How much progress have Warrington Wolves made in 2024?

Sound familiar?

While they may not have the unbeaten record they took to Perpignan around this time last year, they do have carefully assembled progress to protect and build upon.

And because of the dramatic collapse in form that followed that joyous evening in the south of France, the optimism that has surrounded Sam Burgess’ early days as head coach has more than a hint of caution about it.

Nobody can really blame supporters for reserving judgement – even aside from what happened 12 months ago, it is still far too early in the year to be forming concrete opinions.

Wire's Easter victory over Catalans last year made it eight wins from eight in Super League (Image: Joe Richardson)

Given the fixtures Wire have had to date as well, one has to wonder how much we have actually found out about the class of 2024.

Five wins from six games is a fine start in anybody’s book, but sceptics can use the context of the vanquished foes, in particular the current bottom three of Hull FC, Castleford Tigers and London Broncos, as mitigation.

It is a valid point, but the team still deserve absolute credit for the way they have gone about things since the opening-day defeat to Catalans in France, with the victory away at a well-fancied Hull KR side the undoubted highlight.

The Round Four victory at Hull KR is perhaps Wire's stand-out result so far this year (Image: SWPix.com)

They have got steadily better and more cohesive as the weeks have gone on which, alongside picking up results, is about as much as you can ask for.

And that has been achieved despite some significant disruption to the team – for example, the first-choice half-back pairing of George Williams and Josh Drinkwater have played together only once having both picked up injuries.

There have been personal issues too – Ben Currie, Danny Walker and Josh Thewlis have missed games to attend the births of children while a family bereavement saw Lachlan Fitzgibbon briefly return home to Australia.

Those issues look set to ease in the short-term as Burgess’ squad gets healthier and not before time, for now the sterner tests arrive.

Following this weekend’s Easter showdown, The Wire head to Leeds Rhinos in Super League Round Seven and the balls were not kind in Monday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final draw, handing them a trip to neighbours St Helens.

Wire's only defeat in 2024 thus far came at the hands of Saturday's opponents Catalans in Round One (Image: SWPix.com)

Even after that, there are games against perennially worthy adversaries in Leigh Leopards and Salford Red Devils before the end of April.

With the exception of the Challenge Cup tie, being beaten in any of these games will not be terminal for Wire’s hopes but at the very least, we are about to find out just how far along the path of progression the team are in the weeks to come.

Has the first month or so of the season conditioned them for the tests to come? Burgess believes they have but plenty remain sceptical.

It feels as though the rookie head coach is winning people round slowly, but the next few weeks could see him and the team convince more supporters that things are really changing.