Warrington Wolves signing reflects on ‘tough’ 2024 as pre-season kicks off

Warrington Wolves signing Oli Leyland has spoken on his 2025 goals and reflected on the ‘tough’ 2024 campaign with London Broncos.

Leyland was one of the shining lights for London Broncos during their difficult 2024 campaign in which they won just three games and finished at the foot of Super League.

Despite the team’s losing performances, many of them were spirited and the elements of class that Leyland showed did not go unnoticed and saw the Wire come knocking.

Warrington Wolves, who saw Josh Drinkwater leave at the end of 2024, swooped to sign Leyland with the 23-year-old now set to battle it out with fellow youngster Leon Hayes for the starting berth alongside George Williams.

Hayes had initially usurped Drinkwater for that position early in the 2024 campaign before his season-ending injury but now both youngsters will compete for it during the pre-season, although it is worth noting that Hayes has been handed the number seven shirt.

Warrington Wolves recruit reflects after day one of pre-season

With Warrington returning to pre-season, it’s meant the first opportunity for Leyland to show his new teammates what he can do and he’s admitted that whilst it was good to get back out there, it was a tough start.

In a video posted on the club site, the 23-year-old said: “It has been good to get up and meet the boys, get around the environment, and start working towards where we need to be.

“It was a tough first day that maybe caught me by surprise but it was so good to just get out there, get running and get ball in hand.”

During the 2024 season, Leyland was among the elite players for total assists as he registered 16, one more than the likes of Jack Welsby and two more than Bevan French.

The club’s resurgence in the second half of the season coincided with him seeming to come of age and there’s hope that development continues at Warrington Wolves.

Reflecting on 2024 and noting his goals for 2025, the Kent-born half said: “Obviously, I think it was a tough, tough year for all of us last year but (my task) is just to try and take that forward, try and be the same player in this team as I was in that team.

“Hopefully, that will make me and the team better when I play, or if I play.”

Speaking further on his aims, he’d add: “(The goal) is to be the same me but to take the tips that I’m going to get here and improve as a player under the coaches here. Hopefully, that will get the best out of me.”

Leyland is one of just three signings that Warrington Wolves have made so far with Papua New Guinean second-rower Dan Russell replacing Matty Nicholson and filling the quota spot left vacant by Josh Drinkwater’s exit.

Wire have also signed young cross-code star Alfie Johnson who had previously been with Leeds Rhinos where he scored four tries for the club’s reserves in 2024.