Latest news with #SamStone
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
KEY STATS: Marked tackling improvement but is one player being under-used?
WHILE it is often criticised for its lack of size, Warrington Wolves' pack does not lack defensive strength. And despite defeat against Wigan Warriors in Round 21, that is in evidence again with a look at the player stats from the game. There are four players in particular whose numbers in defence jump off the page, with Luke Yates and Sam Stone both leading the way in terms of tackles made with 38 each. Both were active from marker within that – Stone made 11 marker tackles, Yates 10 – while Yates completed 100 per cent of his tackles, with Stone only missing two. Ben Currie was just behind the pair with 37 tackles without missing a single one while Ryan Matterson made 30 with just one miss. Danny Walker (22) and Joe Philbin (11) also had a 100 per cent tackle completion rate amid a much-improved showing on the tackling front collectively. Wire's missed tackle count of 20 is exactly half of their total from last week's defeat to Leigh Leopards and is their lowest figure since the Round 13 win over Castleford Tigers (19). Clinical edge deserts Wire In terms of metres gained with the ball, all of the top five players from the game were wearing primrose and blue. Josh Thewlis led the way with 161m – helped heavily by his long-range interception try – followed by George Williams (152m), Toby King (149m), Danny Walker (133m) and Jake Thewlis (108m). By contrast, only two Wigan players cleared the 100m mark – Jai Field (103m) and Ethan Havard (100m) – but there is a key figure within that area of the statistics that highlights Wire's lack of ruthlessness. Both sides made three clean breaks each with Wigan converting all of theirs – two for Zach Eckersley and one from Brad O'Neill – into tries. By contrast, only one of Warrington's three resulted in points – George Williams' burst through to score in the second half. Was Max Wood underused? No exact figure is available for the lengths of players' stints on the field, but Max Wood's felt very short – certainly no more than 15 second-half minutes. However, a look at the stats hints at him perhaps being underused. Against his former club, the young front-rower only carried the ball twice but they yielded 23 metres, many of them post-contact. Last week at Leigh, too, he was only used in a very brief burst and his sole carry in that game made nine metres. There will no doubt be an explanation as to why Wood is being used in this way but given he generally brings impact with the ball – he averages 7.42m per carry for the season as a whole – it is easy to see why there are plenty of supporters who feel he is under-utilised.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Warrington's Sam Stone ready for boos on Salford return after ‘downing tools'
SAM STONE is ready for boos ringing in his ears after 'downing tools' at Salford. But the Warrington man admits he is disappointed at being cast as the villain for doing the 'right thing.' The Australian forward will be the target of angry fans when he returns to the Red Devils after boss Paul Rowley told how he quit ahead of a move after months of uncertainty over wages and what was happening. While not denying he did, he is now in a better space than wondering if he would get paid on time or even if the club would survive. And he believes that when people take a deep breath, things may be portrayed differently. Back rower Stone, 27, technically on loan, said: 'I spoke to Paul about possibly having this move and he kind of said that he would talk and see what they could get done. 'For me, I kind of just felt it was the right thing to do and it was a tough one. 'I was very 50-50 on it and it's just kind of the way it ended up playing out. I thought the move was the right thing to do. I don't know how to put it. 'I didn't really understand the severity of the situation until I think it was maybe round two when we didn't get paid. That's when I first realised we had a bit of an actual issue. 'It was not an enjoyable process for me but I was a little bit disappointed with how that all came out. 'I think if some people had their time again, they might have said it a little bit differently but I've got nothing but respect for everyone that's suffered and I wish them nothing but the best.' Stone was part of a Red Devils playing group that met owners Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown – and was not told what it wanted to hear. Even if things come good, people in that room will not forget what came out of their mouths. 3 Above all, though, is a feeling of what might have been down the A57 at his now former club. Stone added: 'They spoke to the whole group, they spoke to all players and staff. 'It was probably the opposite of what I was expecting to hear, but it's hard to say what's going on behind the scenes there because we never really understood what was going on and we weren't really informed too much. 'I wasn't sure what was going on, but I don't think anyone within the club really understands it either. 'We didn't really have much of an idea, or at least I didn't know what was going on. It was just trying to go about your job as well as you could and then you'd get updates along the way where it was all up to. 'But it is a pressure relief to not have to worry about that sort of stuff and just move ahead and concentrate on the games of rugby. 'I feel for the boys in that situation. I'm sure everyone's asking that question and there's those conversations within the families that are going on because it's people's livelihoods. 'At the start of the year, before all that started, we were all excited at Salford to build on a pretty good season and that's what we all were signing up for and striving for a common goal, to go and try and win some trophies 'The most disappointing part for me was what was once a really tight-knit group of boys that were striving for winning trophies all got ripped apart and that's not what everyone signed up for.'
