21st August.Widnesians are none to pleased at the poster put out by Warrington to advertise the game with Widnes on Saturday KO 6:05 Sky TV. The poster is pictured opposite. Personally I think it is a red flag to a bull in what is a keenly fought game, off the field as well as on in the 70's, hopefully a poor excuse at humour will not take us back to those dark days.

Getting back to the field of play, Saturday's game promises to be a no holds barred encounter with Widnes hoping to avoid a season whitewash and the Wire hoping to put the poor display at London behind them. Cullen said " It's been a none event for a number of years for obvious reasons but people who are not from Warrington and Widnes are taking a look at this match with great interest because of the way the two teams have improved, it is now not simply another game somewhere in Cheshire. The whole of Rugby League is looking at this game and I think both clubs can take credit for that, The supporters the directors the management the directors the coaches and the players have all put this game back on the Rugby League Calendar."

New boy Daryll Cardiss will experience The Zoo on Saturday as a home team player, the 26 year old winger come fullback said" ,I have obviously never been involved in a Warrington Widnes derby but I have been told how big a game it always is."

Rob Smythe has been taken off crutches , the medical team found out that the the winger has a tear in the groin area, Cullen said" Rob is now off crutches but is in so much pain he can't even drive, the investigation are complete and Rob has to work with the medical team to manage the pain he is in and to progress his rehabilitation, there is still no definate diagnosis on how ling it will take.

Bevan Statue. The planning for the moving of the Bevan statue from Wilderspool to the site of the new stadium is underway, the council have agreed to fund the cost of the move about £10,000,a final position of the statue is being looked at.

18th August.London 19 Warrington 12.A poor performance from The Wire ensured that Warrington would not be making it 3 from 3 , Paul Culled said " we got what we deserved, we were very indisciplined and impatient and we paid the price, we have done ourselves no favours today but we have another 5 games to put it right.Tries London; Roy, Sykes, Goals : Thorman 5. T+ries Warrington; N.Wood, Appo, Goals: Appo 2. Half Time 14-8 attnd 2.916.

16th August. Senior Academy Play-Offs Warrington Wolves U21s v Widnes U21s Sunday 24th August 2003 @Wilderspool Stadium Kick Off 2.00PM (Time To Be Confirmed) Warrington Wolves U21’s have reached the play-offs after finishing 4th in the table overall. Warrington will take on 5th place Widnes in a home fixture on Sunday 24th August. Star for the future Richard Varkulis has scored impressive 27 tries in 21 appearances and lines up for his 22 consecutive appearance. Graham Scott has named his team to face Widnes: Lee Patterson Nick Owen Steve Warburton Richard Varkulis Dave Ashton Mike Govin Jamie Durbin Danny Heaton Shane Williams Lee Gardner Tommy Grundy Mike Callan Craig Farrimond Phil Braddish John Pickersgill Steve Pickersgill Chris Todd.

GRAHAM APPO CONFIRMED AS WARRINGTON’S COOLEST PLAYER! Graham Appo has been selected as Warrington’s ‘Coolest Player’, as part of a fans poll by Tetley’s, the official sponsors of the Tetley’s Rugby Super League, on the Super League website (www.superleague.co.uk). He will now go forward to represent the Wolves in a special Tetley’s ‘Head to Head’ challenge to find the ‘Coolest Player’ in Rugby League. The poll was to celebrate Tetley’s Extra Cold, which was unveiled last year, and is now installed in over 2500 outlets and is widely available again this summer. Fans were asked to vote for the ‘Coolest Player’ at their club – both on and off the pitch – with the winners being nominated for such things as how much the girls fancy them, how they refuse to get ruffled on the pitch and how they carry themselves off it through TV, radio and other promotional work. The full list of 12 players who will go through to the ‘Head to Head’ stage are: Bradford Bulls – Robbie Paul; Castleford Tigers – Michael Smith; Halifax – Johnny Lawless; Huddersfield Giants – Stanley Gene; Hull FC – Dean Treister; Leeds Rhinos – Matt Adamson; London Broncos – Russell Bawden; St Helens – Paul Sculthorpe; Wakefield Trinity Wildcats – Michael Korkidas; Warrington Wolves – Graham Appo; Widnes Vikings – Shane Millard; Wigan Warriors – Adrian Lam.

