DARYL Powell says the Warrington Wolves academy is in “an outstanding place” and hailed the work of the club’s youth department this year.

For all of the first team’s struggles, the academy teams have been in sensational form during 2022 to increase excitement about the prospect of more homegrown players breaking into the senior side.

Richard Marshall’s under 18s side will look for their sixth straight win when they take on Huddersfield Giants this afternoon having already beaten traditional academy powerbases Wigan and St Helens this season.

Indeed, nine of the club's youth prospects have been selected for the second Academy Origin series match later this month - more than any other club.

The under 16s side led by ex-Wire forward Tyrone McCarthy had also made a flying start to the year and were unbeaten before losing 32-22 to Wigan last night.

There is great hope that plenty of players will be following the likes of Josh Thewlis and Connor Wrench into the first team in the near future, and Powell says they will be given a chance if they are ready.

“They’ve been really good,” he said when asked about the academy sides.

“If you look at some of the performances and results the academy team have put in – beating Wigan and winning against St Helens when they were so physical and tough, Leon Hayes’ kicking game was sensational.

Warrington Guardian:

Goal-kicking scrum-half Leon Hayes has received plenty of praise for his performances for the academy side. Picture by Bob Brough

“I’m watching those games and the Scholarship too – it’s good seeing those young boys coming through and hopefully we’ll be signing them for the club.

“Gary Chambers (head of youth) along with Richard Marshall, Tyrone McCarthy and the rest of the youth coaching department are doing a phenomenal job.

“That side of the club is in an outstanding place and we’re going to see lots of players coming through into the first team in the future.

“If the young kids are ready to go, I’m putting them in.”