January 2003

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27th January.Wire meet London Broncos on Sunday in a friendly it will be the last game before they entertain Bradford Bulls at Wilderspool in the Powergen Challenge Cup on the Weekend of 8th and 9th February.

23rd January. Wolves have released Forwards Dean Busby and Dale Laughton Just four weeks before the start of the New Super League season. Laughton, 32 who played for Scotland in the 2000 World Cup, has been struggling with a back injury and made just 18 appearances last season. Welsh international Busby, 29, started only seven games in 2002 afteres have released Forwards Dean Busby and Dale Laughton Just four weeks before the start of theNew Super League season. Laughton, 32, being troubled by a foot injury. The club has agreed settlements with both players.

The Wire flew into Lanzarote in the Canary Islands today, which are 140 kms from the West coast of North Africa. After a few weeks of dismal weather in the UK the pitches of the Club La Santa sporting complex will be a welcome change to Paul Cullen and the team. Cullen is intent on concentrating on speed and agility work, and position specific game play, Cullen said “Never before has the club gone away to warm weather training and played within 72 hours of getting back off the plane”.

“It is not a week’s holiday or a reward in the sun, it is warm weather preparation to a very important game against London Broncos on 2^nd February, leading to a more important game against whoever we draw in the fourth round of the Challenge cup.” My policy is to hit the ground running, I can’t expect any team to wait around for us to get our act together”. “It’s like a 400 metre race, you do not start slow and catch up on the last bend, you start fast and hang on and that’s our intention.

It was in January last year that former coach Steve Anderson stated that the team were a month away from match fitness, and it would take time fir the new style of play he was introducing to work, well we all know what happened the new style of play never got going and neither did The Wire, and it was a battle against relegation from day one, Cullen is hoping to be avoid that scenario this year and the win at Widnes gave him a good start, let’s hope it carries on that way.

16th January. Paul Cullen is taking two of the younger players who showed up well against Widnes to the Wire training camp in Lanzarote. Nick Owen and Jamie Durbin will be joining the first team in the Canary Islands from January 23-30.Others going are Kevin Crouthers, Brent Grose, Ian Sibbet, Graham Appo, Lee Briers, Gary Hulse, Nick Fozzard, Jon Clarke, Warren Stevens, Darren Burns, Mike Wainwright, Sid Domic, Ben Westwood, Paul Noone, Mike Callen, Paul wood, Dean Gaskell, and Mark Gleeson.

Others not attending are Lee Penny whose wife is due to give birth, Mark Hilton degree studies, Rob Smythe and Jerome Guisset who are both in Australia for the World sevens, Nathan Wood and Matt Sturm who are recovering from injuries and Dale Laughton and Dean Busby who are still to recover from long term injuries. Paul Cullen Said” The 20 man squad will form the basis of the team to play London Broncos on the 2nd February plus Lee Penny and Mark Hilton will be added.

Lee Penny says working with Paul Cullen has given the squad a new enthusism he cites the "winner" tactics that Cullen is instilling into the squad,when Lee joined the Wire in 1992 Cullen was already an established player wo was known for hard workpassionate and determined forward play, it is this that he is working into the team. Tony O'Brien the team conditioner rates a mention says Lee "Tony's got the boys conditioned well, last season we never did much condition work we did mostly ball work and where we finished in the table showed how good it was.We have set our standards higher this year." Wolves have cancelled next weeks open day and will not be rescheduling the friendly against Leigh.

Warrington past players are holding their annual dinner on the 29th January it will take place at Tetley Walkers Club on Long Lane Warrington,tickets are £25 and include a meal and entertainment,contact Dave Clarke on 01925 814580 for tickets, the event is open to any supporters to wish to attend.

Warrington Wolves are inviting local companies to get involved with building of the new stadium, in conjunction with Barr the main contractors companies locally are being asked to bid to supply building materials like steel metalwork concrete scaffolding brickwork cladding,stadium fittings such as floodlights seats turnstiles CCTV cameras paint tiles plumbing lifts doors securuty equipment etc.If you are interesting in tendering contact Sue Matthews at the club on 01925635338

14th January. Wire have cancelled the open day set for Sunday due to damage to the pitch caused by the recent bad weather, a new date has been set which is 2^nd February.

13th January.The Wire are taking entries for the 2003 Coca Cola Miller sevens, Warrington are asking primary schools to submit teams for the event which will be run in March most of the games will be played at Wilderspool Stadium. To book please contact Dave Prince on 01925 635338.Stadium tours and classroom activity bookings are still available at Widerspool Stadium, dates are January 15th, 16th and 30^th, February 27^th, March 4th, 20th, 27th, May 15^th and July 23^rd. Again contact Dave Prince on 01925635338.

11th January.The game against Leigh is again postponed due to a frozen pitch.