15th August.Paul Cullen has named a 19-man squad to face London Broncos this Sundy at Griffin Park, Kick-Off 3pm. 28. Daryl Cardiss 20. Dean Gaskell 4. Ben Westwood 13. Sid Domic 4. Brent Grose 1. Lee Penny 5. Graham Appo 7. Nat Wood 8. Nick Fozzard 17. Warren Stevens 9. Jon Clarke 19. Gary Hulse 14. Mark Gleeson 10. Mark Hilton 15. Jerome Guisset 16. Paul Wood 23. Mike Wainwright 18. Paul Noone 11. Darren Burns INJURIES -------- 2. Rob Smyth stomach injury has not featured in the line up since Rnd 20 v. Halifax 6. Lee Briers - broken scaphoid of the left wrist sustained in Rnd 18 v. London Broncos 12. Ian Sibbit back injury sustained in Rnd22 v. Castleford LOANS ----- 21. Matt Sturm has gone on loan to NFP club Whitehaven for a month. 24. Kevin Crouthers has gone on loan to NFP club Dewsbury Rams. MILESTONES ---------- 1. Lee Penny needs one more try for a club career century of touchdowns. 8. Nick Fozzard has made 49 appearances for the Wolves (38+11)

.Warrington Woolston Rovers v Huddersfield Underbank Rangers in the National League Three Play-Offs. Kick off is 2.30pm at Wilderspool Stadium. Rovers had a morale boosting 44-14 win last Saturday against South London Storm to cement third place in the league going into the play-offs. Huddersfield comes to Wilderspool on the back of three victories, which saw them snatch sixth place. The winners will play either St Albans Centurions or Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks in the next play-off round. If Warrington win that will take place at Wilderspool Stadium next SUNDAY (24th August), 2.30pm kick off. Admission for tomorrow’s game is £2 for Adults and £1 for Concessions.

14th. August. Warrington Wolves have signed Daryl Cardiss, 26 from Halifax from now until the end of the 2004 Season. Daryl, a fullback/winger leaves Halifax as a free agent and looks set to start in the Wolves clash against London Broncos on Sunday 17th August at Brentford. Cardiss is a former Wigan player who was a squad member for the 1998 Challenge Cup Final and Premiership Final and has spent the last five seasons with Halifax. Cardiss appeared for Yorkshire in the 2001 Origin game and trained with the GB squad for the Australia Test Series in that year. Daryl has made 110 career appearances scoring 43 tries and 4 goals. Head Coach Paul Cullen commented on his newest recruit, "He offers pace, agility, versatility and experience and we offer a go-forward that should help him fulfill his potential." ian sibbet looks set to miss the game with London Broncos at the weekend after picking up a back injury against Castleford, good news is that Lee Briers is coming on well and there is a faint chance he could be back for the play offs assuming Wire stay in the top six.

Paul Cullen is pleased with the way the team is coping without Lee Briers . He said "Much has been said not by us about the loss of key players in key positions, one thing that was pleasing against Castleford was the shape and structure that Warrington employed without the man who controls our shape and structure. " That's a great sign for us as we go into the play off contention games, to be playing that type of football with such control , without Lee Briers is a mark of respect to Darren Burns , Graham Appo and Nathan Wood.

Telecoms giant Vodaphone have named their new Customer Contact Centre at Birchwood The Bevan Wing in honour of the Wire legend Brian Bevan, The centre was officially opened by current Wire winger Dean Gaskell.

12th August. Reports are suggesting that Warrington have signed Halifax fullback Daryl Cardiss subject to the player passing a medical. A spokesperson at the club would not confirm or deny the report.

