Exclusive: Stefan Ratchford honesty on working under Shaun Wane and Daryl Powell

Stefan Ratchford is basically part of the furniture at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Since joining from the Salford Red Devils back in 2012, Ratchford has played 263 games for the Wire, scoring 84 tries and kicking 390 goals as well as two drop-goals.

Wind the clock forward to 2021 and Ratchford has been granted a testimonial by the RFL for his decade-long service with the Wolves, but staying at one club for such a long time is often unheard of in the modern game.

And, for four of those ten years at the Wire, the 33-year-old played under Steve Price. Now, though, it’s time to play under former Castleford Tigers boss Daryl Powell and he’s looking forward to the challenge.

“I think it’s going to be exciting, if you look at his track record in the past it’s been absolutely fantastic,” Ratchford told Serious About Rugby League.

“There are a lot of changes at Warrington this year with new players and coaching staff, but we are all training with smiles on our faces and there are exciting times ahead.

“Hopefully we will take all of his philosophies onboard which will hopefully take us to the next level.”

Ratchford will also be gearing up for the World Cup at the end of the 2022 Super League season, and, having played under both Wayne Bennett and Shaun Wane in the England set-up, has noted the difference in the two head coaches.

“I enjoy working with Waney (Shaun Wane), he had big plans when he first took over to get the lads together but Covid ruined that and held that up.

“We have been limited in what we do, but the sessions have been really enjoyable and hopefully we can get more sessions in.

“I also really enjoyed working with Wayne (Bennett), but with every coach they have certain ideas that are set in their ways, each individual coach has something they stick in.

“Waney is a different person, he’s a proud Englishman.

Stefan Ratchford was speaking as part of “Pride in the Community”, an initiative launched by Ronseal, the UK & Ireland’s premier woodcare brand, to give back to grassroots rugby league communities