WARRINGTON Wolves’ season is now officially past its halfway mark.
They have played 18 games in all competitions, with a maximum of 16 – 13 regular-season games and three play-off matches – still to play.
As such, we’ve pulled together a “half term report” on The Wire’s overall progress as well as picking out some highlights of the season…
BEST WIN
There’s a few to pick from – the backs-to-the-wall Super League victory over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan certainly sticks out, as do home and away wins over a well-fancied Hull KR side.
However, the prize has to go to the 31-8 Challenge Cup quarter-final victory at St Helens.
Having not beaten Saints or fellow neighbours Wigan Warriors for nearly three years, this felt like a seminal moment and a result and performance that turned a lot of doubters into believers.
WORST LOSS
This one is no contest – the Challenge Cup Final loss to Wigan at Wembley just last weekend.
Everything seemed so set up for a glorious return to lifting trophies, but what followed was probably their worst display of the season and a soul-crushing defeat.
While they may have gone into the game as underdogs against an all-conquering Warriors side, the fact they never gave themselves a chance to win will rankle the most and the hope is that, if and when their chance in a big final comes again, they will be better for the experience.
Both defeats to Salford Red Devils - particular Friday's at The Halliwell Jones Stadium - are up there too due to the nature of the performances.
WHAT’S GONE WELL?
An aspect of Wire’s game that has taken a massive step forward this year is their defence.
On average, they are conceding around four points per game less now than they were at this stage in 2023 – they have let in 231 points this year at an average of 12.83 per game while after 18 games last year, they had conceded 306 points to give an average of 17 per game.
But beyond the figures, the team’s durability and their willingness to defend their line for long periods is greatly improved although as evidenced by Friday's defeat to Salford, old habits can sometimes creep back in.
Last year, there were way too many occasions when it could be questioned as to whether the players were giving enough on the pitch, but their effort has never been under scrutiny at any point this year.
It may seem like a basic requirement, but it is at least a start.
WHAT COULD IMPROVE?
The past couple of weeks have proved what Sam Burgess has been saying all along – that while Wire can be happy with their progress, they are still on a journey to “where they want to be.”
Of course, that was never going to happen overnight as the gap between themselves and the elite sides at the start of the year was huge, but continuing to close it will be the biggest priority going forward.
There is also an impression that Warrington’s long kicking game lags behind that of the top sides.
From short range, George Williams, Josh Drinkwater and Leon Hayes are prolific but there is a feeling their deep kicks are too easy to handle - an issue laid bare by facing the competition's two best scrum-halves in that regard in their most recent fixtures in Wigan's Harry Smith and Salford's Marc Sneyd.
Indeed, their best and most threatening kickers from deep are arguably hookers Danny Walker and Sam Powell, both of whom have a “40-20” to their name this season.
HOW ABOUT THE COACH?
There can be no doubt that, in pretty much every area, Sam Burgess’ impact on the Wire team has been transformative.
If you’d have sat any Warrington fan down in January and said that, after 18 games, their team would be inside Super League's top four and would have made a Challenge Cup Final appearance, most would have taken it gladly.
Aside from generally looking better with the ball and tougher to break down without it, the change in attitudes under Burgess has perhaps been the biggest victory.
As previously mentioned, fans can now turn up to games pretty safe in the knowledge that the team will empty the tank in pursuit of victory, which is ultimately all they can ask for.
Burgess often says they remain at the very start of their journey and while we currently reside in the toughest spell of that journey to date, it has been a good start.
BEST NEW RECRUIT
Wire can generally be happy with how their new recruits for 2024 have gone.
Rodrick Tai and Zane Musgrove are finding their feet while Lachlan Fitzgibbon has been extremely solid on the left edge.
However, we’re going to give this prize to perhaps the least heralded of the recruits – hooker Sam Powell.
When his signing from Wigan was announced, there were plenty questioning the reasoning behind bringing in a player the wrong side of 30 who was unwanted by the team they are trying to chase down.
However, he has emerged as a key leader and driver of standards within the dressing room – just as he was at his hometown club for many years.
He remains the only ever-present member of the Wire side this year and it is clear he is one of Burgess’ pivotal on-field generals.
BREAKOUT YOUNG STAR
This could go to any number of players, with several stars of the future having made their mark this year.
Leon Hayes and Adam Holroyd have both made sustained breakthroughs – indeed, the former probably would have had this award locked down were it not for the heartbreaking ankle injury suffered at Salford that looks set to have ended his season – while Arron Lindop has showed exactly why there is so much excitement about his potential in his three first-team games.
The player we’re giving the prize to, however, is someone that came from absolutely nowhere in prop Max Wood.
Having been released by Wigan at the end of last year, Wood earned himself a deal by impressing during a pre-season trial and whenever he’s had the chance, he has looked impressive.
If he keeps developing at this rate, Warrington could have quite the young middle on their hands.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Matt Dufty is the obvious candidate in this category given how he has been a player transformed this year, leading the way for the competition in several key metrics.
There is another player for whom that is true, however, with Ben Currie’s move to loose forward being among the biggest and best decisions taken by Burgess.
With Fitzgibbon’s arrival and Matty Nicholson’s continued development putting his first-team place under real threat, the long-serving forward has seized the opportunity to reinvent himself as a ball-playing middle.
Such has been his impact, it is difficult to imagine him playing anywhere else!
TRY OF THE SEASON
Again, there’s a few to choose from.
Matty Ashton’s gravity-defying finish against St Helens in the Challenge Cup certainly sticks out, as does the team move that sent Josh Drinkwater over in the cup semi-final against Huddersfield.
Our winner does come from that game, and it is George Williams’ superb solo effort just before half time that proved pivotal in breaking the Giants’ spirit.
Set free by a superb Danny Walker offload but still inside his own half, Williams sat Jake Connor down with some superb footwork and then as the covering Adam Clune closed in, he slammed on the brakes, Clune over-committed and it left a simple stroll to the line.
PLAYER OF THE (HALF) SEASON
Another category for which there are plenty of candidates.
Dufty, Ashton, Josh Thewlis, James Harrison and that’s just to name a few, but its Williams who gets our nod.
Put simply, if Williams is on his game he can often make the difference between winning and losing.
Take the victory in Perpignan, for example – he scored one try and made the other for Ashton to decide a tight and tense game.
There’s even games he influences without really doing too much – in the home win over Hull KR, the Robins were caught out jamming in on Williams when the ball missed him completely, opening them up for Ashton and Toby King to wreak havoc.
And Friday's defeat, which he missed with a calf niggle, just went to show how crucial a cog he is in the machine given Warrington's threat was drastically reduced.
He will be more disappointed than anybody by how things went at Wembley both individually and collectively, but the fact remains the England captain is absolutely pivotal to his side.
OVERALL GRADE
While things have been a bit tougher of late, there is more to be happy than sad about from a Warrington perspective.
Yes, Wembley was a huge disappointment as was Friday's loss to Salford and marks have to come off because of it, but the general trajectory has been an upward one.
Now, the task is to make sure this promising start is turned into a season everyone can be happy with.
Winning the Challenge Cup would have meant an A+ grade and even despite losing, we'd have kept it at A- had Friday night gone better.
As such, we're going with B+ - plenty to be pleased with, but also some improvements to make.
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