FOLLOWING Friday night’s friendly win over Widnes Vikings, Warrington Wolves assistant coach Martin Gleeson provided a further update on a trio of injured players.

Club captain Stefan Ratchford, Papua New Guinea international Rodrick Tai and reigning Super League Young Player of the Year Josh Thewlis were all due to start for The Wire against their neighbours, but withdrew the day before the game through injury.

Head coach Sam Burgess affirmed that the knee injury suffered in training by Tai – a new signing for 2024 – would rule him out of his side’s Super League opener with Catalans Dragons on February 17 but did not elaborate on Ratchford and Thewlis’ issues.

However, Gleeson provided more details following the young team’s 46-40 victory at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

“Josh is probably going to be fine. He was feeling a bit of a locking in his knee, so we’ve sent him for a scan,” he said.

“He’s got a bit of bruising in there but it’s nothing major.

“Stef has a slight calf strain – it’s a two or three-week injury so he is probably going to be touch-and-go for Catalans.

“Rod is going to be a bit longer – I don’t know the full details but he certainly won’t be available for Round One.”

Gleeson also confirmed young half-back Pat Irwin had come through relatively unscathed having taken a blow to the head during Friday’s game.

Irwin received lengthy treatment after being hurt attempting to stop Widnes forward Sam Wilde from scoring a try but was able to leave the field under his own steam.