“WHO is impressing you the most during training?”

It is a question asked a lot of players and usually, it is followed by the picking-out of one or two names to watch.

Perhaps encouragingly for Warrington Wolves fans, Joe Philbin could not pick anyone out as he says everybody is training to such a high standard.

Indeed, he cited results from their “Bronco test” – a drill done to provide a marker of players’ general level of conditioning at the start of a training bloc – as proof of how well the squad is shaping up.

“I couldn’t single anyone out because everyone is absolutely ripping in,” he said.

“The standard of training is up there with anything I’ve seen.

“Everyone’s come back fighting fit – we did our Bronco test on day one which is our big fitness test and there were eight personal bests. That shows how hard the lads were working in the off-season.

“The young guys are really pushing the seniors and it makes it a really exciting group.

“It’s competitive and that’s the way it should be.”

Pre-season is often a time of dread for players of all high-level sports, not just rugby league.

This year, however, the endless running and conditioning work almost seems like a blessing.

With the country under lockdown rules once again, opportunities for exercise among the general population have been severely limited.

Gyms and leisure centres remain closed and recreational sport is not allowed until the end of this month, meaning people have been forced to keep active either within the confines of their own home or in the near locality.

Elite sport can continue, hence why The Wire and their Super League rivals are still training, and Philbin recognises the privileged position they are in.

“I just class us as very lucky and I’m feeling a lot of gratitude,” he said.

“I really struggled at the back end of the off-season with not being able to go to the gym and things like that.

“I know that for a lot of people, the gym brings people discipline and routine.

“It’s good for your mentality and I feel sorry for the people who have lost that.

“You always dread pre-season a bit but this year, we’re so lucky to be able to train like we can.”