WOLVES boss Darryl Van de Velde will have a second stab at trying to sign Rob Smyth this weekend.

Smyth is likely to be in the London Broncos side that faces Warrington Wolves tomorrow night, Friday, kick-off 7.30pm at Charlton Athletic's The Valley.

He has already refused one contract offer from Wolves coach Darryl Van de Velde and is looking to improve the terms.

The 23-year-old Irish international winger, who impressed on a month's loan with Warrington before returning south a fortnight ago, is out of contract at the end of the season.

Former Wigan flyer Smyth is one of two wingers known to be targeted by the Wolves.

Stand off Lee Briers and back rower Jerome Guisset, wanted for a further spell at Wilderspool, are continuing their negotiations with Van de Velde but had not signed a new deal as the GUARDIAN went to press.

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Van de Velde is expected to give young players a chance to prove themselves in the capital.

Ex-Crosfields centre or winger Jamie Stenhouse has been called up to first team training this week and is expected to be handed his full debut against the Broncos.

Stenhouse, an elusive runner with a clever side step, has been on the club's books for two years having signed from Crosfields Under 19s.

Van de Velde has fielded youngsters Chris Campbell and Will Cowell on the flanks over the past two months. Campbell is currently injured and Cowell will be the favourite to make way for Stenhouse's opportunity.

Mike Peters and Ian Noone are also likely starters in the back row although Ian Knott has recovered from a calf injury that saw him quit early from the St. Helens defeat on Sunday.

Prop forward Danny Nutley is expected to make a return from knee trouble to boost the pack in a week when fellow front rower Mark Hilton has been hit with a repeat blow.

Hilton has broken his left arm for a third time and is out of action for the remainder of the season.

Hilton said this week: "I had an X-ray after the Hull game last week because I thought then that it had broken again but nothing showed up.

"X-rays on Monday did show a break and I'm gutted."

Hilton had already broken his arm by the time he missed the tackle on Saints stand off Tommy Martyn which put the Knowsley Road men 12-6 ahead. He was taken off straight after his miss.

Hilton said: "I felt it go soon after Alfie Langer scored our try. I took the ball in from the re-start and it went then."

He may be sidelined for as little as four weeks this time but, unless an unexpected call comes from England coach John Kear for the World Cup, the season ends on September 17.

Hilton said: "The doctor has said it doesn't need plaster or a plate and can heal itself. Even though there is a break the bone is still aligned.

"In the past when I have been out of action for up to 13 weeks it has been because of the healing time of having the bone re-aligned.

"But I haven't been thinking about England. I have been on the bench for most of the year and only got my chance when Danny Nutley was recently injured so I think it is a bit late for me to be called up for the World Cup."

Warrington's loss at St. Helens two days after Castleford Tigers ended Leeds Rhinos' winning run put an end to any lingering hopes of a top five finish for the Wolves.

Van de Velde, bitterly disappointed with the final result against St. Helens, did take some positives out of the game.

He said: "I thought our aggression was good, although mis-placed on occasions, but we have been lacking passion and aggression so that's one positive."

Van de Velde has told his players not to expect any easy ride through until the end of the season.

He continued: "I want to finish the season in sixth and so want to win each of our remaining games.

"I have explained to our players that they have got to treat this week's game with the respect it deserves.

"There are no easy games in Super League and London are fighting for their lives in the relegation zone.

"London will have seen what Saints did to us last week. They won't roll over for us.

"We must stay focused, complete our sets of six and the opportunites will then come for us."

Warrington centre Toa Kohe-Love, cut from New Zealand's World Cup squad, has been named alongside skipper Tawera Nikau in the New Zealand Maoris squad. Former Wolves hooker Duane Mann, now aged 35, has been selected for the Tonga squad.

Mark Forster's Testimonial events for this week are: Race Night at the Railway Club, tomorrow, Friday, when the Wolves' game against London will be shown live on a big screen; Family fun day at Monk Sports Club, Woolston, on Bank Holiday Monday. For more information on events contact Allison on 491519.

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