Warrington Wolves are one of the most prestigious rugby league sides in the United Kingdom and Tony Smith’s men will be quietly confident of success in 2016. After a disappointing 2015 campaign, many have questioned Warrington’s decision to allow the likes of Joel Monaghan, Richie Myler and Chris Bridge to leave club in the offseason but the arrival of Ryan Bailey will help to settle plenty of nerves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
If truth be told, Warrington have struggled to replace Lee Briers and Michael Monaghan. Both players were incredibly gifted with the ball in hand but their on-field leadership skills are perhaps what Tony Smith’s side have missed the most. Bookmakers.co.uk touched on their disappointing campaign last season but both punters and fans are much more optimistic about their chances in 2016.
At the time of writing, Warrington are priced at 7/1 with Betfred to win the Grand Final next year. If Tony Smith’s men perform at their very best, they are more than capable of going all the way to Old Trafford. With three months until the season gets underway, there is still plenty of time to prepare for the gruelling Super League campaign. In the meantime, you can find out more about Betfred at Bookmakers.co.uk, as well as reading up on the latest news, previews and tips for rugby league and other sports.
Ryan Bailey will bring leadership and aggression to the Warrington ranks, there’s no doubt about that. During his illustrious career, Bailey has played over 300 times for Leeds Rhinos and the 31-year-old has learned from the likes of Keith Senior, Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Peacock. The prop forward will be keen to get in amongst the action and must be considered a vital asset to Warrington in 2016. He is a genuine game changer and although he may not possess the same brute strength and pace nowadays, he still knows how to get over the advantage line.
Realistically, the Wire probably need another two or three signings to reach the Grand Final this season. They just don’t have enough strength in depth and while their youth squad have shown plenty of promise, many aren’t fit enough to cut it at the top level. It would be foolish to write them off but they will need plenty of luck to challenge for honours in 2016. However, with Bailey in the side, anything can happen. Based on Bailey’s past disciplinary record, one thing is for sure: things are about to get rather heated at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
