TOMORROW looks set to see youth get its chance in Warrington Wolves’ final pre-season friendly.
A handful of first-team players will be involved with Joe Bullock, Josh Thewlis and Greg Minikin all in line to play against North Wales Crusaders, but the 21-man squad largely consists of youngsters.
Plenty of the names will be familiar – Leon Hayes, Adam Holroyd, Tom Whitehead and Josh Lynch all made first-team debuts this year while Jack Darbyshire, Jake Thewlis, Jamie Reddecliff, Aiden Doolan and Bobby Shingler have been training with the senior side throughout pre-season.
However, there will be plenty of players turning out against the League One side with whom supporters may be unfamiliar.
> Click here to check out the 21-man squad in full
With that in mind, we’ve put together a bit of a guide to those fans may be getting their first ever glimpse of.
JOE BAJER
Position: Prop
Bajer was a regular for the academy and reserve sides in 2022 having played his junior rugby league at Newton Storm, Bank Quay Bulls and Crosfields.
He was signed up for the under 18s side having impressed for the club’s Development Academy side run in conjunction with Priestley College.
NOAH BOOTH
Position: Full-back/winger
Signed from Castleford’s youth set-up midway through 2021, Booth has already had a taste of the big stage.
While playing for Castleford Academy, he scored a superb solo try at Wembley Stadium in the 2017 Year Seven Champion Schools final – a game in which he won man of the match.
A tall and rangy player with great speed, he too turned out regularly for the club’s academy and reserve teams last year having played his junior rugby for Lock Lane.
😱 @CastlefordAcad's Noah Booth scored the try of a lifetime at @wembleystadium last year!
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) August 24, 2018
🏉 It's @St_John_Fisher v @WadeDeaconPE tomorrow...
👍 Catch moments like this from 1pm! pic.twitter.com/5DmyRVGQH8
LUCAS GREEN
Position: Prop/second row
A versatile, highly thought-of forward, Green was identified by the club at scholarship age having played for Leeds Irish as a junior.
Since progressing into the academy side, he was part of the Yorkshire squad for all three Academy Origin matches last year.
BEN HARTILL
Position: Hooker
A Warrington lad, Hartill has also played rugby union for Warrington RUFC during his youth as well as representing Warrington Athletics Club.
The former Crosfields junior – a lively dummy-half – was part of the Lancashire squad that swept the Academy Origin series 3-0 in 2022.
NOAH HIGH
Position: Second row
Having initially travelled to and from his native Cumbria to get to training sessions, High’s family took the decision to relocate to Cheshire to support his dreams of making it as a professional - CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THAT
The back rower who played junior rugby for Wigan St Judes is highly-rated within the club’s coaching staff.
SAM MARSHALL
Position: Prop
Marshall is another player who came to the club through the Priestley College Development Academy side and was part of the Priestley team that won the College Grand Final at Headingley last year.
He is the eldest son of current Wire assistant coach Richard Marshall, with Sam's younger brother Tom having just signed up to the club's scholarship side.
LOGAN RAUGHTER
Position: Prop
Another member of the Grand Final-winning Priestley squad is front-rower Raughter, whose displays earned him a professional academy contract alongside Marshall and Bobby Shingler.
He went on to feature heavily for the under 18s and the reserves during 2022.
NOLAN TUPAEA
Position: Second row
Described as a powerful and skilful back-rower, Tupaea was another of the club’s players to earn Academy Origin selection for Lancashire in 2022.
He played his junior rugby at Saddleworth Rangers – the same club as Josh and Jake Thewlis.
BEN TYRER
Position: Half-back
Tyrer looks set to start alongside Leon Hayes in the halves tomorrow having done so on several occasions in both academy and reserve-grade rugby.
Described as a tidy half-back with a good all-round skillset, Tyrer played his junior rugby for Leigh Miners Rangers.
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