It's Daryl Powell's first game, it's Channel 4's first game, it's the first game of the post-Chris Hill, Tom Lineham, Blake Austin and Jake Mamo era, but most of all it's the first game of the 2022 Super League Season.
Warrington get their campaign underway in just under three weeks' time away at Leeds Rhinos - who now boast Austin in their ranks - in a 12:30 kick-off. For the first time in a long time, it is quite difficult to predict what kind of a team Wire may put out at the start of the campaign, with a new coach and six new players added to the fold. So, instead of predicting Wire's team for Round One, I've had a go at picking the team I'd like to see take to the field at Headingley.
We know that three of the six new signings - Greg Minikin, James Harrison and Billy Magoulias will be missing for the first part of the season, with club captain Jack Hughes also facing a race against time to be fit for the season opener.
Full-Back - 22 Josh Thewlis
Stefan Ratchford is still a very useful asset to the squad as he enters his testimonial season at the club, but simply should not be playing at full-back in my opinion - he hasn't contributed enough in terms of tries or assists in recent years. Just nine try contributions last year, compared to the likes of Sam Tomkins, Lachlan Coote and Jake Connor, all of whom registered more than 23. The often-touted option is flying Matty Ashton, however, the defensive side of his game is nowhere near strong enough in my opinion to play at number one. That leaves us with Josh Thewlis, a player I really rate, who was pushed from pillar to post last season and never put a foot wrong. He should be our full-back this season, I think.
Winger - 2 Josh Charnley
A man who needs to have a much better season, with extra threats to the spots on the wing, including Thewlis, Ashton and Greg Minikin. Charnley's squad number was one of the most notable changes - 5 to 2. This suggests that he will be playing on the left edge this season, the side that has been far more potent for Wire in recent seasons. With a new centre alongside him, and a coach that loves to get the ball out to his wingers, it could potentially be a big year for Charnley.
Centre - 4 Toby King
King retained the number 4 shirt despite playing as a number 3 for the last two years. While numbers in the centre positions are much of a muchness, we will have to wait until the pre-season friendlies to find out which side King is playing on. He had a superb first half of the season before slowing down around May time. He has more than done enough to keep his spot though, and will have a different winger alongside him, whichever side he ends up playing on.
Centre - 3 Peter Mata'utia
Of the six new signings, this is the one I'm actually most excited about. Mata'utia was a creative outlet for Castleford for three years and I expect he can do the same under the same coach. The Samoan international swaps places with Jake Mamo, who takes his spot at centre for the Tigers. The 31-year-old brings some stability as well as creativity to the back line and with him and King in the centres, I'd like to think the wingers will get fed aplenty this year.
Winger - 5 Matty Ashton
It looks like the club have (rightly, in my mind) given up on the idea of Matty Ashton being a full-back. Nevertheless, that's not to say he couldn't be an excellent winger. His searing pace makes him a great threat out wide and that's where I expect to see him all year. His move from 17 to 5 means it's a near-certainty that he'll be playing on the wing in 2022.
Stand-Off - 6 Gareth Widdop
Wire's best player in 2021 returns to the club and has a different shirt number, moving from 7 to 6. While this is a minor change in position, it could mean a slight modification of his role too, perhaps focusing more on the running game than the organisational side. After a blistering start to last season, he quietened down a bit in the second half of the year. What does 2022, the last year of his Wire contract, hold for the Englishman?
Scrum-Half - 7 George Williams
The man who seems to be the new face of the club, Williams takes up the 7 shirt for 2022 and is tasked with leading the Powell revolution this season. He delivered some very good performances in the second half of 2021 and with a full pre-season behind him, is a good bet to be Wire's star man this year. Williams struck gold with a winning drop-goal on debut last time out at Headingley, and he will be aiming to ensure it is a much less stressful affair this time around.
Prop - 8 Joe Philbin
Arguably Wire's biggest loss in the off-season was that of former club captain Chris Hill, who leaves after ten seasons of service to join Huddersfield Giants. Frustratingly, Wire haven't made a move to sign a starting prop, instead promoting Joe Philbin to the number 8 shirt. I quite like Philbin as an impact sub but I do feel concerned that so much is resting on him in terms of minutes and impact. Still, he will start the season in the role and hopefully can grow into it.
Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Wire's best player over the last five years and it's a surprise really that he's still at the club. Clark is a monster of a hooker and is now reunited with the coach he won Man of Steel under in 2014. As always, Clark will be imperative to Wire's chances of succeeding in both attack and defence and will be one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
It looks like it's going to be another year of Mike Cooper carrying Wire's forward pack on his ageing back. With Hill's departure, Cooper is going to be more important than ever. The 33-year-old is still a terrific prop forward and among the best in the competition. It's going to be tough, but Wire need him at his best again this year more than ever.
Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
Currie enjoyed an impressive 2021 season and was part of an exciting left edge. The Englishman will undoubtedly keep his place this season and is probably one of the easiest choices in the whole team. He is likely to have a new second row partner, though...
Second Row - 12 Oliver Holmes
Joining Mata'utia in moving from Castleford to Warrington is second rower Oliver Holmes. The 29-year-old is one of the most important signings Wire have made, as the struggles Hughes had in the second row are well-documented. Holmes is more of a dominant runner of the ball, better defensively and far more of a threat near the line. I'm very excited to see Holmes in this team.
Loose Forward - 1 Stefan Ratchford
Jack Hughes has been given the 13 shirt, suggesting he will be moved to the loose forward position, but with the uncertainty surrounding his availability for the opening game, coupled with new signing Billy Magoulias missing the first six games of the year, I have gone for a left-field option and put Stefan Ratchford in the position I've long wanted to see him. Ratchford can get his hands on the ball at 13, it gives us an extra ball-player and attacking threat, as well as being a natural development for someone at Ratchford's stage of his career.
Interchange - 15 Joe Bullock
Another of the club's new additions, Bullock moves from Wigan to Wire and becomes the latest to walk a well-trodden path. I hope he can provide some metre-making and thrust from the interchange bench.
Interchange - 19 Robbie Mulhern
Owing to Wire's lack of significant investment in props, I would like Mulhern to keep a bench spot for the first game of the year.
Interchange - 17 Matt Davis
I like Davis a lot and I do feel that he was missed in the last few games of 2021. He is a good ball-player and brings something we don't really have from the bench without him.
Interchange - 16 Danny Walker
The man who has recently signed a new deal at the club, Walker will be useful off the bench to spell Daryl Clark and inject some pace, as he did in this fixture last season.
This doesn't include the likes of Jason Clark and Ellis Longstaff, both of whom I considered, especially Longstaff.
@ALooseWire
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