October 2002

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31st October. Ex Wire player Ian Sibbit is on his way back to Warrington on a 2 year contract, Sibbet who left the Wire earlier in the year to go to Australia and play for Melbourne Storm,a reshufle at the club has resulted in a number of players being released.Cullen quickly jumped in to secure Sibbet for the Wire.Paul's career at Warrington started when he was taken out of the academy and put in the Under21 team at 18 by Paul Cullen,who at the time worked with Darryl Van De Veldt ,his best season at Warrington was during 2001 in that time he played 27 games and scored 13 tries ,in total he played 46 games for the Wire first team.Although shocked at the suddenness of his departure from the Storm he is happy to be back at Warrington "It's a great club that can only go forward specially with the new stadium on the way and with new coach Paul Cullen,I think we are in for a good year "

Lee Briers will be the only Wire player on the field when Wales take on New Zealand on Sunday ,Briers will hoping to make a good impression and show David Waite that he was wrong to miss him out of the GB squad.

Brent Grose took time out from backpacking round Europe to have a look at his new club,Brent who prides himself on putting 110% into every game was impressed by the facilities at the club and the background staff but he was mostly impressed to be playing under Paul Cullen,"He is a genuine and honest guy and I am sure he can teach me a few things to improve my game "said Grose.he will be back at Warrington later in the year.

The Wire return to pre season training next week,under the control of Paul Derbyshire and the new fitness controller Tony O' Brien ,they will be working to a plan laid out by coach Paul Cullen who will be away with England A,all players will not be at the start of the new regime as a number are with the Welsh squad and a few overseas players have not yet reported to the club.

28th October. Centre Ben Westwood has been given a reprimand by the Rugby Football League after testing positive for a banned substance. The former Wakefield back was named after it was revealed that an unnamed player had provided a urine sample which contained ephedrine.The League cited "extenuating circumstances" for their decision not to take further action. It has been suggested Westwood may have taken the substance inadvertently.

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Westwood is expected to join coach Paul Cullen on the England A tour of the Pacific.

Dean Busby is doubtful for the Wales v New Zealand game on Sunday after picking up a mystery foot injury,he had to sit out the Welsh squad's training session in Widnes.

24th October.Paul Noone ,Paul Wood and Ben Westwood will be waiting with anticipation to see if they are selected to accomplany coach Paul Cullen on theAustralia Fiji and Tongan tour this winter as part of England A's Squad. Wire coach Cullen has ben impressed by the way the 3 players have kept themselvesd fit since the end of the season and if the selection panel take into account their attitude they could be on the tour.Cullen said " If they are selected they will be playing top class rugby which should bode well for next season.Westwood's selection it seems hinges on a drug irregularity investigation which is in progress at this time.Cullen will be assistant to England coach John Kear.

Lee Briers and Dean Busby are celebrating their inclusion in the Welsh Squad to meet the New Zealanders at the Millenium Stadium Cardiff on November 3rd,Briers Wire captain said"I am delighted to be selected again it is a great honour to represent my country against the Kiwis I am relishing the opportunity.

Woolston Rovers.Latchford Albion and Rylands under 14 teams will play their next Northwest Counties Premier Diviion Match at Bennetts Rec to help raise funds for the Rovers whose clubhouse and changing facilities were destroyed in a fire on October 9th.A bucket collection will be held and match official will be NWC David Lowe who will donate his fee to the fund.The match via Latchford will be held under floodlights on Tuesday 29th ko 7.00pm all support is welcome

18th October.Paul Wood has ended any speculation about his future by agreeing a one year extension to his contract,it was rumoured that his home town club Wigan Warriors were after the player.Warington have announced the design of next years strip,Primrose and Blue hoops reminiscent of 1991 is the home kit whilst the alternative kit will be mailnly silver and grey with purple patches.As reported earlier Danny Maera and Wade Rasmussen are on a six month course which will include coaching in the Wolves Promary link and Try Hard schemes for primary and secondary schools,they will also be turning out for Crosfields ARLFC at the weekends.Wolves special projects officer Brian Chambers said "At the weekend the guys started their senior coach qualifications which they will have completed by the end of October".Paul Cullen also quashed any rumours about the Wire being interested in Salford's Damien Gibson,"He is not in my plans "said Cullen.

11th October.New Zealand coaches Danny Maera and Wade Rasmussen have arrived at Warrington as part of a six month exchange programme.

4th October.Paul Cullen’s ethos for Super League 8 is we must learn to fight, the Wire Coach has promised the players a long hard close season as he works to get the team fit physically and mentally for the coming season.

Cullen told players staff friends and sponsors it is going to be hard work “ As coaching staff we have to provide the facilities for the players to express themselves, we have to make sure we do not have an off season that the players don’t like don’t want and don’t use.” “There is enough talent at the Warrington club that has been put together over the past few years to take this club forward, it is not all doom and gloom and negativity because if we allow that attitude we will be in the same dogfight that the club has been in this year”.” We have to take this bunch of players onward and there is enough talent to do so. Preseason programmes are in place for the players until full training resumes in November. Cullen expects the players to respect the fans in the new season. He said “Warrington Rugby League Football Club has been a great enjoyment for me over the years, I am honoured to be a past player at Warrington and there is great tradition in this.” “ It is a tradition that has to be respected. Unfortunately the Warrington side of this year have not respected that, you have to be worthy of putting the jersey on, whether it is at Warrington or any other club.

I’m very excited about the prospects for next year; the only pressure on me is the pressure of expectation that we put on ourselves. It has been very embarrassing over the past few weeks, in that we played very poorly in some games and yet got a standing ovation, it churned the stomach.” We have to take the standard of play higher to respect the support that we have had this year.

Refusing to speculate on league positions for next year He said however “We’ve just got to learn to fight and learn to win, it’s an analogy but it is a bit like the Boomtown Rats nobody likes Mondays, we lost a lot of games in 2002 and had some shocking Mondays on the back of it, if you are getting continually bashed morale is affected and then people do not like going to work.

“There will be no false hype, “ said Cullen “or top six play offs it’s all cheap sound bites which mean nothing we have simply got to learn to fight.

The Clubhouse and changing rooms used by Woolston Rovers ARLFC was completely destroyed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, it is thought that car thieves who had taken a vehicle from the Padgate area had crashed the vehicle into the clubhouse and a fire followed. Attempts to play this weekends game against Oulton Raiders has failed as Warrington RLFC’ ground Wilderspool could not be marked out in time as all staff are unavailable at this time and also Safety Stewards would have been needed. Woolston Rovers all ages plus soccer teams have all the pitches available but no changing facilities, it is hoped community groups in the Padgate area will come to the assistance of this thriving sports community in the coming weeks.