Smith has high hopes for O’Brien

Correspondent

Warrington coach Tony Smith believes Gareth O’Brien will have a phenomenal future at the Wolves.

O’Brien, 20, played in a small mid season period for the Wolves before suffering from season ending knee injury against Swinton in the Challenge Cup.

He impressed against Castleford on his Super League debut in front of the television cameras, scoring a solo try in the process. However injury struck the youngster, who has now fully recovered and is expected to challenge for a regular first team place.

Smith said: “Gaz is competitive, he is a terrific young talent and we have got high hopes for him. I’m sure he will have a really good future with Warrington.

“He had a couple of good games for us, and a couple of good games in the under 20s. He is one of our options at half back and he will be staking claims throughout the season.

“Taking into account some of the young talent coming through, we’re a lot stronger with a lot more depth. I think with what we have added has really strengthened us and the adding of players within our club will strengthen us more.”

Smith also admitted eleven young had been training with the first team squad throughout the winter, despite only three unfamiliar players have been included in the club’s Super League squad.