January 2002
31st January 2002 Warrington will consider themselves fortunate to have drawn supposedly weaker opponents in the 4 th round of the challenge cup,by his own admission Steve Anderson reckons Warrington are a month away from the fitness levels needed to take on Super League opposition ,the collapse against Salford only confirmed this.The clubs performance director is thinking long term and working through a 55 page preseason programme with the players,squad members will not complete the conditioning phase until the week leading up to the start of Super League V11 ,which Anderson is placing more importance on than the Challenge Cup.Wire will be at Lilleshall in the week leading up to the Barrow game.There has been a renaissance of interest in Cumbria and Warrington can expect a warm reception from the tough uncompromising Cumbrians.
Mark "the beast" Hilton is already enjoying his rugby since rejoining the Wire after getting over career threatening injuries,"I am pleased with the first two games in attack but my defence is still a bit wanting it's a matter of confidence as my injuries were all defence related".Mark picked up a soft tissue injury against Salford but it is not connected to any past injuries and is not cause for concern.
Wolves performance director Steve Anderson will not be rushed into crowd pleasing wide football until the players learn the basics of the short game said Steve"We are nowhere near ready to play an expansive game this is to do with the style of game I'm employing and people are going to have to be patient with it,there are players who are still struggling with the basics as against Salford.Because when you are tired the errors come it's going to take time ".
Five of Warrington's players came out of the Salford game with injuries none serious,they were O'Reilly ,Sturm,Noone, Domic and Hilton.Paul Marquet has been granted work permit clearance and is expected to arrive in Warrington in time for the 5th round of the Kellogg's nutri-grain Challenge Cup.
Opposition to Sale's sharing of the new Warrington Stadium has been voiced in the local paper with a number of people warning the Wire board to be wary of any deal that does not leave the Wire in complete control of the stadium,a number of people pointed out that Sale have done nothing to assist the Wire in getting the stadium through planning and only after it was given the go ahead did they renew an interest.
28th January 2002 Warrington get Barrow in 4th round of Kellogg's Nutri- Grain Challenge Cup ties to be played w/e 9/10 Feb
26th January 2002.Steve Anderson's Australian Style of play does not as yet seem to be getting through to the players as Warrington go down to Salford at Wilderspool 26-34 Salford trailed at Half Time 16-6, Bobby Goulding was the difference between the two teams as he created 3 of the 6 tries and had a good day with the boot kicking 5 goals.Steve Maden scored for Warrington on his debut in what was generally a poor performance from Warrington.
GREAT Britain head coach David Waite will be spending a week with the Wolves in February.Waite will be looking at the Wolves training and rugby operation and offering feed back to the clubs performance director Steve Anderson.
24nd January 2002 Wire legend Brian Gregory dies of a suspected heart attack ,after suffering one several months ago.Brian died whilst on holiday in Tenerife he was 53,After playing for Salford Brian made his debut for Warrington on August 20th 1972 alongside Kevin Ashcroft ,Dennis Curling and Clive Jones,he played 51 games for the Wire as a second row forward including the clubs most successful season ever 1973/74 when the team won the Club Championship , the Challenge Cup ,the Captain Morgan Trophy and the John Player Trophy,he grew up within a stones throw of Central Park and used to watch Wigan and was thrilled when he played for the team after leaving Warrington,he also played for Oldham and Wakefield.The funeral is to take place at St John's in Pemberton no date is set as yet.
Papua New Guinean Tom O'Reilly is expected to be a surprise full back selection for Warrington on Friday against Salford,first choice Lee Briers is being rested because of injury but he will be fit for the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup tie which has its 4th round draw on Monday.Coach Anderson has the option of orthodox full backs Lee Penny Leon Felton or David Alstead in his 27 man squad however Alstead and Felton are expected to play on the wings whilst Penny is expected to start against Salford alongside David Kidwell as a centre.Former academy player Steve Madden and Dale Laughton are expected to get a run in the first team,Team is as follows :Lee Briers/Tom O'Reilly ; Kevin Crouthers/David Alstead;Steve Madden;David Kidwell/Lee Penny;Leon Felton/Rob Smyth;Sid Domic;Matt Rodwell;Mark Hilton;Mark Gleeson/Jon Clarke;Dale Laughton;Dean Busby;Jerome Guisset/Paul Noone/Matt Sturm;Darren Burns. Ticket hotline 019250235005 to book your ticket.
