April 2002
30th April 2002 Warrington 14 London Broncos 28 This was one defeat to far for performance director Steve Anderson who resigned after the game,it was the seventh defeat on trot for Warrington,sloppy play in a poor game was the reason behind the defeat ,poor marking at the play the ball and not taking chances when offered also contributed.
Wolves tries : Rob Smyth Fozzard Goals: Briers 3 London tries: Roy Retchless Hetherington Bawden Goals: Martin 6 Attendance 4,190
19th April 2002 Enough said, Wigan Warriors 58 Warrington Wolves 4 .Wigan tries:Tries: C. Smith (5mins), Wild (15), Radlinski (18), Cassidy (32), Carney (44, 66), M. Smith (49), S. O'Loughlin (58, 76), Aspinwall (79). Goals: Farrell 5 (1pen) from 7, O'Neill 4 from 4. Wolves: Try: Penny (19mins).ATTENDANCE: 10,240 An absolutely woefull display by Warrington at times certain players appeared to be uncertain as to why they were on the field,Cardoza and Carruthers found out later that they were no longer required by the Wire and could look elsewhere .
18th April 2002 Wolves Coach David Plange has introduced new rules with regard to after match drinking by players,He said "What I've agreed with the players is that we won't be going out for a drink in the town after a game unless we are satisfied we are satisfied with the performance of the team,if the players can walk around with their heads held high in the face of supporters then that's all right."We will not be going out into the town after a poor performance because that would be rubbing salt into the wounds of the supporters ."It is something I sypathie with and I wont lat it happen.Players are not expected to be out on the town in the build up to any game,Hesaid If anyone is out I would welcome a genuine call to discuss the matter.There was critisism on the clubs website about players being seen drinking in the town,however Plange said the team on that occasion was out as a group with wives and girlfriends it was a bonding session and there was no one out of order or rowdy behaviour.
17th April 2002 Wolves have taken 19-year-old French stand-off John Sebastian Mongay on a month's trial from Villenueve Leopards. Team for Friday vs Wigan,Kevin Crouthers Sid Domic Rob Smyth Dale Cardoza Lee Briers Mark Hilton Leroy Rivett Lee Penny Matt Rodwell (c)Jon Clarke Darren Burns Paul Marquet Jerome Guisse Matt Sturm Nick Fozzard John Hill Mark Gleeson Dave Alstead Dean Busby.
13th April 2002 David Kidwell has been released from his contract and is returning home to Australia homesickness is said to be the reason.The kickoff of Super League match between Warrington and London at Wilderspool on Tuesday 30th April has been brought forward from 8pm to 7.35pm.
9th April 2002 Late news ANDERSON STEPS ASIDE Warrington Wolves boss Steve Anderson has handed the coaching reins to David Plange with Paul Derbyshire as his assistant . The Wolves are bottom of the table and Anderson is stepping aside just eight months into the job to concentrate on his performance director. "I offer no excuses for our current position," Anderson said. "The players know that they have let themselves down and I have brought forward the restructuring of our football department."Anderson also apologised to the club's fans and sponsors for their poor start to the season. He said: "I would like to appeal to you not to abandon our year of rebuilding. "The season is only six rounds old." He added that the club needed the fans behind them: "We are a very young team and we need your support."
Wakefield Trinity 32 Warrington 20 : Steve Anderson said before this game that he was not looking at league tables this year ,well I would suggest that he takes a look quick now or he might find himself looking at the Northern Ford Premiership table next term.Injury hit Warrington could only chase the score at Wakefield with Stand-off Graham Law the stand out player, Law landed six successful kicks from as many attempts ` five conversions for each of his side's tries and a crucial penalty four minutes from time. And Martyn Holland sent home fans away happy, stealing the ball from Lee Briers to touch down near the end. Warrington crossed for four tries, but Law proved to be the crucial factor. Wakefield Trinity Tries: Wood (2) Ellis Keating Holland Goals: G Law (6) Warrington Tries: Busby Domic Smyth Burns Goals: Briers (2) H/T: 18-4 Att: 2,910 .
