SEVERAL youngsters looking to break through to the first team have earned praise from Warrington Wolves’ reserve head coach Ryan O’Brien following their displays for the second string.

Less than 24 hours after the senior side were beaten by Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle, the two teams’ reserve sides met on the same ground with The Wire emerging as 30-28 winners.

Lucas Green, who had appeared in first-team games against Huddersfield and Wigan earlier this month but dropped out for the Castleford clash, was among the scorers as was Luke Thomas, who has recently returned from a loan spell at Swinton Lions.

As well as those two, O’Brien also had praise for Adam Holroyd and Tom Whitehead as both bid to force their way into Daryl Powell’s plans to cover injuries and suspensions in their back row position.

“The most pleasing aspect of the performance was how well we competed physically – our outside backs and middles carried the ball with lots of intent and we were generally strong around the ruck,” he said post-match.

“Our goal-line defence and execution in attack still needs plenty of work, and we need to learn how to manage games better in different scenarios.

“We welcomed back Adam Holroyd and Luke Thomas after injury and they were both outstanding and led by example along with Lucas Green.

“Tom Whitehead is building some momentum and starting to impose his physicality in games while Jake Thewlis has impressed me both on and off the pitch in recent weeks and he was exceptional today.”

Thewlis was also on the scoresheet for Warrington, with Dylon Braddish scoring twice and Frank Sergent once.

The next reserve team fixture is on Saturday, July 8, when The Wire take on St Helens at Victoria Park, kick off 12noon.

Before then, the academy team take centre stage as they take on Leeds Rhinos at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday, kick off 12noon.

Wolves: Noah Booth; Dylon Braddish, Jake Thewlis, Arron Lindop, Frank Sergent; Toby Hughes, Lewis Hughes; Lucas Green, Aiden Doolan, Luke Thomas, Adam Holroyd, Nolan Tupaea, Tom Whitehead. Subs: Ben Hartill, Jamie Reddecliff, Bobby Shingler, Logan Raughter