AN introduction to, or reminder of, some of the younger and lesser known players in the Warrington Wolves 21-man squad to face Salford Red Devils in Super League Round 14 at the AJ Bell Stadium tonight, Tuesday, kick-off 5.30pm.
Pictures by Mike Boden.
Riley Dean, 19:
- Mainly a stand-off, who can also play full-back
- Junior rugby: Siddal, Halifax
- Has progressed through the club's system, going on to achieve England Youth honours. Made his Wire Super League debut against St Helens in August, 2019, and was called up for Ireland's World Cup qualifiers at the end of last season
- Featured in the Wolves Reserves win at Widnes in March but not played since
- Former student of The Brooksbank School, Elland, and Birchwood College, Warrington
- Fact: Was a teammate of another Wire youngster Jacob Gannon and Wigan Warriors pair Morgan Smithies and Amir Bourouh in the Brooksbank team that won the national Year 11 boys title in 2017
> The wholesale changes to Wire and Salford 21-man squads
Eribe Doro, 19:
- Primarily a prop, from Oldham, who can also play in the back row
- Junior rugby: Saddleworth Rangers, Oldham
- A fairly late starter in rugby league at his high school as a teenager, after playing football, cricket and basketball as a youngster, went on to achieve England Youth honours. Offered a full-time contract by Wire as a 16-year-old and made his way through the Scholarship and Academy. Achieved his Wire first-grade debut in round 12 of the 2020 Super League season against Castleford Tigers earlier this month
- Former student of Blue Coat School, Oldham
- Date of birth: March 26, 2001
- Fact: Doro is of Nigerian descent and has been sought after to play for the Nigerian national rugby league side
> What's being said about tonight's game
Ellis Longstaff, 18:
- Usually a back-rower, from Wakefield, who can also play centre
- Junior club: Kippax Welfare, Leeds
- Arrived at Warrington in 2018 after being on the books at Wigan Warriors. Played for Wire's Reserves at the start of the year and made his Super League debut off the bench against Hull FC at Leeds on September 4
- Former student of Crofton Academy, Wakefield
- Date of birth: July 5, 2002
- Fact: Represented England at under 16s and Academy level. The Kippax side he played for at under 16s level were known as Wolves. His team were crowned league champions in 2017
Cole Oakley, 19:
- Mostly a centre, from Warrington, who can play on the wing and in the second row
- Junior rugby: Rylands Sharks and Woolston Rovers
- Came through the Warrington Wolves scholarship at under 15s and under 16s before progressing to the Academy, where he played his rugby at under 19s level last year
- Featured in both reserves league games at the start of the year, as well as the pre-season friendly at Swinton Lions
- Former student of Bridgewater High School
- Date of birth: October 25, 2000
- Fact: Played for Bridgewater High School rugby union team in the Natwest Schools U15 Vase semi-finals, bowing out one step away from Twickenham
Ellis Robson, 22:
- Regularly a loose forward, from Manchester, who can play in the second row
- Junior rugby: Oldham St Annes
- After initially being scouted by Wigan, he came through the Scholarship and Academy system at Warrington Wolves. The former Wire Academy captain played has played on loan at Widnes Vikings, Dewsbury Rams and Rochdale Hornets. Played for Wire's Reserves at the start of the year and made his Super League debut off the bench against Hull FC at Leeds on September 4. He has signed for new Championship club Ottawa Aces for the 2021 season.
- Former student of Audenshaw School
- Date of birth: September 14, 1998
- Fact: Also has a background in rugby union. Collected Lancashire and North of England honours in the 15-man game while studying, and progressed within the Sale Sharks Player Pathway through his mid teens
Nathan Roebuck, 20:
Picture by Warrington Wolves
- A centre from Oldham, who can play on the wing
- Junior rugby: Saddleworth Rangers
- Joined Warrington Academy in 2018, now on a full-time contract and handed squad number 28 at the start of the year
- Featured in pre-season friendly at Swinton Lions in January and not played for the club since
- Former student of Saddleworth School, Oldham
- Date of birth: October 2, 1999
- Fact: Strong and elusive runner who is tallest member of Wire squad at 6ft 5ins
Kyle Shelford, 24:
- Best known as a back-row forward, from Wigan, who can play hooker
- Junior rugby: Shevington Sharks
- Joined Warrington Wolves Reserves at the start of this year and was named captain. Made a Super League appearance against Wakefield for Wigan in 2016, spent 2017 on loan at Workington and signed with Swinton Lions for 2018 before ending the 2019 campaign with Rochdale Hornets
- Featured in Wire's pre-season friendly at Swinton Lions in January and two Reserves League games in February
- Former student of St Peter's Catholic High School, Wigan
- Date of birth: September 13, 1996
- Fact: Standard-setter in training and former England Academy captain who is the son of former Wigan and New Zealand international prop, Adrian Shelford, the winner of three Challenge Cup medals between 1988 and 1990
Josh Thewlis, 18:
- Usually a full-back, from Oldham, who can also play winger or centre
- Junior rugby: Waterhead Warriors
- Come through the ranks at Warrington, progressing to achieve England honours at Youth and Academy level. Made his Wire Super League debut against Catalans Dragons on June 8, 2019, aged 17
- Featured in Wire's pre-season friendly at Swinton Lions in January and a Reserves League game in February
- Former student of St Damians Science College, Ashton-under-Lyne
- Date of birth: April 30, 2002
- Fact: His grandfather on his mother’s side, Paul Chadderton, played for Salford. His younger brother Jake signed to the Wolves Scholarship for 2020
Connor Wrench, 18:
- Normally a second-rower, from Warrington
- Junior rugby: Woolston Rovers and Crosfields
- Came through the Scholarship and Academy set-up at Warrington Wolves, now a full-time player who was named as the club's joint under 19s player of the year in 2019
- Featured in Wire's pre-season friendly at Swinton Lions in January and one Reserve League game in February. Was named in Wolves' 21-man Super League squad to face Hull earlier this month but was not selected
- Former student of Kings Leadership Academy and Birchwood College
- Date of birth: October 4, 2001
- Fact: Wrench skippered the England Academy side to a 62-0 win against Wales in Llanelli last year and marked the occasion with a hat-trick of tries
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