Warrington Wolves have confirmed their line-up for their friendly against Leigh Leopards.
The game marks Joe Philbin’s Testimonial as the hometown hero celebrates his 10th season in the primrose and blue.
New signings Zane Musgrove and Lachlan Fitzgibbon will make their first appearances for the club along with Sam Powell from the bench. Toby King is also back for the first time since June 2022.
Paul Vaughan serves the final game of his four-match suspension with Stefan Ratchford, Rodrick Tai and Matty Nicholson all ruled out through injury.
Nicholson’s injury is a further blow to the club after injuries to Stefan Ratchford and Rodrick Tai look set to rule them out of the Round One clash against Catalans Dragons.
Tai is certainly not set to feature but Ratchford has a 50/50 chance as confirmed by assistant coach Martin Gleeson.
The hope will be that, as per reports, Nicholson’s injury is a niggle. In more positive news, Josh Thewlis has returned from injury.
He is included in the starting line-up which is as follows: Matt Dufty, Josh Thewlis, Connor Wrench, Toby King, Matty Ashton, George Williams, Josh Drinkwater, Zane Musgrove, Danny Walker, Joe Philbin, Ben Currie, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Jordy Crowther.
Interchanges: James Harrison, Leon Hayes, Gil Dudson, Brad Dwyer, Matty Russell, Luke Thomas, Adam Holroyd, Jake Thewlis, Sam Powell, Arron Lindop, Max Wood, Nolan Tupaea.
Warrington Wolves to celebrate Philbin
Picture by John Rushworth/SWpix.com – 23/04/2022 – Rugby League – Betfred Super League Round 10 – Warrington Wolves v Huddersfield Giants – Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, England – Warrington Wolves’ Joe Philbin runs into Huddersfield Giants’ Luke Yates
The match will be Joe Philbin’s testimonial game. After representing Culcheth Eagles and Latchford Albion as a junior, Joe joined his hometown club aged 15 where he progressed through our Academy system before making his first team debut against Hull KR in 2014. The 28-year-old has since gone on to make 191 appearances for the club to date. He famously scored the opening try in Warrington’s 18-4 win over St Helens in the Challenge Cup Final in 2019 and also lifted the League Leaders’ Shield with the Club in 2016.
The wrecking ball prop has international honours with Great Britain, England and Ireland.
Joe has selected four charities for his Testimonial year which includes The Warrington Wolves Foundation, MND Association, the British Heart Foundation and Room at the Inn and the Y Project Warrington.
A Testimonial match is set to take place in his honour prior to the start of the 2024 season at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. Full details of the fixture, as well as other events for his Testimonial year, will be announced in due course.
