Penrith punish rusty Roosters
3 hours ago | Aidan Edgecomb
Warrington Wolves captain Lee Briers admits his side need to quickly arrest their slump if they are to make an impact in the closing stages of the season.
A dismal run of just three wins from their last 11 games has put their play-off place in jeopardy but Briers is hoping they can claim a notable scalp in second-placed Hull FC at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday.
Briers cites injuries and a lack of confidence for his side?s loss of form but believes they are only one win away from turning the corner.
?We know we are struggling and not playing as a team but we are gradually improving, even though we?re not getting the results,? he said.
?We?re in a poor run of form but we?ve got to come out of it sometime and hopefully that will be at the business end of the season.?
Warrington could be up against teenage debutants Matty Dale, who has been included in Hull coach Peter Sharp?s squad.
The 19-year-old Dale is on stand-by in case loose forward Danny Washbrook fails to recover from a chest injury.
If Dale makes his debut, it would cap an amazing turnaround in fortunes for the second rower who has only played three under-21 games since a six-and-a-half-month absence with a shoulder reconstruction.
Dale said: ?When I injured my shoulder in the pre-season friendly at York, it was suggested I?d be out for the rest of the season.
?I was always hopeful I?d play again, but I knew I?d be out for over six months and I felt that would cost me a chance to play in the first team.
?If I did play on Sunday, it would be tremendous, but if not I?ll just keep working hard and wait for my chance.?
Warrington, boosted by the return of club captain Paul Rauhihi from suspension, have called 18-year-old forward Ben Harrison into their squad in place of Andy Bracek.
Prop Paul Wood (shoulder) and full-back Stuart Reardon (hand) have passed fitness tests.
Warrington Wolves 18-man squad: Fa?afili, Martin Gleeson, Kohe-Love, Reardon, Briers, Sullivan, Leikvoll, Swann, Wainwright, Mark Gleeson, Westwood, Wood, Barnett, Parker, Rauhihi, Riley, Bridge, Harrison.
Hull FC 18-man squad: Briscoe, Carvell, Cooke, Dale, Domic, Dowes, G. Horne, R. Horne, King, McMenemy, Radford, Raynor, Swain, Tony, Washbrook, Wheeldon, Whiting, Yeaman.
Referee: A Klein
Source: superleague.co.uk