PAUL Anderson hopes watching Riley Dean and Josh Thewlis in the Warrington Wolves first team can inspire their under 19s teammates.

After beating City of Hull Academy 36-18 in the curtain-raiser at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Anderson’s side watched academy regulars Dean and Thewlis feature in the main event as The Wire took on league leaders St Helens.

Academy head coach Anderson believes his side are in “a really good place” after braces from Connor Wrench and Jamie Abram earned them victory.

“It was great for them to play at the HJ before the Super League game and I know the boys all enjoyed it,” he said.

“For them to then be able to watch two of their teammates play for the first team afterwards was special and shows that the opportunity is there for them if they perform in the academy.

“It was a really pleasing result for us and one that the lads earned with plenty of hard work throughout the game.

“I thought we controlled the game really well and grew in confidence as the game went on.

“There are still plenty of things to work on but we are in a really good place at the minute.”

Eribe Doro, Sam Thackeray and Aaron Pimblett also crossed the whitewash for The Wire while Lewis Hall landed four goals from seven attempts.

It is a ‘derby’ next up for Anderson’s side as they welcome neighbours Widnes Vikings to Victoria Park on Saturday, kick off 12noon.

Wolves: Callum Green; Sam Thackeray, Lewis Hall, Reece Hamlett, Aaron Pimblett; Joe Barnes, David Gibbons; Eribe Doro, Jamie Abram, Jacob Chamberlain, Ellis Longstaff, Connor Wrench, Tayler Brown. Subs: Jacob Gannon, Alex Pendlebury, Dean Beddall, Morgan Burgess