Warrington Wolves’ Luke Yates has admitted that the squad ‘lost connection’ in 2025 but he’s tipping Wire for a big year after a strong pre-season.
Yates was one of those at Warrington who came out of 2025 with plenty of credit despite the club’s down year, as they missed the play-offs and finished eighth.
Injuries certainly hampered Warrington in 2025 and a second straight Challenge Cup Final defeat will have surely dented the Wolves’ confidence, however, Luke Yates has now admitted to a loss of connection among the group.
Speaking on the Warrington Wolves’ YouTube channel, Yates explained: “I think we’ve made some really good gains and have had a really tough pre-season where we’ve dialled in on a lot of things we need to focus on.
“We lost a bit of connection as a group last year so we’ve had a real emphasis on that going into this season and it’s been great.”
To rekindle that connection, the Wire squad have been away on two camps including one in Scotland with the marines, with Yates crediting the camps for setting Warrington up well for 2026.
He said: “We’ve gone on a couple of camps away and I think we’ve really come together as a group. I think we’re in a great position compared to where we’ve been previously.”
Warrington Wolves bolstered by young stars and Steve McNamara
It’s not just what has been going on in pre-season that had got the group going but also who has been involved with a number of the club’s young stars stepping up and adding to the intensity.
Yates explained: “I think that the young fellas who have come up, especially the ones who went on the trip to Australia, have come back in and added a lot to the group.
“They’re not here to make up the numbers anymore. They’re here to compete and get better so they’ve really been impressive.”
It also seems that Yates will have a larger leadership role, something he’s embracing: “I was captain at Huddersfield for a couple of years and it’s probably something I have an appetite for and I enjoy. We went on a leadership camp and we’ve got a really tight group that’s working together. George has come back in for his first day and brought the level up again.”
As for how Warrington can ensure that 2026 yields better results than in 2025, Yates called for more consistency and credited new assistant coach Steve McNamara for aiding the squad in that respect.
The Australia said: “We need to improve on our consistency. I think the connection of the group is really improving and I think that will keep building but the emphasis that Steve Mac (McNamara) has brought in with the consistency of our training and our skill has been massive.
“We’re looking to improve there and I think we’re on for a big season.”
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