Warrington Wolves fans will be able to get a glimpse of their club’s off-season signings in action at the Halliwell Jones Stadium next week. The Wolves are due to host Widnes Vikings in a friendly on Friday, January 17, and the club have taken the unusual move to confirm their line-up for the game a week early.
The game will be Warrington’s first pre-season fixture after seeing a clash against Halifax Panthers at The Shay postponed due to the adverse weather conditions in West Yorkshire, and Sam Burgess will be hoping to see an encouraging performance. Dan Russell, Oli Leyland and Alfie Johnson will all make their first appearances in primrose and blue against the Vikings, with a handful of other first-teamers getting the nod, too.
Stefan Ratchford will captain the side in what will be his first run out since picking up a facial injury in July. He starts at scrum-half, while Zane Musgrove is another senior man in the starting line-up at prop.
Cai Taylor-Wray gets the nod at full-back, with sevens convert Johnson featuring on the edge of what is a young back line with Jake Thewlis, Zac Bardsley-Rowe and Aaron Lindop included. Leyland, fresh from his switch from London Broncos, features at stand-off, while the front-row is completed by hooker Ben Hartill and Max Wood.
Russell, who joins from St George Illawarra Dragons, starts at second-row with Nolan Tupaea and Tom Whitehead also getting the nod. A bench is yet to be confirmed, but it seems plausible that more first-teamers could feature.
The Wolves will also be in action a couple of weeks later, too, when they take on Leigh Leopards in a clash for Toby King’s testimonial on February 1.
Warrington Wolves’ starting line-up to face Widnes Vikings on January 17: Cai Taylor-Wray; Jake Thewlis, Zac Bardsley-Rowe, Aaron Lindop, Alfie Johnson; Oli Leyland, Stefan Ratchford; Zane Musgrove, Ben Hartill, Max Wood; Nolan Tupaea, Dan Russell; Tom Whitehead.
