-in' the system against Widnes Vikings at the Auto Quest Stadium on Boxing Day.

The 'flat line' style is used by world champions Australia and it will take time for a Wolves squad with 13 new faces to get to grips with it.

The system was devised while enjoying a pint with Chris Anderson, who was head coach of Melbourne Storm and then Australia when Steve Anderson was working with him on the concept.

Anderson said: "Chris and I were having a beer and he said he had been watching a Rugby Union game on television and wanted to know what I thought of the idea. It was all done with a couple of beer coasters."

They were together on the concept but it was Steve Anderson who had to teach it to the players.

The 'flat line' game involves straight passes rather than backwards passes and with the ball carrier running forward to create depth for the next man, who must time his run perfectly for the system to work.

Warrington's team will be prone to looking disorientated and to conceding possession from forward passes.

Fans should note that Warrington will deliberately be playing a tight game early in the season. This does not mean that it will be all 'one-man' rugby but a 'forwards' type of game can be expected. A more expansive passing game will follow later in the year.

Anderson said: "The players have been exposed to something completely different and new.

"At times the play on the field is going to look ordinary. At times we're going to look like we do not know where we're going or what we're doing.

"I've told the boys it is going to look terrible. They have to be patient with it and not expect miracles.

"It's all part of the team's development and it will all come together eventually."

Anderson said the players have been working hard on the system in training.

He added: "It all looks great in training but I keep telling the players it will be tough to take into matches.

"When they end up being put under pressure they will revert back to what they know and have learned over many years. We've got to break the old habits and introduce the new but at the moment we are imbetween the two.

"So we've got to continuously drill them so that, when under pressure, what they fall back to is what we are teaching them now.

"The best thing about it all so far is that the players totally accept what we're doing and they want to do it."

The Wolves will have eight players making their debuts as contracted players in the game at Widnes, which will kick off at 3pm.

Warrington's second trial game will be at home to St. Helens on New Year's Day, 3pm.