WARRINGTON Wolves boss Tony Smith has been forced to ring the changes for Sunday’s trip to bottom-place Wakefield Wildcats, when he goes head to head against brother Brian for the first time.
The Wolves won the reverse fixture earlier in the season, 80 – 0 but since then Wakefield have bolstered their squad with a number of new mid-season signings.
Warrington go into the game on the back of a confidence-boosting win over Wigan last week, looking to push towards the top four spots.
With a number of players out suspended and injured Toby King and Gary Wheeler are back available for selection, while Sam Wilde and Harvey Livett keep their places in the 19.
Meanwhile the club have signed Academy fullback Jack Johnson on a full-time contract until November 2016.
He is a product of the club’s youth system and was part of the England Academy squad last year. He has made 15 appearances for the U19s to date this season, touching down for 11 tries.
Johnson said: “I’m very proud to have signed for such a big club like Warrington. I owe a lot to everyone who has helped me along the way both inside and outside of the club. It was always a massive target of mine, to sign for the first team, when I started here in the scholarship system five years ago so to have achieved it is great for me. I now want to kick on and work harder and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
“Jack, over the last 18 months, has come on leaps and bounds since moving from wing to fullback; he’s become more of a complete footballer. I am sure if he keeps progressing the way he has it won’t be too long until we see him in the first team. Again it shows the way Tony Smith thinks and that we, as a club, are willing to give youngsters a go at first grade” added U19s coach Lee Briers.
Head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith added: “We are delighted that Jack’s going to be part of our full-time set-up next year. He’s an exciting young player who possesses great speed and that’s something that can’t be coached. He is very coachable on top of that in terms of his Rugby League understanding. He’s really thrived under Lee Briers and I look forward to working with him. He has had some involvement with the full-time squad but we look forward to him spending more time with us. I think it will help him advance to becoming a very accomplished Super League player.”
Wolves Squad:
15 Roy Asotasi
4 Ryan Atkins
9 Daryl Clark
25 Brad Dwyer
13 Ben Harrison
8 Chris Hill
28 Toby King
32 Harvey Livett
7 Richie Myler
20 Gareth O’Brien
22 Gene Ormsby
29 Declan Patton
24 Kevin Penny
26 Joe Philbin
6 Stefan Ratchford
1 Matty Russell
12 Ben Westwood
23 Gary Wheeler
31 Sam Wilde
