Warrington Wolves talking points before key St Helens clash

The Wire hammered their neighbours in the Challenge Cup back in April, so will it be repeat or revenge?

Our Wire reporter Matt Turner picks out five key pre-match talking points here...

The start of a key period

Could this three-week period shape the rest of Warrington Wolves’ season?

It may not quite be that kind of time yet, but we’ll certainly know a lot more about what The Wire are playing for in terms of their finishing position.

After this week’s short trip to Saints comes another hop up the road to Wigan Warriors before a return to The Halliwell Jones Stadium to take on Hull KR.

Theorising will no doubt have been going on both internally and externally based on how many points Sam Burgess’ men can garner in this run, ranging from the dream scenario of a full six to the nightmare of zero.

The past few weeks has been about restoring their form and confidence post-Wembley. Now, we’re about to see how good a job they’ve done.

The Wire head to St Helens looking to record a fourth straight victory (Image: Neil Ashurst/P&B Pictures)

A chance to exorcise more ghosts

A theme of Wire’s season has been ridding their necks of various millstones – they ended their five-year Challenge Cup Final drought and have bested one of their nearest neighbours for the first time in three years.

Now, they have the opportunity to clear another mental hurdle as they bid to beat St Helens in a Super League fixture for the first time since winning 6-2 at the Totally Wicked Stadium in June 2021.

All seven of the Super League meetings since then have gone Saints’ way – many by very tight margins – so it is another “hoodoo” Warrington can banish.

However, this group have already proved then can get the better of their neighbours on their own patch this year having thrashed Paul Wellens’ side 31-8 in the Challenge Cup quarter finals in April.

That remains as arguably the high point of the year to date, but a similar result and performance would sit right alongside it.

St Helens have won their last seven Super League meetings with Warrington, the last of which was in the play-offs last year (Image: SWPix.com)

A new wolf in the pack – where does Yates slot in?

Many were looking forward to seeing Luke Yates don the Warrington colours – but nobody thought it would come this soon.

And yet, the man who brings with him a reputation for being one of Super League’s best defensive players will likely line up for his new side on Friday after a deal was done to bring his move from Huddersfield Giants forward.

Now, the job of Burgess and his coaching staff is fitting him into a middle unit that has – up to this point – been functioning well.

This week, it looks as though the decision could be a simple one if Jordy Crowther’s recurring ankle injury keeps him out – Burgess rated the former Wakefield man as “touch and go” during the week. That would likely mean a straight swap on the bench.

Crowther proving his fitness could then mean it is youngster Tom Whitehead who misses out with Paul Vaughan, James Harrison and Ben Currie unlikely to be dislodged from their starting spots just yet.

Luke Yates is set to make his Wire debut on Friday (Image: Joe Richardson/Warrington Wolves)

Can Wire exploit edge ‘weakness?’

Ask any St Helens fan, pundit or opposition coach and they will tell you where they feel Friday’s opponents can be got at.

There is a feeling that Paul Wellens’ side can be exposed on their defensive edges due to a lack of speed, which is certainly where Wigan Warriors eventually found joy during last week’s well-contested derby fixture.

Indeed, Warrington exploited that perceived vulnerability ruthlessly during the Challenge Cup fixture – so can they do so again?

Of the Wire back five that started that day, only two players – Matt Dufty and Matty Ashton – are likely to do so again on Friday with Josh Thewlis, Connor Wrench and Toby King all ruled out injured.

Arron Lindop is set to continue on the wing and while Stefan Ratchford and Rodrick Tai have their plus points as centres, they do not carry quite as much pace and incision as Wrench and King.

Matty Ashton scores a stunning try in the Challenge Cup victory over St Helens in April (Image: PA Wire)

‘Never write off the Saints’

That oft-quoted line of Eddie Hemmings commentary that hangs on a flag at the popular end of the Totally Wicked Stadium.

And while this appears to be a good time to face St Helens, it is a line that should underpin all of Wire’s preparations.

They may be in a rough spot right now in terms of injuries and form, but Saints will enter this game with the desperation that comes with a fixture being “must win” as they cannot afford to fall further behind the race for a top-two spot.

Indeed, the last league trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium saw Warrington turned over by a depleted Saints side – a warning if ever it was needed that this remains among the competition’s toughest fixtures.

Last week's derby loss to Wigan was St Helens' third in a row (Image: SWPix.com)