Will this finally be Warrington Wolves' year?

Apart from the obvious - quality signings like Blake Austin and Jason Clark from the NRL - there is a momentum at The Halliwell Jones Stadium that seems to be gathering gusto.

The feelgood factor surrounding not only this year's recruitment but the capture of England half-back Gareth Widdop from St George Illawarra Dragons for 2020 continues to indicate not only the club showing the way in raising the standards of talent gracing Super League but also no let-up in this relentless pursuit of turning The Wire into Super League's biggest club.

Off the field, they are making all the right noises under the leadership of owner Simon Moran, chairman Stuart Middleton and chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick, a former player and operations manager who is now successfully stamping his mark on all areas of the club.

Warrington Wolves winning the Super League Club of the Year title at last year's Steve Prescott Man of Steel Awards night points to the direction in which The Wire are heading.

So it is now up to the team on the pitch to serve up a brand of rugby that excites and entertains the fans and entices even more to come through the turnstiles. This will help Warrington's progress in 2019 no end.

The circle of connection can pay off. The players can deliver and draw in the crowds, and the supporters can inspire the players to do even better.

One man does not make a team, but he can get the town talking, he can inspire players around him to tick, and he can produce a moment that lifts bums off seats.

The Wire potentially have that man in stand-off Austin, already hailed by teammates for his contribution to the team in pre-season training and now the time is here to see him unfold under the spotlight.

His biggest battle, as has been the case with other playmakers at the club, is handling the expectation and pressure that will be on his shoulders as a marquee signing.

There is no doubt that on paper the squad available to head coach Steve Price as a whole is a stronger one than last year, when The Wire reached both major finals but failed to cross the winning line.

And this is a roster assembled with more Price influence, meaning he has brought in people who can hopefully slot in seamlessly to the way he wants his team to play which, incidentally, will be tactically different than in 2018.

Take former South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Clark for example, a powerful unit with the ability to produce top-notch ball-handling skills and last the distance at a high standard if called on to do so.

And with Pricey having had a full pre-season to work with the talent at his disposal, on the back of acquiring a firmer understanding of the Super League and Challenge Cup competitions and its players in the Australian's first year at the helm, the new breed of Wolves should come together more quickly and fluently than in 2018.

There is a mood of belief and confidence among the players, though not at the expense of a realisation that it will take higher workrate than ever before to get among the honours at the back end of the campaign.

Hunger in the camp is huge, with each player having his own motivational factors at play to help with focus and attitude.

Whether it is one of the new guys looking to prove their worth, one of the elder statesmen desperate for a potential trophy finale, one of 12 needing to impress for a new contract in 2020, one of the regulars fending off competition for their shirt, or a young gun aiming to force their way into the 17, there is a desire to excel as an individual within the team environment.

Looking at the squad as a whole, there is greater depth this year.

There is a minimum four obvious players available in each position to accommodate the loss of players through injury, an issue that can determine the outcome of silverware pursuit as much as, if not more than, any other.

The rule changes this year could also suit The Wire significantly.

Speeding up the game through eight interchanges instead of 10 and the use of the shot clock, meaning teams will be penalised if they take more than 35 seconds to form a scrum and more than 30 seconds to take a drop-out, will open up matches more.

The Wire are well-off for dynamic players who can cash in on weary defences, starting at the back with 2018 player of the year Stefan Ratchford, a three-quarter line featuring any of Josh Charnley, Toby King, Ryan Atkins, Jake Mamo, Bryson Goodwin and Tom Lineham to Austin in the halves and then both Daryl Clark and Danny Walker at hooker.

And then on the other side of the coin, The Wire have a lot of mobility in their forwards - players who can stay on the field for a lot of minutes without their standards dropping substantially, which will be crucial in coping with the decrease in interchanges.

No doubt there will be some ups and downs through the year, games where performances do not live up to others. That happens, that's sport.

And there is no Wire without drama, they have always come together.

But everything points to a thrilling year ahead and it is time to enjoy the ride on Pricey's plane to some dizzy heights.

Warrington expects. Give it your all Wire!