Now fully converted to the front-row, Pickersgill featured eight times for the Wolves in Super League last season as well as winning the Senior Academy Player of the Year award. Local born and with a physique and maturity ahead of his years, Pickersgill was identified as an exceptional talent whilst playing for Crosfields, joining the Wolves at the age of 14 under an educational apprenticeship in conjunction with Warrington Borough Council. Turned down interest from Bradford, Wigan and Widnes in order to sign professionally in 2002 with sponsorship from the Squadbuilder Scheme. Has a strong Warrington pedigree with father Roy representing the club in the 1970s and brother John in the Wolves Academy team, and played in consecutive First Division Academy U18 Grand Final victories in 2003 and 2004. With the impressive feat of appearing in every Warrington U18 and U21 game in 2004 behind him, he toured Australia and New Zealand with England Academy.