WARRINGTON’S biggest home crowd for half a century got a glimpse of the future as Cai Taylor-Wray lit up the Halliwell Jones Stadium in a season-opening victory over St Helens.
The 15,064 in attendance marked the Wolves’ highest crowd since leaving Wilderspool over two decades ago and the hosts rewarded their fans with a 24-14 win over the 10-time Super League champions.
Star of the show was 19-year-old fullback Taylor-Wray, who was handed the No 1 shirt by head coach Sam Burgess for the 2026 campaign following Matt Dufty’s departure and put in a player-of-the-match display to help his side begin the season with a bang.
- York 18 Hull KR 18: Ata Hingano hails off-the-cuff move after historic drop goal
- Willie Peters spray for Mikey Lewis after costly sinbin
- Rugbyleaguehub.com on YouTube | Rugbyleaguehub.com on Facebook
“At the start of the off-season he let me know and it was a bit of a shock to me, to be fair,” Taylor-Wray told Sky Sports.
“But he said he had full confidence in me and I was buzzing to hear that and hopefully I can repay him.
“I want to get better than this, so hopefully I can.
“It’s just the start of the season, so I’ve got a long way to go yet, but hopefully I can do many more. So, yeah, I’m buzzing.”
Taylor-Wray, who grabbed two tries in Warrington’s 34-6 win over Championship side Sheffield Eagles in the Challenge Cup third round last week, got on the scoresheet after Toby King had given the home side the lead.
The former East Leeds junior’s display earned the plaudits of Wolves captain George Williams, who has been giving him the benefit of his years of wisdom over the winter.
“We do loads and loads of video and after every [training session] I send him little clips,” Williams told Sky Sports.
“He’s still learning the game, but he’s got natural ability, speed, he’s very agile and he’s very hard to handle.
“Cai has got a good future ahead of him, but he’s still trying to learn the game, which is exciting for Warrington.”
New signing Albert Hopoate and Josh Thewlis also crossed for tries for Warrington, while Marc Sneyd landed four goals.
St Helens, meanwhile, eventually breached Warrington’s line on the hour as Jack Welsby went over followed by Tristan Sailor and Kyle Feldt in the last knockings.
But defeat for new Saints boss Paul Rowley’s first game in charge was compounded by England international fullback Welsby suffering a dislocated shoulder and former Man of Steel Jackson Hastings being sinbinned on his 200th career appearance.
Rowley’s opposite number Sam Burgess still felt there was more to come from his side after the victory, as well as Taylor-Wray.
“He made a number of errors tonight and he’s going to make them all year long, but we’re happy with that as club,” Burgess told Sky Sports.
“We’re happy to watch him develop, I thought he was very good and when he had to make a few plays he made them, so I’m very happy with him.”
WARRINGTON WOLVES 28 (Toby King, Cai Taylor-Wray, Albert Hopoate, Josh Thewlis tries, Marc Sneyd 4 goals) beat ST HELENS 14Â (Jack Welsby, Tristan Sailor, Kyle Feldt tries, Jackson Hastings goal) at the Halliwell Jones Stadium
Teams:
WARRINGTON: Cai Taylor-Wray, Josh Thewlis, Albert Hopoate, Toby King, Smith, George Williams, Marc Sneyd, Luke Yates, Danny Walker, Liam Byrne, James Harrison, Sam Stone, Ben Currie. Res: Toafofoa Sipley, Jordy Crowther, Joe Philbin, Kelepi Tanginoa
ST HELENS: Jack Welsby, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Nene Macdonald, Deon Cross, Tristan Sailor, Jackson Hastings, David Klemmer, Daryl Clark, George Delaney, Shane Wright, Matt Whitley, Joe Shorrocks. Res: Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Jacob Host, Owen Dagnall
REFEREE: Liam Moore