Warrington set for major injury boost as star forward Luke Yates nears return
Luke Yates applauds Warrington Wolves' supporters following a game in 2026
Warrington Wolves will receive a major boost over the next few weeks, with forward Luke Yates nearing a return having initially been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Australian utility Yates picked up a neck injury at the back end of March, which he and Wire had been managing with stints in and out of the side in the weeks which followed.
By the middle of May though, the 31-year-old had aggravated the injury to the extent that surgery was required – and the initial prognosis at that stage was that he’d miss the duration of the 2026 season.
But with the end of the campaign nearing, Yates’ rehabilitation has stepped up a level, and it’s now been revealed that he will soon be ready to take to the field.
‘Seeing him back this year wasn’t the initial diagnosis, so it’s great work by all involved – the surgeons, the medical team and Yatesy himself’
New South Wales native Yates joined Warrington midway through the 2024 campaign from fellow Super League outfit Huddersfield Giants.
Having progressed through Newcastle Knights’ youth system to play 25 NRL games in their colours, he has been in the UK since joining London Broncos in 2019, and also represented Salford before his stints with Huddersfield and Wire.
The Wolves are gearing up for three games in a ten-day spell, starting at home against Super League new boys York Knights on Thursday evening.
In his pre-match press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Burgess revealed the positive news, confirming: “You’ll see Luke Yates again (before the end of the year), Luke Yates will be back.
“He’s not far away, it might be three or four weeks (until he returns).
“You’ll see him before the end of the regular season.”
Set to turn 32 next March, Yates – who represented the Combined Nations All Stars against England back in 2021 – has made 183 appearances at club level in the British game, scoring 20 tries.
Burgess continued: “He had great news on his initial consultation and he then came through surgery really well, so he’s been able to grade his recovery back.
“Seeing him back this year wasn’t the initial diagnosis, so it’s great work by all involved – the surgeons, the medical team and Yatesy himself.
“He’s managed to get himself into a position where he’s not far away at all.”
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