Warrington Wolves pre-season conundrums for Sam Burgess

Following a positive first year in charge, head coach Sam Burgess will be looking to keep The Wire in contention for honours in what promises to be an exciting year, with a historic trip to Las Vegas in March providing a ready-made highlight.

It is a predominantly young group that has started training this week, with more senior players starting to return from next Monday – November 25.

But as he regathers his squad, we look at some of the conundrums that may be in Burgess’ “in-tray” regarding the players at his disposal…

Clarity needed on Vaughan future

Rumours have been swirling throughout the off-season that Paul Vaughan may be on his way out of the club, with rumblings of a rift between the prop and Burgess in the aftermath of the semi-final loss to Hull KR refusing to die down.

With media reports detailing that Vaughan’s management are seeking a longer-term deal for the Australian – thereby piquing the interest of NRL side Parramatta Eels – adding fuel to the flames, it is easy to see why there is discomfort among the fanbase about the issue.

Vaughan’s contract with The Wire is about to enter its final year and the expectation within the club remains that he will return to see it out – and a potential extension is not believed to be off the table.

The 33-year-old has returned to Australia for the off-season and is not expected back in training until December.

Either way, clarity is needed as soon as possible.

Wire fans will be hoping the semi-final loss to Hull KR was not Paul Vaughan's final game for the club (Image: John Clifton/SWpix.com)

Fitzgibbon’s fitness

The signing of Lachlan Fitzgibbon looked to be an astute piece of business early in 2024, with the big back-rower playing a key role in a promising start.

However, injuries then started to bite – after being withdrawn from the Challenge Cup Final at half-time with a back injury, he played just three more games having sustained a shoulder injury that would end his season early.

Fitzgibbon, who has a history of shoulder problems, underwent surgery that is believed to have uncovered and corrected an underlying issue, so the hope within the club is that he will be able to play a full part in 2025.

With depth in the back row not exactly plentiful, it will be critical that he does but either way, Wire need to establish where he's at.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon had surgery on a shoulder injury before the end of the 2024 season (Image: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)

Do Wire have enough to build on 2024?

The answer to this probably depends on how the above two pan out, but there is already concern among fans that, even if Vaughan stays, Warrington are going into 2025 light up front.

There are plenty of senior options through the middle, but a lot of them are inexperienced – the likes of Max Wood and Tom Whitehead are likely to get plenty of game time again and the same goes for Luke Thomas after his recovery from an ACL injury – and while the Wire pack is mobile, it could be said it lacks size.

In the back row, too, there is not much depth beyond Fitzgibbon, Adam Holroyd and new signing Dan Russell following the departures of Matty Nicholson and John Bateman.

There is salary cap space with which to work but The Wire’s overseas quota is currently full, so any recruits would have to be domestic ones as things stand and with many squads now finalised on both sides of the globe, it is a difficult time in which to recruit.

Papua New Guinea international back-rower Dan Russell is one of three off-season signings Wire have made for 2025 (Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

Half-back battle

The fight to partner George Williams in the halves is among the key things to be worked out as pre-season progresses.

Both Leon Hayes and Oli Leyland are likely to have their moments in what is a long season but for now, the battle to be first-choice is on.

Having been given the number seven shirt that has seemingly been earmarked for him for many a year, Hayes appears to have the edge – he has now recovered from the injury that ended his breakout season early and will be taking a full part in pre-season.

Off the back of an impressive first Super League campaign of his own with London Broncos, however, Leyland will fancy his chances of breaking into the side.

Both Leon Hayes and Oli Leyland will be looking to secure themselves as George Williams' half-back partner (Image: Joe Richardson)

Growth in breakout youngsters

As previously mentioned, there looks to be plenty of young talent earmarked for Super League game time this year – just as there was last year.

Players such as Arron Lindop, Adam Holroyd, Leon Hayes and Max Wood enjoyed breakout years, while the same was expected of Luke Thomas before an ACL injury in pre-season ended his 2024 before it began.

Beyond them, the likes of Tom Whitehead and Dan Okoro will also be looking to remind Burgess of their own capabilities, particularly the latter who did not make a first-team appearance after joining from Bradford Bulls mid-season.

The head coach will want to see that those players have grown both physically and otherwise throughout pre-season before he can work out just how much he plans to have them involved when the serious business begins.

Teenage centre Arron Lindop was among the players to enjoy a breakthrough year in 2024 (Image: Joe Richardson)