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
KEY STATS: Concerning Wire trends continue plus Stone's debut in numbers
WITH Adam Holroyd now set for a spell on the sidelines, Sam Stone's arrival at Warrington Wolves appears to be timely. The Australian went straight into the back row against Huddersfield Giants having joined on loan from Salford Red Devils during the week but could not celebrate his debut with a victory, with the Giants inflicted more misery upon his new side with a 24-16 win at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. Advertisement Our look at the game's key statistics includes a closer analysis of Stone's display as he emerged as the leading defensive player in the Warrington side. While he lined up on the right edge, the 27-year-old was often seen in the middle third and even more towards the left off the ball as he went looking for work. The 48 tackles he managed with four misses topped Wire's tackle count and was the joint-highest figure on either side – Huddersfield hooker Zac Woolford matched his number. In terms of his Wire teammates, Jordy Crowther (41), Sam Powell (37) and Luke Yates (35) had the next highest figures, with Yates completing all of his tackles without a single miss. Advertisement Sam Stone - the furthest left of the Wire players - made 48 tackles on his debut (Image: Alex Whitehead/ However, he was kept relatively quiet with the ball with his 10 carries yielding just 48 metres, but he was not alone in the Wire pack on that front. With the exception of Paul Vaughan, whose 137m was the highest figure for a forward on either side, the Warrington big men struggled for go-forward and collectively, they averaged just 5.6m per carry throughout the game (459m from 82 carries). By contrast, the Huddersfield pack – down a man pretty much from the start following Sam Hewitt's early concussion withdrawal – averaged a whole two metres more per carry and collectively made over 200m more with ball in hand than their counterparts (673m from 88 carries, 7.6m per carry average). That figure was pretty much flipped on its head for the backs – Wire's faster men made 742m combined at an average of 7.2m per carry compared to Huddersfield's 546m and 6.5m per carry average, but the disparity in the number of carries is far greater (103 for Wire, 84 for Huddersfield). Advertisement Four Wire backs cleared the 100m mark, with Rodrick Tai topping the charts for the game overall with 149m from 13 carries. Connor Wrench (128m), George Williams (121m) and Jake Thewlis (111m) were not far behind. Wire's backs had no issue making metres, with Rodrick Tai topping the charts with 149 run metres (Image: Alex Whitehead/ Concerns deepen on both sides of the ball At the moment, Warrington are not making the most of their time in attacking positions while their opponents are not needing much time in 'good ball' areas to post points. That much is clear from simply watching the game but Saturday's game continued a worrying trend in the statistics. Advertisement Warrington had nearly twice as many play-the-balls in Huddersfield's 20-metre zone (24) than the Giants had in theirs (14). It is not the first time that has happened of late – in the Challenge Cup Final against Hull KR and the Super League defeat to the same opponents, they spent more time on the attack but came up on the wrong side of the result. And even in the defeats at Wakefield and Leigh that have formed part of this barren run of seven defeats in nine Super League games, the split of time spent in prime attacking position was pretty even. On Saturday, Wire's time in attack – particularly in the second half – was often stifled by basic errors and poor execution. They made 11 errors compared to Huddersfield's six.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Stone moves to Warrington on loan from Salford
Sam Stone has moved to Warrington Wolves for the rest of the season on loan from Salford Red was accused of 'downing tools' by Salford head coach Paul Rowley after the forward made himself unavailable for selection against St Helens on the Australian forward will link up with Sam Burgess' Wolves for the remainder of the the 27-year-old goes to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Dan Russell and Tom Whitehead are moving in the opposite direction, also on loan. Stone has made just two Super League appearances in 2025 for the troubled Red Devils and is the latest senior player to depart the club since the season Sneyd (Warrington)Brad Singleton (Castleford Tigers)Tim Lafai (retired)Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)Deon Cross (St Helens)Chris Atkin (Castleford)Nene MacDonald (unpaid leave)Sam Stone (Warrington)Salford, however, welcome Russell and Whitehead into their depleted New Guinea second-row forward Russell, 29, has played 10 league games for Warrington since joining from St George Illawarra Dragons but will stay with Salford to the end of the has made 28 appearances for the Wolves since his debut in 2022 as well as a host of loan moves and he has agreed an initial four-week stint with the Red Devils. Salford are currently bottom of Super League with one win from 14 matches and they host Hull FC on Sunday.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sam Stone's first words as a Warrington player as move is confirmed
Sam Stone is now officially a Warrington Wolves player after his move from Salford Red Devils was confirmed (Image: Olly Hassell/ SAM Stone is now officially a Warrington Wolves player. The Wire have now confirmed the much-rumoured signing of the Australian back-rower from Salford Red Devils, with the 27-year-old joining on a loan deal until the end of 2025. Advertisement As revealed by the Warrington Guardian earlier this afternoon, two Wolves players - forwards Dan Russell and Tom Whitehead - will move the opposite way and join the Red Devils on loan as part of the deal. Russell will spend the rest of the season with Paul Rowley's side and will be eligible to face his parent club, but Whitehead will not be allowed to face Warrington when they visit Salford on July 4 as part of his four-week arrangement. Stone trained with his new Warrington teammates for the first time today and has expressed his excitement for the months ahead. Sam Stone trained with his new teammates for the first time today (Image: Joe Richardson) Sam Stone's first words after Warrington Wolves move 'It's a massive move for me," he said. Advertisement 'I'm excited to get out on the field for Warrington for the second half of the campaign. "I'm looking forward to getting around the boys and we're ready for a big couple of months ahead. I'm excited to be a part of it. 'The boys have been very welcoming and I've been impressed coming in today. 'The Halliwell Jones has one of the best atmospheres in the comp and I'm excited now to run out in front of the Warrington fans.' Stone has made a big impression since arriving in England in 2021 with Leigh Leopards, from whom he joined Salford ahead of the 2023 season. He has touched down for 24 tries in 83 appearances across those two spells, including a golden-point winner for Salford against his new club in September 2023. Advertisement 'Sam is a great reinforcement for us heading into the second part of the season," head coach Sam Burgess said. "He brings valuable experience and adds real presence to our forward pack.' More to follow
