WE could get a fair glimpse into Warrington Wolves’ future on Saturday, with six players potentially making their senior debuts for the club.
Head coach Sam Burgess has opted to keep many of his front-line stars in reserve for the clash with Wigan Warriors, with one eye on next weekend’s Challenge Cup Final against the same opposition.
As such, several youngsters will get the chance to shine – we have already had looks at the likes of Arron Lindop, Tom Whitehead and Lucas Green while Connor Wrench, Max Wood and Adam Holroyd have all appeared regularly for the first team this season.
However, there are several players who would be playing their very first games for the club if selected – here’s more about them…
DAN OKORO
Position: Prop forward
Okoro is the latest addition to the Wire squad having been signed from Bradford Bulls in early April.
Since then, he has been continuing to get game time back on loan at his former club – making a further three appearances and scoring a try against Swinton Lions – but now, he looks set for a chance to show his new club what he can do.
Standing at 6ft4ins tall and tipping the scales at over 16 stone, Okoro certainly possesses the raw materials to be a damaging front-rower.
On Saturday, he may well be given the chance to show it.
BEN HARTILL
Position: Hooker
The son of former Swinton and Leigh winger Dave Hartill, the Warringtonian dummy-half has been getting a taste of senior rugby league on loan at Swinton this season, making three appearances for the Lions.
Aside from that, he has been a regular for the club’s reserve team, starting five of their six matches this year and scoring one try.
Hartill – a former Crosfields junior – was also one of the academy team’s captains in 2023 and finished the year by going on the tour of Australia, playing in two of their three tour matches.
FRANK SERGENT
Position: Outside back
Supporters may remember the scrum-capped winger who touched down for a try during Joe Philbin’s Testimonial match against Leigh Leopards during pre-season.
Since then, he has been in prolific form for both the reserves and academy sides – across his 10 appearances this season, he has touched down for 13 tries.
The former Culcheth High School pupil is also a keen footballer and turns out for local Cheshire League side Daten FC.
CAI TAYLOR-WRAY
Position: Full-back
Fans have already had a decent look at the livewire full-back, who sparkled in both pre-season friendly matches by scoring twice against Widnes Vikings and impressing off the bench against Leigh Leopards.
There is real excitement about the young Yorkshireman’s potential and he has already been in a 21-man squad for the senior side this season – he was named by Sam Burgess for the Round 10 home game against Hull FC but did not make the final 17.
Taylor-Wray has scored seven tries in his six appearances for the reserve team this year.
JAKE THEWLIS
Position: Outside back
The younger brother of established first-team star Josh, Thewlis now looks set to follow his elder sibling in making a senior debut for The Wire.
He has appeared in pre-season friendlies in each of the past three seasons, playing alongside his brother and scoring tries against Salford and North Wales Crusaders in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Thewlis the younger won the club’s Reserves Player of the Year award last year and has this season appeared for North Wales in League One on dual-registration.
NOLAN TUPAEA
Position: Second row
A key member of the Wire side that reached the Academy Grand Final last year, Tupaea has been tipped as a first-team player within the club for some time.
He is the son of Shane Tupaea, the versatile New Zealander who turned out on these shores for the likes of Keighley, Oldham, Swinton and Rochdale during the 1990s.
Former Saddleworth Rangers junior Tupaea has been ever-present for the reserves this season, playing in all six of their games, and is described as “a powerful player who has good skills and has good passing ability before and after the line.”
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