WHEN Warrington Wolves’ squad numbers were released on Friday morning, many supporters may have been unfamiliar with Wire’s number 32.

However, young prop Bobby Shingler’s move into the first-team squad is a highly significant one for one of the club’s blossoming youth pathways.

Shingler becomes the first player to progress to the senior squad having started out in the development academy side run in partnership with Priestley College.

Having played extensively for the Priestley team, the former Bank Quay Bulls and Woolston Rovers junior became a regular for Richard Marshall’s academy side and penned his first professional academy contract earlier this year.

He is now preparing to train with the first team during pre-season having caught the eye of head coach Daryl Powell.

Academy head coach Marshall believes Shingler’s progress is a significant moment for the club’s youth development and can be held up as an example to the 40-plus players signed up to the Priestley programme for 2023.

“It’s a great story, really,” he said.

“He did a little bit at Widnes in their academy but he’s never really been part of a scholarship – he was in and out of it.

“He got his opportunity to go to Priestley and in around March and April, I was watching the college games and he stood out.

“Lee Mitchell recommended him to us and we brought him into the academy.

“Seven months later, he’s got a first-team deal which is amazing. He’s a Warrington lad, he’s really invested and Daryl is really keen on him.

“He was good in the big games for us against teams like Wigan and Saints.

“Like any of these kids, he needs to develop further physically and in his understanding of the game, but he’s in the best environment.”

Shingler joined fellow Priestley players Sam Marshall and Logan Raughter in signing professional academy deals when he penned his contract in May.

Now, Marshall is hoping Shingler will be the first of many to progress through to the senior side.

“(Head of youth) Gaz Chambers and I like the saying “if you build it, they will come,” he said.

“With Priestley, we’re building it and they’re coming.

“Once one gets through, it gives you that impetus to think ‘if he can do it, I can do it.’

“We’ve got more than 40 players signed up to the development team next year – working on the law of averages, you’d like to think at least a few would be good enough to push into our academy and onto Super League level just through the sheer numbers we’ve got in the programme.

“That’s all Bobby was – he put in effort, he wanted it and was good in the big games.

“His attitude is fantastic, he was popular within the group and he’s got some size. He can mix it and we’re looking forward to seeing it.”