Community based work at Warrington Wolves continues as the Wire put together a panel to measure the progress of junior and youth rugby league in the town,Wire's first team coach David Plange plus assistant coaches Paul Derbyshire and Gary Chambers are panel members other panelists are the clubs special projects officer Brian Chambers schoolboys scholarship manager Mike McLooughlan and Warrington Borough Council development officer Neil Kelly.The panels charter is to deliver a programme of education designed to benefit coaches parents and their children,the panel will offer support to coaches of teams in the target age group of 12 to 18 years oldWolves performance director Steve Anderson who set up the panel said "The panel will create a coaching structure encompassing amateur clubs within the town through discussion and feedback from the individual clubs,it is important that we can tailor a structure to aid and support them".
Why not become a Lucky Seven weekly draw agent for the Wire, £5 for every new member,Free season ticket plus commision Contact : Joanne Allen or Doreen on 01925653338.
Bank Quay Bulls ARLFC are setting up an under 18's team for next season student rugby league coach Dave Johnson is in charge,and he is on the look out for new players .A meeting for the team and any new members will take place at Bank Quay Sports and Social Club on February 4 Ko 7:30pm.For more information contact Dave on 01925 245068.
22nd January 2002 Craig gets the reward for all his hard work,Craig Williams is at Warrington Wolves on a community development placement from Rathbone Training Centre in Wigan,and has been named as achiever of the month for January from the 67 Training facilities around the country.Club education officer Dave Prince said"Craig has fitted in well at the club,he has shown himself to be a dedicated and enthusiastic individual.Craig has been at the Wolves for 6 months said" I am mad on sport so when the offer of a placement at warington came along I was really excited it ha been great".
As reported earlier safety fears at the Willows resulted in the friendly with Warrington being switched to Wilderspool,Friday's game with a 7.30 ko is the last chance for the team to build on the win over St Helens and show the Barmy Army what they can do before business gets serious with the Kellogg's Nutri- Grain Challenge Cup campaign starting on the 9/10 February.Tickets will be available from today (wed) Brian Bevan Stand £12 adults £6 concesions ,Ground tickets are £10 concessions £5.Fridays came has added interest as ex Wire players Alan Hunte, Mike Wainwright and Francis Maloney could be in the Salford team.
1st January 2002 Well the new year got off to a good start with temperatures overnight reaching -4c and only getting to 3c during the day,the Warrington vs Saints game was a certain casualty,summer rugby rules or what,the game will hopefully be rescheduled for later in the month.
2nd January 2002 The friendly between St Helens and Warrington has been rearranged for the 9th January at Wilderspool Stadium KO 7.30pm.The Salford encounter at the Willows has been rescheduled two days earlier than originally planned and will kick off at 7.30 Friday 25th January to avoid a clash with any Kellogg's Nutri Grain Challenge Cup matches.
3rd January 2002 After signing from Widnes in the close season Craig Weston is to leave Warrington Wolves citing personal reasons as to why he is unable to transfer from the Huddersfield area to live in Warrington.
Maori centre David Kidwell is expected to make a bigger impression on the game than last term,24 year old Kidwell has come back from a leave of absence in New Zealand looking in good shape after following a regime set out by Wire performance director Steve Anderson.Anderson has said that pressure has been put on Kidwell in an effort to get the former Parramatta player back to the form which earned him a spot in the New Zealand national side in 2000,a feat he hopes to repeat this year.All players will be reporting for fitness testing on Monday and we hope that we can see where David and all the players are up to said Anderson.The Wolves have allowed 3 players to go on loan to Chorley Lynx for a month ,they are Leroy Rivett ,Phil Braddish and Tom Kingannon,Chorley are Warrington's football partners.
