STEFAN Ratchford finished 2018 with a number of personal accolades – but he says Warrington Wolves fans can expect plenty more from him.

The 30-year-old, who is currently with the England squad for their Test series against New Zealand, is known for his versatility and has featured in every position apart from prop forward for either club or country.

However, Ratchford played exclusively at full-back for The Wire in 2018 and picked up the players' player of the year prize at the club's awards night as well as winning the Warrington Guardian readers' player of the season award.

Stefan Ratchford with his Warrington Guardian readers' player of the season 2018 award

He then went on to become only the third Warrington player in history to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy for his man-of-the-match display in the Super League Grand Final defeat to Wigan – he is the first player since Paul Deacon in 2002 to win the award despite playing for the losing side.

Now his role in the team is abundantly clear, Ratchford believes he is "12 months wiser" as a full-back and that he will continue to grow in that position.

He also says Wolves will begin pre-season in "a much better position" than they did last year when head coach Steve Price was just getting used to the club and players.

"Hopefully I’ve not peaked. It would be nice to keep getting better and I feel like I can do that," he said.

"This year is probably the only year in which I’ve played every game at full-back. Having a full crack at it this year has really helped me.

"Pricey came in with a clear idea of what he wanted his full-back to be doing. I’m 12 months wiser in that regard as well.

"With Blake Austin coming in next year and hopefully some of the stuff he can create will help my game as well.

"It was a decent year for me personally but I'm not going to rest on my laurels.

"I’m really grateful for all the awards I picked up but I would happily swap them for a Grand Final winners’ ring or a Challenge Cup medal.

"As a team, we’ve had 12 months with Pricey. We know what we’re working with and he knows what he’s working with.

"We’ll start pre-season in a much better position than we did last year."

Wigan legend Andy Farrell presents the Harry Sunderland Trophy to Ratchford following the Super League Grand Final. Picture by Dave Gillespie

Ratchford has not featured in either of England's victories against the Kiwis but is expected to be on the bench for Sunday's final Test at Elland Road.

Wire teammates Chris Hill and Daryl Clark have helped Wayne Bennett's side to an unassailable 2-0 series lead as they both played in victories in Hull and Liverpool, although the latter suffered three dislocated ribs in Sunday's win at Anfield.

There were a further seven Warrington players in the England Knights squad that have just arrived home from a two-game tour of Papua New Guinea, while Ben Murdoch-Masila and Pat Moran had post-season international commitments with Tonga and Ireland respectively.

The full-back says he feels "quite sorry" for the players who have been left to stew over the Grand Final defeat to Wigan Warriors on their post-season break.

"It was massively disappointing what happened at Old Trafford," he said.

"For a few of us, we have an opportunity to play in a Test series, represent our country and hopefully get the right result in that.

"I feel quite sorry for a lot of the squad, who will have to wait until January or February until they get a crack at the next game.

"As disappointing as it was, we were back into it straight away and we could put it to the back of our minds."

Having been reduced to a watching brief for the first two England-New Zealand Tests, Ratchford looks set for an interchange role at Elland Road on Sunday. Picture by Mike Boden