THINGS are going to be a lot different at Warrington Wolves – that much we already knew.

But how different?

As Daryl Powell explains, the players will have a lot to get their head around during the coming weeks and months as they plough through pre-season training.

With a new head coach at the helm, The Wire are starting from scratch and there is little Powell does not intend to change.

And that is not necessarily limited to the on-field product.

"We’ve got three phases of our pre-season," Powell explains.

"There’s two three-week phases leading up to Christmas with slightly different focuses, then a six-week block which will be structure both sides of the ball.

"I’m going to go after skill massively in the run-up to Christmas. The players need to work hard, that’s a given, but you can go about that in different ways.

"You can get that by playing small-sided games, where the players have the ball in their hands a lot and are making quick decisions, or you can run the legs off them.

"You need a bit of the balance between them but I like the small-sided games, so there will be a fair bit of that in the run-up to Christmas.

"There will be a lot of defensive work with (assistant coach) Ryan Sheridan, who’s going to look after our defence predominantly this year.

"We’re also changing the whole calling structure, which takes a bit of time so we’ve started already with that.

"We also need to get the culture right – the way they behave, the way they act in practice which leads into the games – so there’s a lot of little intricacies that we need to get right."

Daryl Powell. Picture by Warrington Wolves

Daryl Powell. Picture by Warrington Wolves

In the new year, half-back Gareth Widdop will have reported for duty again and – all being well – the majority of the players who had post-season operations will be back in full training.

It is at that point that preparations will really start to be fine-tuned, culminating with a three-day training camp in South Wales and two pre-season friendlies – Stefan Ratchford's Testimonial and an away fixture against opponents to be confirmed – before the season opens with a trip to Leeds Rhinos on Saturday, February 12.

"The team I largely think will play in Round One will play in Stef's Testimonial game," Powell said.

"Camp will be the week leading up to the first friendly.

"That’s focused on goal-setting, final preparations, a bit of bonding and putting everything together.

"That should be finishing off our pre-season, everyone should know what they’re doing.

"They should be looking each other in the eyes at that point and thinking “we’re ready.”

Stefan Ratchfords Testimonial will be one of two pre-season friendlies before the 2022 campaign kicks off

Stefan Ratchford's Testimonial will be one of two pre-season friendlies before the 2022 campaign kicks off