Lee Penny is Warrington's longest serving player on the books at the moment after 10 years at the club, this is his testimonial year.He was signed from Orrell Juniors as a 14/15 year old, at the time Orrell were the team of the moment and Warrington pipped Wigan at the post to get him, Oldham also had an interest but missed out.Lee made a try scoring debut against the long gone Blackpool Gladiators in the Regal Trophy competition,he kept his first team shirt for the rest of the 1992/93 season.He also had Great Britain Academy and Great Britain under 21 honours ,and but for the arrival on the scene of Kris Radlinski Penny could posibly have made the full Great Britain squad.Some highlights from his career to date include Wires 1993/94 Championship chasing season he only missed three games at fullback.In the 1995/96 season he scored 16 tries which saw top the clubs try scoring list. In 200 he scored four tries against Leeds Rhinos,and a brilliant try against Bradford saw Warrington beat the Bulls in a memorable game Bradford were expected to win.At only 27 years old Warrington will be hoping Lee has plenty more years of service at Warrington.In 2002 Lee will be hoping to make his 250th appearance for the club and bring his try scoring tally to 100.
Warrington players Dale Laughton and Lee Briers paid a visit to Warrington's official charity the Ryefield Retirement Village,which is being built on part of the Rylands Recreational area where Rylands ARLFC play,the players pledges the support of the Wolves in assisting the residents raise money for the project.
10th January 2002 Lee Briers scores 16 points from full back as Warrington Wolves trounced St Helens 48-4 at Wilderspool last night,Briers scored 16 points which consisted of 1 try and 6 goals,new signings Sid Domic and Matty Rodwell both went over to score twice,other scorers Felton, Alstead (2) O'Reilly,Guisset,Higham, and Jon Clarke ,Saints solitary try was scored when the Wire were up 44-0.
Warrington announced today the sign Paul Marquet from the Newcastle Knights on a 12 month deal.Twice grand final winner Marquet, arrives at Warrington with the reputation of being one of the hardest players in the Australian game, Pepe as he is better known will be looking to let the players in GB know they have been in a game.
Sid Domic starting as stand off against Saints is seen as proof that numbers on players backs do not matter much to Coach Anderson,Anderson said"I am not adverse to changing players positions,it is something I have always done and players will need to adapt,not all players will be affected but key players will have to be prepared for a number of different roles as the season unfolds.Players will not be dropped just moved around to fit the strategy of any particular game"
Warrington Wolves Supporters Club hope to play a bigger part in the running of the Wire,voting is to take place on the 23rd January to change the constitution of the fans association.Discussions held have proposd that the club be re-invented as a friendly society and possibly be renamed "Warrington Wolves Supporters Trust Limited".This was suggested by the Goverment- Funded supporters direct which has helped to set up some very successful soccer supporters group nation wide.Suuporters Direct at present only applies to soccer clubs but Wolves officials and Warrington members of parliament are attempting to get increased government funding to enable the scheme to encompass Rugby League clubs.The meeting will be held at the Touchdown Club Wilderspool Stadium Jan 23rd 7.30pm.
Warrington Wolves Wilderschool project continues to go well,Schools enjoy a tour of the stadium and a coaching session making a full day out,dates are available are January 17th 24th February 13th 14th March 5th April 23rd 30th May 7th and 28th.Interested parties should contact; Wolves Education Officer Dave Prince on 01925635338.
Warrington Wolves Supporters Club are launching a scheme to fund up and coming players,anyone who signs up wiill pay a monthly contribution of £5 and will support the development coaching and promotion of young players from the Warington area,also included will be junion sides Service Area teams and Professional Wolves players.For more information write to ."Warrington Wolves supporters Club Wilderspool Causeway Fletcher street Warrington WA4 6PY".
Woolston Rovers are hoping that the Wire Barmy Army will turn out in numbers to support them when they play N.F.P.side Hunslet in the 3rd round of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain cup at Wilderspool on the 27th January kick off 3pm,they gained a lot of friends with their display last year in the cup when they went down to Warrington in the fourth round,Steve Anderson and David Plange are taking a training session with the Rovers on the Tuesday before the game.David Plange has in the past coached Hunslet and was a player there last year.
