Warrington Wolves boss on Salford friendly win

The Wire travel to Leeds Rhinos to kick off their 2022 campaign on Saturday in what will be the first Super League game broadcast on free-to-air TV on Channel Four.

With senior players such as Joe Bullock, Jason Clark and Josh Charnley all playing during the first half of last night's 30-14 pre-season friendly win over Salford Red Devils, Powell says he has all but made up his mind about his 17.

Watch Powell's full post-match thoughts here

After a weekend off, the players will resume preparations for the trip to Headingley on Monday.

Jack Hughes, Toby King, Billy Magoulias and long-term absentees James Harrison and Greg Minikin will all miss out through injury but Mike Cooper is expected to be available after illness.

When asked whether he knew what team he would pick to face the Rhinos, Powell answered: "Pretty much.

"After tonight I’m pretty set on Round One.

"There was a couple of boys I just wanted to see a bit of a step-up in performance from after last week.

"We needed a balanced squad and some senior players for the young guys out there to learn from, and I think the balance worked out pretty well for us.

"Hopefully everything goes to plan next week now – the players have got the weekend off to relax and then crash bang wallop, we’re straight into it then.

"We’re looking forward to the challenge the season’s going to present and that game first up. I know there’s a lot of Warrington fans travelling over and it’s a great opportunity for us.

"We know it’s going to be tough – watching their game against Hull, we’re going to have to deal with the physical challenge they will pose.

"With it being the first game on Channel Four, it’s a great opportunity to show what we’re about.

"While it will be a tough challenge, we’ve got to make sure it’s a tough one for Leeds."

Friday was a night for The Wire's young talent to take centre stage, and they did not disappoint.

Josh Thewlis put in a man-of-the-match display at full-back, scoring the game's opening try before setting up two tries for younger brother Jake, who was making his first senior appearance.

Josh Thewlis touches down for the game's first try. Picture by Mike Boden

Powell hailed Thewlis as "the bravest young player he has seen" and outlined what he needed to do to challenge regular number one Stefan Ratchford for his spot in the team.

"He’s a running full-back and he showed that but above all else, he’s one of the bravest young players I’ve seen," he said.

"He’ll put his body in any position to deal with tackles, cleaning kicks up – he’s phenomenal in that regard. He’s such a committed player.

"In terms of his growth as a full-back, that’s what we’re constantly working with him on – the skillset, the sort of stuff that Stef has embedded in his game having played for years.

"That’s where Josh needs to improve – his timing around the back and then his skillset to be able to deal with the pass selection off the back of that.

"There’s a lot of things he needs to improve, but we could put him in there and know he would be able to deal with it whether it’s on the wing or at full-back.

"He’s got the mentality of a rugby league player – sometimes it’s bred into you which I think it is with him.

"To have that at this stage of his career is outstanding and it will take him a long way."

Jack Darbyshire – son of former Wire player and coach Paul and nephew of ex-Wolves hooker Jon Clarke – also marked his senior bow with a try while Ellis Longstaff and Ellis Robson also scored.

Tom Inman was one of the youngsters making their first senior appearance. Picture by Mike Boden

"I thought it was great all the way through – the young players acquitted themselves really well and the future’s really bright," Powell said.

"I thought we dominated the game in the first half – I think we got three repeat sets, Riley Dean was great in that regard.

"We had some real control and defensively, they were super tough.

"It got a bit quick towards the back end of the half but overall, there’s a real toughness and resilience about the young fellas as well as a lot of skill and individual ability.

"In the next two or three years, you’re going to see quite a few of those players coming through.

"The reserves coming back is fantastic – it’s going to give us a platform to bring these guys through. It got brought back but got mothballed pretty quickly with Covid, but I think it will be a game changer for player development.

"We just need some consistency now to give these players the opportunity to grow."