Super League XXIII: Warrington talking points

By Tom Mordey

Tuesday 30 January 2018 14:34, UK

Bolstered by marquee signings and a new coach from from the NRL, Warrington are aiming to go one better than the Tony Smith era.

Warrington

Captain: Chris Hill

Coach: Steve Price

2017 Position: Regular season - 9th. Qualifiers - 1st

Key player - Tyrone Roberts

The Wolves have bared their teeth for 2018. Last year's appalling campaign, which saw them drop into the qualifiers, was the end for Tony Smith and prompted a heavy recruitment drive.

The signing of Ben Murdoch-Masila has caught the eye but the big-name addition is Tyrone Roberts.

The half-back has joined on a three-year deal from the Gold Coast Titans and will be tasked with what Warrington were unable to do last season - conjure the kind of stardust the Australian, Chris Sandow, sprinkled round the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Fresh Face - Steve Price

New signings galore but there's a new man at the helm tasked with sparking Warrington's revival in 2018.

Tony Smith and Warrington parted ways at the end of the season and Smith was Super League's longest-serving coach having joined in 2009.

And like so many other clubs before them, the Wolves have looked to Australia for a replacement. So they've enticed Steve Price over on a two-year deal, having previously held the job as Cronulla Sharks' assistant coach.

He enjoyed NRL success with the Sharks in 2016 and has also coached the Samoa national team. Price has also landed a highly-rated assistant in Andrew Henderson, the former London Broncos head coach.

One to watch - Kevin Brown

There were more than a few eyebrows raised when Wayne Bennett named Kevin Brown in England's World Cup squad at the end of the season.

After all, his high-profile switch to Warrington in 2017 was hardly a qualified success, with the side crashing into the qualifiers and Brown failing to demonstrate the qualities everyone knows he is so capable of.

But not only did Brown travel to Australia as part of Bennett's party, he also ended the tournament starting in a World Cup final with NRL superstar Gareth Widdop at full-back.

Entering the twilight stage of his career, Brown is now 33 and out of contract at the end of the season.

His World Cup performances have raised expectations again, and with Tyrone Roberts nailed on to start in the halves, Brown will have to shine to keep out Declan Patton.

This could prove a devastating partnership for the Wolves.

Reasons for optimism

It can't be as bad as 2017, can it? The change of coach and that winter spending spree is almost guaranteed to ensure it's not.

We've already mentioned Tyrone Roberts and Ben Murdoch-Masila, but Warrington have added further to their squad in the form of Bryson Goodwin, a New Zealand international, and Tonga international Sitaleki Akauola who is another NRL campaigner.

That's not to mention the quality already at the club in Chris Hill, Daryl Clark and Ben Currie. They will look at how Leeds recovered from their dismal 2016 campaign to turn their fortunes around and lift the Super League title in 2017.

As far as Warrington are concerned, another season without an Old Trafford appearance would be a failure.

Reasons for concern

We've been here before, haven't we? A raft of top NRL signings, a pre-season filled with optimism after a disappointing season. There might be a change of coach at Warrington, but the pressure of landing that first Super League title isn't sitting any easier on their shoulders.

They've come close... oh so close, through the Tony Smith years. But they could never find the way to get over the line. Quality names from Australia have come and gone throughout the Smith era, without Warrington ever landing the big prize.

Will they be able to shed the psychological tag that's dogged them since their rise into one of Super League's elite teams?