Warrington Wolves needed to make improvements to their squad after failing to meet expectations last season.
Sam Burgess’ side struggled for consistency and traction throughout 2025 and they slumped to an eighth placed finish, failing to realistically compete for a spot in the play-offs.
There has been turnover since the end of the season with six players being signed permanently, a number of senior figures leaving and Steve McNamara being appointed in a coaching capacity.
Paul Vaughan, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Rodrick Tai were the most high profile departures from the Halliwell Jones Stadium, with the Wolves striving to strengthen in all three of their positions.
Toafofoa Sipley and Liam Byrne have been brought in to add size to their middle ranks, while a deal to sign Tevita Pangai Jr ultimately fell through. James Bentley has been signed from Leeds Rhinos and he is joined in the Wire pack by Sam Stone who has made his loan from Salford Red Devils permanent.
Josh Smith and Albert Hopoate provide much needed options in the outside backs, too.
With that in mind, here’s how Warrington Wolves could line up in 2026.
The first major question facing Burgess is who to select at full-back. Matt Dufty would be the obvious choice but he lost his spot in the side towards the end of the 2025 season and he has had the number one jersey taken off him this year.
Cai Taylor-Wray is the man who will wear the one on his back next year and with Dufty’s future uncertain, it seems fair to predict the youngster will start at full-back this season.
Matty Ashton, when he’s fully fit following the knee injury that saw him miss much of the 2025 campaign and Josh Thewlis look set to start on the wings, while Albert Hopoate and Toby King could be set to start in the centres.
King struggled for consistency last season but when he’s fully fit and firing he can still be a force to be reckoned with in Super League, while Smith remains something of an unknown prospect in the Northern Hemisphere.
George Williams and Marc Sneyd will likely start the season in the halves but they have competition from Ewan Irwin, Oli Leyland and Leon Hayes.
Byrne looks a solid option to start through the middle, with Luke Yates a strong enough option to make an impact early in the game. Bentley and Stone look to be the most obvious back-rowers, while Ben Currie will continue in the loose-forward role.
In Sipley, Warrington now have size to bring off the bench and they’ll be looking to him to blow games open. Joe Philbin and James Harrison are options off the bench, too, alongside Sam Powell.
Possible Warrington Wolves 2026 line-up
Potential Warrington Wolves 2026 line-up: Cai Taylor-Wray; Josh Thewlis, Toby King, Albert Hopoate, Matty Ashton; George Williams, Marc Sneyd; Liam Byrne, Danny Walker, Luke Yates; James Bentley, Sam Stone; Ben Currie.
Bench: Sam Powell, Joe Philbin, James Harrison, Toafofoa Sipley.
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