9th January.Nathan Wood will be missing from the Wire line-up when Warrington enter the TXU Challenge Cup in February, he has undergone surgery to clean out a knee and ankle whilst he was home in Australia. Head Coach Paul Cullen said, “ I see his return to the pitch being in the early part of Super League but until he arrives back in Britain it can only be a conservative estimate. Half Backs Gary Hulse and Jamie Durbin are expected to vie to be his replacement in his absence.Someone already for action is Brent Grose; Brent is expected to start at centre against Leigh at Wilderspool on Sunday. The 23 year old who is a recent signing from South Sydney Rabbitohs flew into Britain on 2^nd January has settled into his Stockton Heath home and is looking forward to turning out for the Wire, He said “I want to get out on the pitch so that I can learn and get a feel for the ground and the atmosphere, I’ve heard that the fans are pretty loud and that is something I am really looking forward to”. He added “I will not be going out there with any big ideas the trial games are learning curves for me as I’m still finding my feet plus my fitness is not quite there yet.Mike Wainwright along with Aussie pair Sid Domic and Darren Burns can all expect a run out.Wire Squad to face Leigh Sunday KO 3pm, Lee Penny, Nick Owen, Rob Smyth, Kevin Crouthers, Brent Grose, Ben Westwood, Sid Domic, Lee Briers, Gary Hulse Jamie Durbin, Warren Stevens, Paul Wood, Mark Hilton, Mike Callan, Jon Clarke, Mark Gleeson, Darren Burns Mike Wainwright, Paul Noone.

The Big Time beckons for amateur side Woolston Rovers it will be announced in the Houses of Parliament today Thursday that they will be one of ten teams that will form the new National League Three this summer that is part of the Rugby Football Leagues restructuring of the game in Britain. They will be known as Warrington Woolston Rovers and they will also be playing their home games at Warrington Wolves ground Wilderspool Stadium.Rovers who lost their clubhouse in a fire last year will also compete in the Barla National Conference in the winter months. The new division is one below the former Northern Ford Premiership these teams will split and form National League One and Two, Coventry and Hemel are two other clubs that are thought to have been admitted both are from outside the traditional heartland of the game. Officials from the club plus team captain Liam McCarthy have been invited to join RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis in London who will unveil full membership details.It is expected that games will be played on a Saturday starting on the 3^rd May, there is a possibility that Rovers could join Warrington at the new stadium if they progress through the divisions, although at this moment there is no automatic promotion from League 3 to league two. Woolston play West Bowling from Bradford this Saturday at Bennett’s Rec KO 2pm. And a meeting with a professional side is coming up when they meet Dewsbury Rams in the third round of the TXU Energi Challenge Cup on January 26^th.

7th January.Rob Smythe has been picked for World Sevens in Sydney on February 1 & 2:Full Squad A Brocklehurst Halifax, P Cantillon Widnes, G Ellis Wakefield, A Farrell Wigan, L Gilmour Bradford, R Horne Hull, D Orr Castleford, K Senior Leeds, R Smyth Warrington, A Stewart St Helens .

6th January. Leigh game was cancelled due to frost. The game has been re-arranged for Sunday, January 12 at 3pm. All tickets purchased for the original game are still valid.

2nd January 2003.Wire coach Paul Cullen was well pleased with the youngsters he played against Widnes on Boxing Day ,so much so that established first teamers such as Lee Briers, Matt Sturm and John Clarke didn't get a look in.Scrum Half Jamie Durbin was particularly impressive the 18 year old already has Lancashire under 17 honours and England schoolboy rugby union honours and his performance against Widnes promises a bright future,the Widnes based player has been on Warrington's books since he was 12 years old, he covered the field well against Widnes his ball distribution was excellent and he finished off a fine performance by scoring the last Warrington try.Cullen was well pleased with the players performance,about other players who caught his eye He Said" Mark Gleeson dominated the ruck area Paul Noone controlled the game at loose forward Gary Hulse and Durbin provided the service for the backs ,they were all outstanding." "There was a lot of talent on the field and we had five senior players in the stand and five en-route from Australia so it augers well." " We got everything out of that game that we wanted, no injuries a win and a progressive and capable performance to take into the next game against Leigh. Nick Fozzard has seen a specialist about his continuing groin problem and has been taken off running duties to allow the problem to settle down.

The win was better than the score suggests Wire were 34 - 0 in front with 20 minutes to go and Noone and Smythe had missed 5 shots at goal between them ,Widnes came back into the game after Cullen took off his more experienced players plus Widnes used 20 players to Warrington's 17.

Wolves team against Widnes were as follows :Lee Penny, Rob Smyth, Kevin Crouthers, Ben Westwood, Nick Owen, Gary Hulse, Jamie Durbin, Mark Hilton, Mark Gleeson, Warren Stevens, Jerome Guisset, Paul Wood, Paul Noone, Subs used :Tommy Gandy, Craig Farrimond, Mike Callen, Mike Govin. Wolves Scorers ; Tries Smyth 2, Owen , Penny, Crouthers , Westwood, Durbin, Goals; Smyth 2, Owen 1.Wire FM Challenge Match Thursday December 26th 2002 Final Score Widnes 16 Warrington 34, HT. 0-18 Attendance 6,608 ..Referee Ian Smith.

Peter O'Dea 2002