WOLVERHAMPTON. AUSSIE SAM’S THE SKIPPER

WOLVERHAMPTON have named popular Aussie Sam Masters as their new team captain.

The 30-year-old takes over from Rory Schlein who retired from the sport at the end of last season.

Masters joined the Parrys International Wolves in 2016 and played a key role in their league success that term. Since then, he’s developed as a rider and has established himself as one of the Premiership’s top stars.

Add that to the fact he’s the longest serving Wolf in the current pack and promoter Chris Van Straaten says Masters was a natural replacement for the role.

“Sam’s been with us for quite some time now, so it just made sense really,” he said.

“He’s got a lot of experience and the fact he’s like a fine wine with the way he’s maturing with age is quite remarkable.

“Sam just gets better and better and better every season it seems, he continues to progress and we feel he can really step up to the plate.”

Masters himself says it will be a proud moment to walk out as official club captain for the first time – and is looking to lead by example as he targets another big season.

“I think it’s pretty obvious how much I enjoy being at Wolves,” he said.

“So it goes without saying that it means the world to be asked to be the captain of Wolverhampton Speedway.

“Year-after-year I’ve been saying how much I want to win the league again with Wolves – and if I could now go and win the top league this year as captain of a club I love, that would be unbelievable and we’re going for it trust me.

“Every rider has a big part to play – but as captain and No.1 I know I need to have a really solid season. “I’ve just got better and better since I joined Wolves and last year I think that I proved I was a good No.1 throughout the year.

“Ok, I had a couple of bad ones here and there – but so do all the other boys in the league.

“I was pretty happy with my performance overall over the whole season – but I think this season can be even better.”

Wolverhampton open their season at Monmore on Monday (March 28, 7.30) as they take on a Birmingham Past and Present side for the George Wallett Trophy.