11th January 2002 Rumours are afoot that the on off groundshare between Warrington Wolves and Sale Sharks RU could be on again after the Wire obtained permission for a new stadium.Programme Fair On March 22nd the fair will held at the Touchdown Club Wilderspool Causeway,the day before Warrington's opening game of the season against Halifax.Times are 10am to 1pm admission fee 20p which will go towards raising funds for the Warrington service area RL junior representative teams which have replaced the schoolboy teams.Last year £180 was raised towards schools and amateur junior and youth rugby league and promoting referee recruitment.If you have any surplus programmes British Australian or W.H.Y. which can be sold at the event please send them to : Dave Prince c/o Warrington RLFC Wilderspool Stadium Fletcher Street Warrington WA4 6PY.If you wish to hire a table to sell programmes these are available for £5 contact D.Prince on 01925 635338.
17th January 2002 There will be no merger or loss of control of the new stadium should anyone become partners.Although we are seeking teams from football or rugby union to share the ground it will be on the basis they are tenants of Warrington Rugby League Football Club so said Wire Chief Executive Andy Gatcliffe. As reported on this page recently Warrington and Sale have been in contact ,interest in the stadium has been shown by soccer clubs from the Nationwide Conference League and a top level Football League Club has enquired about moving their reserve team to the new ground.
Warrington council commitment to the new stadium continues with them playing a key roll in the development of the project,Council Chief executive Stephen Broomhead called a meeting involving all partners including Tesco,Carlsberg Tetley and the Wolves .Future meetings will take place every four weeks ,the stadium group as it will known will consist of various departments such as planning and grant application ,sub groups have been set up to work on specific tasks as the foundations are built and keep the project moving .Peter Carey remains as the councils appointed director of the Wolves and will be working two days a week with Wire CE Andy Gatcliffe ,Their main focus is to secure grant applications to help fund the £8 million stadium Architect Group Frank Whittle Partnership said the design for the stadium is close to completion.
London Broncos have requested that Warrington play a Super League game in France Carcassonne is the suggested venue Saturday the 22nd of June kick off 7.05pm local time .Although Wire have given a positive response costings for the trip and other details are to be looked at before a definate go ahead is given .
Warrington Wolves Millers Sevens has attracted a record entry of 32 schools in the 25th year of the competition , dates of the first rounds are yet to be decided but must be completed before Easter full draw as follows
Padgate v St Margarets
Sacred heart v St Barnabus
Beaumont v Penketh
Oakwood v Great Sankey
Brookacre v Bradshaw
St Monicas v Old Hall
Cinnamon Brow v Longbarn
Birchwood v Stockton Heath
St Benedicts v St Bridgets
St Peters v Aughton St Michaels
Barrowhall v St Augustines
Gorse Covert v St Pauls
Appleton Thorn v St Philips
Latchford v Cherry Tree
Alderman Bolten v St Anns
the great Alex Murphy will be guest speaker at a sportmans dinner when Lee Penny kicks off his Testimonial year at the Touchdown Club on February 7th tickets are £25.00 inc four course meal . They are available from Steve Dillon on 01257425924 ,or Lee's website www.leepenny.co.uk
Mini rugby league will be back at Bank park Warrington on February 3rd ,ages between 5 and 11 years are welcome for a introduction to Rugby League start times 10.00am on Sundays and then 11'o'clock once the League starts up again .
Grappenhall Giants are looking to start under u8 u9 and u12 teams and also need two coaches training will be at Stockton Lane 6pm till 7pm Wednesday's Information 01925 417758 .
Warrington Wolves Wolfpack are holding a general meeting at the Touchdown Club on Tuesday 5th February 7pm .Warrington Wolves past players association are staging a sportsman dinner at the Carlberg Tetley Club Long Lane Orford on January 30th tickets are £25.00 and are available from Derek Clarke on 01925 814580 .
The Salford v Warrington friendly has been moved it will now be held at Wilderspool on the 25th February.
