OF the current promising crop of youngsters emerging from the Warrington Wolves academy, scrum-half Leon Hayes is arguably the one supporters are most excited about.

His diminutive stature has drawn comparisons with the great Rob Burrow – more on that shortly – but his organisation and metronomic kicking game both from hand and off the tee have caught the eye of those following the under 18s’ successful 2022 season.

It will be a year the Warrington lad who cut his teeth at Rylands Sharks and Bank Quay Bulls will never forget, captaining both his club and the Lancashire team that swept the Academy Origin series 3-0 before making his first-team debut at Huddersfield Giants on Monday.

Warrington Guardian:

Leon Hayes scores for the academy against Hull FC. Picture by Bob Brough

In 40 minutes, he has already written himself into club history by scoring Wire’s 75,000th point and he looks set for his first senior start at Salford Red Devils today.

The latest in our Rising Star Profiles series with the Wire academy coaches looks closer at the young man many hope will be Warrington’s long-term number seven…

Head of youth Gary Chambers:

“He’s a good kid – he epitomises everything we want about players in this town.

“He’s started driving now but it wasn’t that long ago that he would walk over to training. He’d open the front door and stroll over to Victoria Park with his bag slung over his shoulder!

“He’s always been the best at what he’s done as a kid, starting off at Rylands before going over to Bank Quay.

“We’ve won big games and Lancashire have won big games because he’s been in the team – other teams have said that.

“Sometimes its hard to put your finger on but he’ll give you that calmness and ability to pull things back while there’s turmoil going on. That’s tough to do in a game but he can do it.”

Warrington Guardian:

Leon Hayes scoring against Huddersfield. Picture by Bob Brough

Academy head coach Richard Marshall:

“He’s a cheeky little half-back in every sense of the word!

“In one of my first weeks in the job, he challenged me – asking what we were doing and why we were doing it.

“You can tell he’s a real thinker about the game but he’s a tough competitor as well. He’s small in stature but his heart and will to win are massive.

“I think he’ll have a big future in the game – he’ll go on and have a really good Super League career with Warrington.”

Warrington Guardian:

Warming up for the pre-season friendly against Salford. Picture by Mike Boden

Scholarship lead coach and academy assistant coach Tyrone McCarthy:

“I think the Rob Burrow comparison isn’t quite right. He does have the ability to beat people and duck under tackles, but the way he manages games is the most impressive thing about him.

“His kicking game – both long and short – is up there with the best I’ve seen.

“He’ll stay behind after training and he’ll be nailing kicks for fun. To be doing that at his age is outstanding, really.

“He’s as impressive off the field for me in terms of his morals and the way he views the world.

“He’s very family-orientated and that holds us in good stead in terms of the values they want to instill in the first team.”

Warrington Guardian:

Kicking a goal for the reserves against Wigan. Picture by Bob Brough