10th August. Castleford 16 Warrington 29.This was a game Warrington had to win to have any chance of getting into the top six, and as the score shows win it they did with an excellent display of open rugby league, Castleford opened the scoring with a try by Paul Mellor, Healey missed the kick, two goals by Appo brought the scores level.Wire went into the lead when Paul; Wood went over Appo missed the conversion, Nathan Wood spotted a gap in the Castleford line and scooted through for a well taken try Appo added the goal, one minute after the restart Domic went over Appo missed the goal, a penalty on 50 minutes by Appo was followed by a try from Cas scored by Johnson, Healey added the conversion, a penalty fron Appo was followed by a Cas try by Godwin, healey added the two, a try by Brent Grose goaled by Appo on 70 minutes victory was made certain when Nathen Wood dropped a goal on 76 minutes .Warrington Tries :Paul Wood 4, Nathan Wood, Domic, Grose.Goals Appo 6, Drop goals , I Nathan Wood. Castleford Tries: Mellor, Johnson, Godwin, Goals :Healey 3. H/T 4-14, Attn, 5,940.

8th August.The following squad has been named for Sundays game against Castleford Tigers, Kick-Off 3.30pm 1. Lee Penny 4. Ben Westwood 12. Ian Sibbit 3. Brent Grose 20. Dean Gaskell 7. Nat Wood 5. Graham Appo 19. Gary Hulse 16. Paul Wood 9. Jon Clarke 14. Mark Gleeson - returns from a groin injury sustained in Rnd 18. v London Bronco 8. Nick Fozzard - returns from an eye injury sustained in Rnd. 20 v Halifax 10. Mark Hilton 15. Jerome Guisset 17. Warren Stevens 23. Mike Wainwright 11. Darren Burns 13. Sid Domic - returns from an ankle injury sustained in Rnd.19 v Hull FC .INJURIES -------- 2. ROB SMYTH stomach injury has not featured in the line up since Rnd 20 v. Halifax 6. LEE BRIERS - broken scaphoid of the left wrist sustained in Rnd 18 v. London Broncos 18. PAUL NOONE rib injury picked up in Rnd 21 v Wigan Warriors .

Warrington Confident of Full-House Farewell Warrington Wolves are expecting a ‘sell-out’ for the final Tetley’s Super League game at Wilderspool on Sunday 21st September 2003 against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, kick off 3.00pm. Tickets are selling fast for all areas of the ground there are only single seats in the Brian Bevan Stand available. Media and PR Officer Gina Coldrick, "We are urging people to buy their tickets in advance for this game to avoid disappointment if this fixture becomes an all-ticket game. Tickets for the Fletcher Street End are in demand and we have very few tickets left for the Brian Bevan Stand. We are looking to go to capacity against Wakefield and if ticket sales are any indication we will reach this target easily." All season ticket/ticket holders are guaranteed entry. Ticket Prices Brian Bevan Stand: Adult £17 Concession £8 Ground: Adult £12 Concession £6 .Source wolfmail.

7th August. The Wolves are delighted to announce the signing of St. George Illawara Dragon’s front rower, Chris Leikvoll. Leikvoll, 27 who has agreed a 2-year contract, is an EU Passport holder, as his father is English from the North-east of England, therefore making Chris exempt from the overseas quota. He has made 110 NRL appearances for Illawarra/St George Illawarra since his debut in 1997 against the Souths. Chris’s career highlight to date is a Grand Final appearance against Brisbane Broncos in 1999. Leikvoll is a Dapto junior who then went on to become the Steelers’ Under-21’s player of the year in 1996 before going professional in 1997. At 1.94cm and 105kg, Leikvoll is expected to add even more ‘beef’ to an already solid Wolves pack. Chris and his wife Sharee are expecting their second child this Christmas. Coach Paul Cullen commented, "The driving force behind this recruitment is positional. Chris Leikvoll presents a frame of 1.94cm and 105kg that can play before the line on impact and through the line. He has learnt his trade in the toughest and fastest competition in the world of rugby league and will add a dynamic impact to the way that we will go forward."He added "In general my thoughts are to retain the majority of the present squad for next season and to add to that from above and I think we have achieved that with this signing.We are delighted with this capture." "I am sure there are more signings to come and this is simply the first piece of the jigsaw,I intend to improve the Warrington playing squad for next year, I don't think we will get everyone we want but I don't think any club will." Cullen has added Sid Domic , Mark Gleeson and Nick Fozzard for the game with Castleford but will delay naming the full squad till later.

