Is Josh Drinkwater heading to Warrington Wolves?

The club have been linked with a deal to bring Catalans Dragons half-back Josh Drinkwater to The Halliwell Jones Stadium for next year.

Drinkwater has been part of the Dragons’ rise to being silverware contenders in recent years and featured in the side that beat The Wire in the 2018 Challenge Cup Final.

He was also a pivotal member of the team that won the 2021 League Leaders’ Shield and reached that year’s Grand Final, losing to St Helens.

Here, we take a closer look at the potential signing of Drinkwater in greater detail…

Josh Drinkwater in action for Catalans in 2022. Picture by SWPix.com (Image: SWPix.com)

The kind of half-back Wire need?

Drinkwater is the kind of organisational, “old-fashioned” scrum-half many feel The Wire have been lacking.

In theory at least, having someone alongside him to take care of steering the team around the field should unleash George Williams to play a more eyes-up, off-the-cuff style.

His best days in a Wigan Warriors shirt were alongside Matty Smith in the halves, and Drinkwater is certainly a similar type of player.

The Australian half possesses a solid left-footed kicking game and a dangerous left-foot step, supports line breaks well and is also a reliable goal-kicker.

While he would use up Warrington’s last remaining overseas quota spot, Drinkwater ticks plenty of boxes and would certainly be good foil for Williams.

What about Leon Hayes?

While Drinkwater is the kind of half-back many feel Warrington need, there will be plenty who will argue they already have that type of player.

In his two senior appearances at the end of 2022, 18-year-old academy captain Leon Hayes showed himself to be a good organiser despite his tender years as well as possessing a supreme kicking game.

As such, there have been many calls for the Warringtonian to be handed the responsibility of being Williams’ first-choice partner in the halves for 2023.

As the old saying goes, “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.” Stepping up to play a full season of first-team rugby league is a lot to ask of someone so young, but there’s only one way to find out if he is able to handle it…

Leon Hayes impressed in his two first-team appearances last season. Picture by SWPix.com (Image: SWPix.com)

And would Wire’s last overseas spot and the salary cap space Drinkwater would take up be better diverted towards finding a top-quality centre to cover the injury to Connor Wrench and the departures of both Toby King and Jake Wardle?

Those are the kinds of things Daryl Powell will have to weigh up…