4th April 2002 Matt Rodwell is asking the Warrington faithful to be patient and to help the Wire get over what is by all accounts a disastrous start to Rugby Super League VII ,Rodwell was highly critical of the chorus of boos which accompanied the team as they left the field after the defeat by local rivals Widnes,after four defeats on the spin" the fans have every right to be critical"said Rodwell"but the booing was over the top.We are only 5 games into the season and there is a long way to go.I was in a similar situation at Penrith Panthers last year when we lost 5 games the crowd were disappointed but they never booed us,the Warrington fans are great but they must realise the players are doing their best for them,we cannot be criticised for commitment but for some reason things are not going our way"."The painful truth is we are at the bottom of the league but with help from the fans we can turn it round".Rodwell was answering questions due to the absence of Steve Anderson said defensive frailties were the main cause of Wire's problems "it is a major concern that whenever teams get within 20 metres of our try line they score,we do not seem to be able to keep them out.
Paul Wood revealed to the Warrington Guardian what was said behind closed doors after the Widnes game,He said " Steve has been telling us that what we produced was simply not good enough,he wants us to start playing for 80 minutes and not 60 and ha also wants us to kill teams off when we can and not ease up .Everyone in the camp is very disappointed because it was a game we could have and should have won""Hopefully we can learn from this gameand turn things around,we are still learning to adapt to the new system Steve has introduced to us but I am confident that the more games we play the better we will get.We have an excellent squad ,all the traing tactics are in placeand it is now a case of getting our season back on track by implementing them better in a game situation".Wood further commented on his own standard " I am nowhere near where Steve would like me to be but I am learning all the time.
Steve Anderson broke his silence to throw some light on the problems the Warrington team have in winning games "we will pick up wins and I am not to concerned about the league table this year " he said. At a 7am meeting on Tuesday which lasted 3 hours He said "There were four points which went begging over Easter we have got to keep chipping away,I'm asking Matt and Breirsy to take a stronger grip to show more enterprise and direction.I didn't think the senior players controlled the game to well against Widnes.Anderson's call going into the Wakefield game is to play for 80 minutes and play basic fundamental percentage football,"we're lacking penetration and that is why I'm trying to teach them a grafting style of football.On occasions the players have thought the opposition is easy,seen a chance and gone off the plan and that is when our play has been breaking down,it is still an education for the team,it's a tough learning phase".Sunday Wakefield away kick off 3.30pm.
The Wire are struggling with injuries before a crucial game at Wakefield on Sunday,it is a game Warrington must win if the team that Steve Anderson has put together stays together,the team were boo'd off the field after Mondays defeat by Widnes, seven players are sidelined for the Super League clash against Trinity. Jon Clarke (ankle) and Dale Laughton (back) are out, while Darren Burns, Tommy Reilly (both hamstring) and Dean Busby (ankle) are struggling to be fit.Lee Penny (broken hand) and Leon Felton(shoulder) are also struggling for the match at Belle Vue.
Ist April 2002 We await with anticipation the Easter Monday clash with arch rivals from yesteryear Widnes Vikings it will be the first time Wire and Chemics have met for 8 years.
Match Report: Warrington 14 Widnes 20 .Super League new boys Widnes continued their impressive start to the new season as two late tries sealed a thrilling derby win. Widnes went ahead after 14 minutes when Steve Carter scored but Jon Clarke equalised 11 minutes later. The Wolves then went out in front with tries from Sid Domic and Rob Smyth. But Widnes claimed the win when Chris Percival and Steve McCurrie crossed in the last 13 minutes.
Tries: Widnes Carter Percival McCurrie Goals :Hughes (4) Tries: Warrington Domic Smyth Clarke Goals: Briers (1)
H/T: 6-6 Att: 9,105