Chief executive Andy Gartside has revealed that the club is near to agreement for the naming rights on 3 of the 4 stands at the new ground, they have teamed up with Westbrook based Viv'id creative communications who join other companies working with the Wolves on securing Stadium naming rights which will be worth £750,000 over 10 years, the club are at present in talks with 2 or 3 companies.

The Brian Bevan statue is sure to be moved to a site at the new stadium after it was revealed that 2 out of 3 voters were in favour of it being moved, the council have said that they will foot the bill for the move once the poll closes and a suitable position is found.

Warrington should have beaten Wigan by a country mile so says Wire coach Paul Cullen, lack of composure was the key ,Cullen Said "In a game of rugby league you have to control three factors , yourself the opposition and the officials. we did that for the majority of the game despite playing against a very good side with a serious point to prove,you have to have a lot of ability to completely outplay Wigan and the vast majority of our players excelled themselves,we turned Wigan inside out and created at least six clear breaks that we did not convert,"He added " To their credit Wigan scrambled very well ,it was a major defensive effort from the Warriors but it needed to be because the Warrington attack was that good, we operate a no excuses policy and we got exactly what we deserved like at their place earlier in the season, we took Wigan to the wire but we were not quite good enough to beat them.

Rob Smythe has been on crutches since the 28th July due to a very painful stomach complaint, to make matters worse he has also picked got a tooth infection. Paul Cullen said "He finished the Halifax game in good health went through rehab and our Medical screening on the Monday without any problems , but was then taken bad on Monday night. He was rushed to Wigan Hospital A & E he was later discharged but has been on crutches since, investigations are continuing.

Warrington fans have landed a coup, they have arranged for a panel of Rugby League top men to a fans forum on September 18th at Wilderspool stadium's touchdown club 7.30pm , Richard Lewis and David Waite have accepted an invite to appear on the panel.

Woolston Rovers play their last fixture via South London Sharks before the playoffs at Wilderspool Causeway 10th August KO 4pm, third place Rovers need to win to secure home advantage against the sixth place side.

O.T.Salmon have been caught in traps and released at Woolston Weir for the first time in 100 years, proof that the River Mersey is no longer the open sewer it was 15 years ago.Good news wow .

3rd August.Warrington 16 Wigan 18. This was a game Warrington could have won and should have won .Warrington started well but only had a Graham Appo penalty to show as Wigan responded with a Gareth Hook try. The Wolves took a deserved lead through Nathan Wood's second-half try and Appo then converted his own touch down to put the Wire 14-6 ahead. Three blunders by Lee Penny cost Wire the game, 3 times he could have passed to men in the clear but took the wrong option in trying to score himself.Andy Farrell converted a Craig Smith try in the last 2 minutes to hand Mike Gregory a winning start as Wigan coach. Warrington Tries: Tries: N Wood, Appo: Goals: Goals: Appo (4) Wigan Tries: Hock Dallas C Smith .Goals: Farrell (3) . H/T: 2-6 Att: 8,705 .

2nd August. Wire team v Wigan. 5. Graham Appo 1. Lee Penny 2. Rob Smyth 12. Ian Sibbit 5. Brent Grose 4. Ben Westwood 20. Dean Gaskell 7. Nat Wood 26. Jamie Durbin 19. Gary Hulse 16. Paul Wood 9. Jon Clarke 14. Mark Gleeson 8. Nick Fozzard 10. Mark Hilton 18. Paul Noone 15. Jerome Guisset 17. Warren Stevens 23. Mike Wainwright 11. Darren Burns 13. Sid Domic