Daryl Powell endured a difficult first season with the Warrington Wolves as he steered the club to their worst Super League performance, finishing one place above relegation.
However, the Wolves have responded in the 2023 campaign and after the first 10 games they had recorded eight victories, just one win shy of their entire tally from last term.
Inspired Form
Powell has revitalised the club on the field as a scoring threat, and there is now a real belief that Warrington could challenge for the Super League crown. The Wolves do need to overcome their bitter history after losing four Grand Finals in the past, the last of which coming in the 2018 season at the hands of Wigan Warriors.
The Warriors appear to be their potential roadblock on the way to the title again this season after their strong start, although St Helens’ recent dominance of the Super League will also make the defending champions a huge obstacle. The best free betting tips for predictions for the Super League crown are certainly in the favour of St Helens due to their imperious hold over the title, but Warrington could be the ones to watch as outsiders.
Attacking Options
Powell has improved his side ten-fold in the attacking third of the pitch. Matty Ashton has been nothing short of sensational in the 2023 season, notching seven tries in his opening 10 matches of the season. Powell will be looking for the full-back to continue his impressive form all season long, especially after earning his first international nod for England in their dominant win over France. Matt Dufty had a tricky first season with the Wolves, but the 27-year-old has now flourished in his role and has offered an equally potent threat with six early scores. If those two players can sustain the standard of their performances over the entire campaign, Warrington have a deadly one-punch that can trouble any defence.
The new England captain George Williams is the playmaker that Powell has built the Wolves’ resurgence around. Williams has been exceptional. No player had more try assists than the England captain inside the opening 10 games, while he has also been a willing runner for his side into contact. Only Josh Charnley has gained more yards, while Williams has taken more carries than any other player in the Super League. There will be natural concerns about whether he can sustain that level of punishment and keeping him healthy for a playoff push has to be the primary concern for Powell.
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Although Warrington have shown a remarkable improvement from the 2022 season, the challenge of overcoming the Warriors and St Helens remains a stark one. The Wolves had beaten all comers in their opening eight matches of the season, putting up points aplenty in their march to the top of the standings. However, the Warriors limited them to just six points in a 13-6 defeat for Powell’s men before St Helens held them to the same amount but crushed the Wolves’ backline to storm to a dominant victory. Powell and his team will have learned vital lessons from those losses and certainly have the quality to bounce back. It was a reminder of the gulf in class between the elite of the Super League and the chasing contenders.
