NEW Warrington Wolves interim coach Gary Chambers has been thrown in at the deep end with Super League leaders Catalans visiting the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday night.
Chambers, 53, has taken temporary charge following the departure of Daryl Powell and assistant Ryan Sheridan after last weekend’s humiliating defeat to basement boys Wakefield.
He made 147 appearances for the club between 1989 and 2000, scoring 63 tries.
Despite their recent turmoil, the Wolves have already beaten Catalans twice this season, both times in Perpignan, but will be up against it to end a run of six straight defeats.
He said: “There are areas that we’ve identified with the players that they can improve on. To get by that score (last week against Wakefield), you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realise that they’re not doing some of the effort areas right. What I’m going to do in this role in this short space of time is identify why they aren’t doing things right and come up with something that prompts them to do it properly.
“It’s down to the lads to find their way. And find a way that suits them, and they haven’t had that. We’re asking questions about how they can maximise themselves, and hopefully we’ll get better answers for that.
“Hopefully on Friday they can show that but what I’ve tried to do is I’ve turned it over, I’ve asked questions and I’ll support them whatever they need to do.”
The head of youth received the call to step up on Sunday night, and will be assisted by Richard Marshall while the club seeks a permanent successor for Powell.
Super League winning former St Helens coach Justin Holbrook is being heavily linked with the role. Former fans’ favourite Lee Briers is believed to have privately ruled himself out of the running.
Chambers added: “It was 100% a surprise. I had no idea what was going on, I got a call on Sunday evening and everything’s just stemmed from there. It was straight out of the blue.”
One of his first actions as interim coach was to recall Riley Dean from his loan spell at Castleford.
But eyebrows were raised when Dean then wasn’t named in the 21-man squad for the visit of Catalans, with some fans calling for the youngster to replace the out of form Josh Drinkwater.
Chambers explained: “I just wanted him back to be around the group, get some numbers back.
“I don’t know how it’s going to be moving forward so we need some bodies around. I need all the reserve lads stepping up and putting pressure on (the regulars) and just to build up that pressure on each other and challenge each other in the camp.
“I’ve told him if he trains well and goes well in the reserves he’ll put himself in the position to play.”
Recent signing Jordan Crowther has been named in the 21-man squad and there is a welcome return for Thomas Mikaele, who could go straight in to contention after arriving back from Australia.
The Wolves were top of the table when Mikaele left to go home earlier in the season, with his family thought to be homesick. He has struggled to get game time in the NRL with Gold Coast Titans, so has jumped at the chance to make a return to the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Chambers is missing wingers Matty Ashton and Matty Russell plus prop James Harrison from his squad.
Young prop Luke Thomas has joined Super League rivals Hull KR on a two-week loan.
Warrington 21-man squad v Catalans: Bullock, Clark, Crowther, Currie, Drinkwater, Dudson, Dufty, Hayes, Holroyd, Kasiano, Mata’utia, Mikaele, Minikin, Nicholson, Philbin, Ratchford, Thewlis, Vaughan, Walker, Williams, Wrench.
