LEON Hayes will miss the early rounds of the Super League season – including the trip to Las Vegas to face Wigan Warriors.

Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess confirmed the blow for his homegrown half-back, who has suffered setbacks in his recovery from the broken ankle that ended his 2024 season as well as a fresh hamstring issue.

Hayes had been given the number seven jersey for the 2025 season but Burgess has now confirmed he will now miss at least the first five competitive matches of the campaign.

“Leon, we’re not going to see until Round Five. He’s going to be a while as he needs a bit of a break,” he said following Toby King’s Testimonial match against Leigh Leopards.

“It’s his hamstring and his ankle – it was such a big injury and there was a lot of trauma in his body.

“His body is recalibrating, if that makes any sense.

“He’s running a tad differently and his body is making those adjustments, but he’s in good spirits.

“He’s had a few niggles in pre-season so we’re going to give him a bit of time to get himself sorted and ready to go.

“It’s a long year coming up and he’ll play plenty of rugby.”

There was better news, however, on several of the players who joined Hayes in missing the Testimonial fixture, in which The Wire were beaten 20-12 by their neighbours at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Centres Stefan Ratchford and Arron Lindop, winger Josh Thewlis and prop James Harrison are all set to feature in next weekend’s Challenge Cup third-round trip to Whitehaven, while second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon and hooker Sam Powell are both on track to be fit to start the Super League campaign at Huddersfield Giants the following week.

“Lindop is doing well – I’ll probably play him next week. It’s the same for Stef – he’ll play next week,” Burgess said.

“The rest will all be available bar Fitzy. We’ll see Fitzy in Round One which is a good result.

“I probably won’t play Sam Powell but we will see him in Round One, Thewlis and Jimmy will both play next week.”

Burgess also confirmed they emerged from the Leigh game with no major injury concerns, with the only minor worry being prop Joe Philbin.

The front-rower limped off during the second half but the head coach confirmed the issue was nothing to be concerned about.

He said: “He just got a bit of a dead leg, so he should be alright.”