Josh Thewlis on being written off, his younger brother and a special milestone
Josh Thewlis on being written off, his younger brother and a special milestone
Josh Thewlis in action during Sunday's Magic Weekend defeat to Wigan Warriors (Image: Neil Ashurst/P&B Pictures)
WARRINGTON Wolves find themselves in the Challenge Cup semi-finals once again but this time, the pre-match vibe is slightly different.
This time last year, they were heavily favoured to brush past Huddersfield Giants and book a Wembley date – and that is exactly what they did.
On Sunday, however, they will go into their clash with Leigh Leopards as underdogs due to a combination of both sides' form and the injuries to key players Warrington are currently suffering from.
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However, Josh Thewlis insists the Wire squad do not mind being written off – if anything, they welcome it.
And as they bid to return to the national stadium for a second consecutive year, the winger admits the memory of the nightmare they endured in the final at Wigan Warriors' hand still haunts him.
'Personally, what happened at Wembley is driving me,' he told the Warrington Guardian.
'It's something I want to put right and I'm sure that's the case for a lot of the lads.
'It's a new team now in a few places but there's a lot of us still here from that day – we've had a taste of it and it just makes you want to experience it in the right way.
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Josh Thewlis in the Wembley changing rooms ahead of last year's Challenge Cup Final (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com) 'We may be underdogs but I think that suits us. We'll relish it.
'Leigh are a very strong side who will take us deep in the game, but we're really looking forward to that challenge.
'On the edges, they really test you and their middle is extremely strong so they're as tough an opponent as you can ask for really.
'We've obviously got a few missing but as we showed at Magic Weekend, we've all got total faith in whoever goes out there to do a good job.
'We didn't quite get the result but I think we showed a lot given the players we had missing.
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'Not many people gave us much of a chance, but I think we thrive off that kind of feeling – when our backs are against the wall and we're being written off, we enjoy that and it seems to lift us.
'We won't be favoured again at the weekend but it's a huge game that we can't wait to get into.'
Thewlis in action during the Super League Round Eight defeat to Challenge Cup semi-final opponents Leigh Leopards (Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com) The Magic Weekend game Thewlis is referring to saw The Wire edged out by Wigan despite fielding a side shorn of several key players such as George Williams, Marc Sneyd, Danny Walker, Matty Ashton and Toby King.
One of those who stepped in admirably was Thewlis' younger brother Jake, who scored two tries on the left wing – the second of which was set up by his elder sibling as they started a Super League game together for the very first time.
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That took the 19-year-old's try tally for Warrington this season to five in just three appearances in all competitions having also touched down against Leeds Rhinos in Round Six and at Whitehaven in the Challenge Cup either side of loan spells with London Broncos and Salford Red Devils.
And his older brother is hoping his displays show he is worthy of a place in a Super League side – be that Warrington or elsewhere.
'He's got me for tries at the minute – you usually get more chances playing on the left, don't you,' he joked.
'I'm really proud of him – that was probably the biggest game he's played in, on that stage against a really good Wigan side, but he stood up really well.
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'He's had a lot of loans and dual-reg time away from us but I think it's really helped him.
'I've been going to watch him wherever he's been – he's playing against men and has been getting better and better.
'Sam (Burgess) made a nice thing of it before the game with it being our first Super League game together and hopefully, there will be a few more.
'I'd like to think he's given Sam a bit of a headache with his performances, and Gaz (Chambers, director of rugby) too with him being off-contract at the end of the year.
'Hopefully something can be sorted out for him.
'We've got a big following as a family and I think they were in double figures up in Newcastle – it was such a proud day for us all.'
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Jake Thewlis is congratulated by his older brother and his Wire teammates after scoring at Magic Weekend (Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com) While his younger brother is still carving out his top-flight path, Thewlis the elder is very much established.
Indeed, he will be making his 100th Warrington Wolves appearance on Sunday if, as expected, he takes up his usual spot on the right wing.
His 99 games to date since debuting as a 17-year-old against Catalans Dragons back in June 2019 have yielded 42 tries and 99 goals.
Still aged only 23 and with a contract until at least the end of 2028 under his belt, there is time for all of the above figures to go much, much higher.
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Josh Thewlis in action during his Warrington Wolves debut against Catalans Dragons in June 2019. This weekend, he is set to make his 100th Wire appearance (Image: Mike Boden) 'You end up wondering where the time has gone,' he said.
'I wasn't really aware of it until I spoke to Pete Moran (kit manager) a few weeks ago and he said it was coming up.
'It doesn't seem like two minutes ago since I was making my debut against Catalans, in my scrum cap at the back!
'I'm going to be here for a while yet so hopefully I'll get at least another hundred and a few more after that.'
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