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Warrington Wolves dealt injury blow as Sam Burgess confirms playmaker will miss Las Vegas

Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess has confirmed the extent of the injury lay-off for one of the club’s playmakers.

Burgess has confirmed that rising star Leon Hayes will be out until at least Round 5 of Super League with the playmaker still recovering from his horror injury last year.

Early in the 2024 season, Hayes dislodged Josh Drinkwater as George Williams’ playing partner, however, Hayes fractured and dislocated his ankle which saw his season end prematurely.

The long road to recovery has continued in the pre-season and it’s now been revealed that it will continue into the Super League season with Sam Burgess telling The Warrington Guardian that Hayes won’t be seen until at least Round 5.

Hayes’ injury saw Josh Drinkwater deputise but the Australian has since joined Oldham meaning that the fight for the starting berth alongside Williams would come down to 20-year-old Hayes and Ollie Leyland, who Wire signed from London Broncos.

Whilst Leyland has played in both pre-season matches, including Saturday’s defeat to Leigh Leopards, it is Hayes who has been handed the number seven shirt – dropping a strong hint that he will be Burgess’ first choice.

Sadly, the youngster won’t be able to stake a claim for a start until mid-March per Burgess’ latest comments.

Return timeline for injured Warrington Wolves star revealed by Sam Burgess

Super League Leon Hayes

Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Warrington Wolves lost 20-12 to Leigh Leopards in Toby King’s testimonial, the two side’s last game before this week’s Challenge Cup clashes.

Speaking post-match to The Warrington Guardian, Burgess provided an update on the fitness of his squad confirming that just prop Joe Philbin had a dead leg.

Looking further ahead, he revealed Hayes’ status, stating: “Leon, we’re not going to see until Round 5. He’s going to be a while as he needs a bit of a break.

“It’s his hamstring and his ankle,” Burgess explained.

“It was such a big injury and there was a lot of trauma in his body. His body is recalibrating, if that makes any sense.

“He’s running a tad differently and his body is making those adjustments, but he’s in good spirits.”

Given the trauma of such a huge injury, precaution is certainly being taken with the Warrington Wolves number seven as Burgess noted.

He said: “He’s had a few niggles in pre-season, so we’re going to give him a bit of time to get himself sorted and ready to go.

“It’s a long year coming up and he’ll play plenty of rugby.”

Warrington Wolves will face Wigan Warriors on March 1st in Las Vegas but a Round 5 return, as suggested by Burgess, would see Hayes in line to face St Helens, or potentially even Leeds Rhinos at the Halliwell Jones Stadium at the end of March in Round 6.

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