Warrington Wolves and St Helens get their 2026 Super League campaigns under way tonight, and there are plenty of players with points to prove going into the new campaign.
Sam Burgess’ side on the whole will have lots of doubters this year, given how their 2025 season panned out, but there are a number of individuals who will also have questions to answer.
For Saints, there is certainly less pressure on them, particularly in the early part of the season, as Paul Rowley’s era at the Red Vee gets underway.
The Halliwell Jones Stadium will play host to what is a heavyweight tie between two teams that should be in the mix of finals rugby come September, and it is set for sell-out crowd, the highest for 52 years.
With that in mind, here are five players who will have the spotlight on them, and want to impress in the opening round of the competition.
Five players from St Helens and Warrington Wolves with points to prove
George Williams
The Wire half-back has agreed a move to join the NRL in 2027, and in his final season at Warrington, has stated that he is fully committed to the club and wants to do everything he can to bring success to the club.
After a poor 2025 campaign, and a sub-par performance in the Ashes series, Williams’ place in the England side is at threat, particularly with Shaun Wane’s exit meaning that a new coach will be coming in.
Partnering Marc Sneyd in the halves, the Wolves skipper will want a complete performance, and that would go a long way in his side getting a result against Rowley’s men.
Jackson Hastings
Arguably the signing of the off-season, Hastings is one the highest-profile players to make a move to Super League, and given his past in the UK, he will be expected to recreate those performances.
A former Man of Steel, the former Great Britain international has thrown his name in the ring to play for England, so getting the better of his opposite halves partners could go in his favour as the year goes on.
Cai Taylor-Wray
Matt Dufty’s exit means that Taylor-Wray has been handed the number one spot, and given full-back is such an influential position on the field, there will be an expectation for him to perform.
At 19, he has only made 12 Warrington appearances, so is nowhere near at his full potential, but a game against St Helens is a great acid test if he is going to continue being first choice in 2026.
Joe Shorrocks
Whoever filled into Morgan Knowles’ shoes was going to have a huge task on their hands, and it looks as though Shorrocks is going to be that man.
Despite David Klemmer being given the 13 jersey, he is set to play in the front row, particularly with Matty Lees’ injury leaving them down a man in the props.
That opens up Shorrocks to play loose forward, and after impressing under Rowley at Salford, the pressure will be on to be that link between the halves and the forward pack.
Danny Walker
Whilst it’s not this game in particular that Walker, the hooker will want to prove he’s worthy of a place on the plane to the World Cup at the end of the season, and what better way to start the campaign by outperforming his direct rival for the spot.
Walker and Daryl Clark will be two favourites for that spot, alongside Hull KR’s Jez Litten. There’s plenty of competition for Walker, but an injury-free season, and solid performances against the big teams, will do his selection chances a world of good.
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