Five reasons why Marc Sneyd can get Sam Burgess’ Warrington Wolves back to their best

Marc Sneyd has completed a move to Warrington Wolves from the cash-strapped Salford Red Devils. Warrington have paid an undisclosed fee for the half-back, who has penned an 18-month contract to join up with Sam Burgess’ side after four Super League rounds.

Sneyd is expected to make his debut next week against St Helens and the hope is that he can make an instant impact after what has been a tough start to the campaign for the Wolves. Burgess’ side overcame clunky performances to claim wins in their opening two games of the season but questions have been asked after losing their last two.

The Wolves were some way below the standard expected in Las Vegas as they were battered by Wigan Warriors and they followed that up with a subpar showing against Wakefield Trinity last Sunday. As such, Warrington are under pressure to perform against Saints next week and Burgess will be hoping Sneyd is the missing piece of the puzzle.

With that in mind, here’s a few reasons why the addition of Sneyd might just be enough to solve Wire’s woes.

A man for the big occasion

Marc Sneyd has built a career on rising to the occasion and producing the goods when his team need it most. That’s what the half-back did at Hull FC, winning the Lance Todd Trophy on two occasions, while making a habit of coming up with clutch plays for the Black and Whites.

That’s what he did at Salford, too, with the 34-year-old’s knack of getting the Red Devils over the line putting him in contention for last season’s Man of Steel award, while his form in red saw him force his way into Shaun Wane’s England thinking in 2022.

The expectation is that Warrington can compete for silverware this season and if they can reach those big games at either Wembley or Old Trafford, Sneyd’s presence and level-headedness will almost certainly prove to be key.

That left boot

Whether it’s in general play or from the tee, Sneyd is widely regarded as the finest kicker of the ball in Super League. He’s racked up over 2,500 points in his career and a large chunk of that is down to his goal kicking which would be a valuable asset for almost every team in Super League.

However, he has slotted 51 drop goals in his career, too, and he has the ability to kick teams to death if given the time and space to do so.

Leadership

Warrington Wolves aren’t short of experience and in George Williams they have the captain of England in their ranks. Sneyd only adds to the seniority in the group, though, and it’s fair to assume the scrum-half will instantly become a member of the club’s leadership group.

He has his say off the field but it’s on the field where Sneyd makes his presence in the group felt, barking instructions, calling plays, offering advice and providing the direction and attacking nous Warrington have been missing at times this season. With Sneyd on one side and Williams on the other, all of a sudden Warrington seem to have a half-back pairing that ticks all the boxes in terms of ability while boasting the personality to stand up and take on responsibility.

Straight to it 😤 pic.twitter.com/yWsSf6cXIV

— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) March 14, 2025

Character

Building on that last point, Sneyd has bags of character and he’ll need to put that to good use as he bids to make his switch to the Halliwell Jones a success. There’s a pressure that comes with playing such a position in primrose and blue given both the internal and external expectation to win trophies.

Such responsibility isn’t for everyone, but Sneyd has the experience needed to perform under the spotlight and if Burgess gives him the license to play his own game and take control, he can thrive.

Guidance

There have been questions about what the move to Warrington Wolves might mean for Oli Leyland and Leon Hayes, who will obviously find themselves down the pecking order now. The young pair are highly rated but they might find game time tough to come by over the remainder of the season with Sneyd and Williams now the go to pairing.

Leyland has had a go in the side this season after making the move from London Broncos, while Hayes, who was handed the number seven shirt at the start of the season, has struggled with injury. The addition of Sneyd might accelerate their progression rather than stunt it, though, with the pair being given the opportunity to learn from one of the finest scrum-halves Super League has seen over the last decade or so.

Sneyd will work with both of them, offer advice and a guiding hand on the training ground, while also helping them to take the next steps in their respective growth as players. Leyland and Hayes have time on their side and neither man should be concerned by Sneyd’s arrival.