Men

2025 Season Preview: Warrington Wolves

2 Feb 2025

Warrington Wolves can head into the 2025 season with a shed load of optimism after last year’s performances.

The Wolves finished the league campaign with Super League’s best attack and defence and challenged for all three trophies available to them – all under rookie head coach Sam Burgess.

They topped the table at the end of two rounds during the course of the season, reached the Betfred Challenge Cup Final and pushed Hull KR all the way in a thrilling Super League Semi-Final.

And although they may have fallen just short where the silverware was concerned, the club has certainly made clear progress, with a renewed buzz and hype surrounding the Warrington Wolves.

Their ambitions will stay the same in 2025, and with stalwart Sam at the helm for at least another two seasons, could it finally be Warrington’s year?

Getting it done ?? pic.twitter.com/xATiTtnHy4
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) December 6, 2024

Ins & Outs

Ins: Oli Leyland (London), Dan Russell (St George Illawarra Dragons), Alfie Johnson (Leeds)

Outs: Matty Nicholson, Gil Dudson, Josh Drinkwater, Matty Russell, John Bateman, Joe Bullock, Wesley Bruines

Ones to watch

The Wolves possess a team of oustanding quality and X-Factor, with a long list of marvels to watch out for.

Whether it was match-winning moments or terrific tries, maverick Matt Dufty lit up the Super League in 2024 and is set to be a real danger for opposition defences once again this year. The 29-year-old racked up a ridiculous 4234 metres by Round 27 – and that was from a total of just 458 runs!

Electric Matty Ashton is hopeful of another fantastic year. There are few players with speed like Ashton, who became widely recognised for his length of the field efforts and acrobatic finishes - emerging as the Wolves’ top try scorer (25) for 2024.

One of the fastest players in rugby league ?

Watch every @MattyyAshton @WarringtonRLFC try from 2024 ? #SuperLeague
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) November 22, 2024

Keep an eye out for Leon Hayes as we head into 2025. Hayes had a superb start before a devastating leg injury would rule him out for the remainder of the previous campaign. But he’s predicted to come back even bigger and better, with Burgess showing belief in the 20-year-old and rewarding him with the starting number 7 shirt.

Could he be a standout star in 2025?

Next generation

Burgess was also big on giving his youngsters valuable game time last year, including the likes of 18-year-old homegrown talents Arron Lindop and Cai Taylor-Wray.

Combined, the pair accumulated 15 appearances and nine tries and are ready to shine and seize every opportunity when it comes their way.

Defining dates

All eyes will be on Warrington's Round 1 fixture when they travel to the John Smith’s Stadium to face Huddersfield Giants. The Wolves won their first five matches last year, so will be hoping to reiterate this and make their mark from the start again in 2024.

Their last outing in West Yorkshire saw them thrash the Giants 0-66 but they should expect a much tougher test this time out, especially with the Giants’ new recruits – which includes Sam’s younger brother, Tom Burgess.

After this, Warrington have two home games on either side of their enticing trip to Las Vegas, where they host Catalans Dragons and Wakefield Trinity.

The Dragons were unable to make the Play-Offs last year, while Trinity are the newly promoted, so it is crucial Burgess’ men capitalise on these fixtures, to give themselves a solid start to the season and the best chance of winning the elusive silverware.

Then, the Wolves will eagerly take to Las Vegas and face fierce rivals Wigan Warriors at the Allegiant Stadium, as part of historic quadruple header - with Super League on the road in the US for the first time ever.

?Who is following us to Las Vegas?

If you still haven't decided, the club have a number of ticket and travel packages available - https://t.co/MAWNx8NAny pic.twitter.com/INL7rM34Gy
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) November 18, 2024

Who's excited for this one? Will you be joining the Wolves in Vegas?

Own the Vegas look ??

Pre-order yours in time for our visit stateside: https://t.co/xmbxz75g6r pic.twitter.com/HpVzCaHVjl
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) January 11, 2025

Squad list

1 Matt Dufty, 2 Josh Thewlis, 3 Toby King, 4 Rodrick Tai, 5 Matty Ashton, 6 George Williams, 7 Leon Hayes, 8 James Harrison, 9 Danny Walker, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Ben Currie, 12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 13 Luke Yates, 14 Sam Powell, 15 Joe Philbin, 16 Zane Musgrove, 17 Jordy Crowther, 18 Oli Leyland, 19 Stefan Ratchford, 20 Connor Wrench, 21 Adam Holroyd, 22 Tom Whitehead, 23 Cai Taylor-Wray, 24 Max Wood, 25 Lucas Green, 26 Dan Russell, 27 Luke Thomas, 28 Jake Thewlis, 29 Zac Bardsley-Rowe, 30 Dan Okoro, 31 Alfie Johnson, 32 Nolan Tupaea, 33 Arron Lindop

First three games on SuperLeague+

SuperLeague+ is back for another HUGE year of live action, and this is when fans can watch Warrington Wolves in the opening rounds (UK and Ireland) *…