November 2004
25th November 'We know we are on the verge of something special and we don't want to let this opportunity slip us by.' Those are the words of Warrington Wolves' world class centre Martin Gleeson on the eve of Great Britain's shot at Gillette Tri-Nations glory over Australia. The Lions have not defeated their archest of enemies in a series on British soil for 45 years but Gleeson and his teammates can put the record straight before a sell-out 39,000 Elland Road crowd in Leeds on Saturday, kick-off 6.15pm. Gleeson, who has become Warrington's 50th first class Great Britain international during this series, added: "It would be an unbelievable achievement to win the tournament and all the boys are very excited about the prospect and feeling confident. "It's been a rollercoaster year with winning the Challenge Cup with Saints and then getting banned but Saturday can top off a controversial year for me. "And a win would be the perfect springboard into my first season with Warrington Wolves. "But it's going to take a lot of effort from us. We must play smart and improve on our completion rate from the win against New Zealand at the weekend because we know Australia will be fired up from our win against them a fortnight ago." Gleeson's four GB appearances in the tournament onting irregularities nave marKea nis progression to a return to top form. The way he made breaks and set up two tries for his Lions winger Brian Carney against the Kiwis in Hull on Saturday was outstanding and his Wolves coach Paul Cullen has been mightily impressed with his acquisition. Cullen said: "His return to football at the highest level is absolutely remarkable. The quality of his play and clarity of his thought is evident. The way he has created space and supplied possession to Brian Carney is of the highest order. "In the last game between Great Britain and New Zealand, another of our new sign-ings Logan Swann operated as a right sided second row forward for the Kiwis, which is where he will play for us. "Swann was going up against Britain's left sided defence of Andrew Farrell, Keith Senior and Stuart Reardon and still delivered some quality possession and set up quality movement. "So Swann operating on the right for us with Gleeson and Briers on that side as pivot and Henry Fa'afili on the outside edge, is a mouthwatering prospect for Warrington Wolves next season." Swann and fellow Kiwi international Fa'afili flew home to New Zealand for a break this week and will be back in Warrington shortly after Christmas. Wolves have revealed this week that every opportunity will be given to Paul Noone to put a marker on the loose forward's role in 2005 while under 18s Academy Grand Final winger Phil Berry is to be given every chance to take the step up of replacing John Wilshere in the Super League running. Berry is currently training with the first team. Berry and fellow Academy Grand Final winners Craig Ashall, Chris Hull, Ben Harrison and Anthony Jerram, plus young full time professionals Steve Pickersgill, Simon Grix and Andy Bracek, are preparing to figure in Wolves' matches over the festive period. Pickersgill's older brother John is also in contention. Hooker Mark Gleeson, forward Paul Wood and half back Briers will not play in Wolves' friendlies against Widnes on Boxing Day, Barrow on January 2 or Whitehaven on January 16. A decision will be made after the Lanzarote training camp in January as to whether or not they will figure in the final trial game against Salford on January 30. Gleeson and Wood are nine weeks on from shoulder reconstructions and Briers is nine weeks on from a finger reconstruction. Source Warrington Guardian Mike Parsons
Wolves Host Womens UEFA 2005 The Football Association has today announced its plans to bring a prestigious European sporting event to the North West next June. The 6th UEFA European Women's Championship will be staged from June 5-19 2005 with the Halliwell Jones stadium hosting three Group B games and a Semi-Final tie. Featuring eight teams in two groups, 15 matches will be staged at five different venues across the North West with live TV coverage in 54 countries via Eurosport and on an additional UK network to be confirmed. England qualifies automatically for the eight-nation Finals and could line-up against World Cup Finalists Germany or Sweden. Denmark, Finland, France and Norway have also qualified, with the final UEFA Play-Off between Italy and the Czech Republic this Saturday. "We are delighted that The Halliwell Jones Stadium, home of the Warrington Wolves, has been selected to host four games from the 2005 UEFA European Women's Championship. The fact that UEFA and The FA have duly selected The Halliwell Jones Stadium for this prestigious tournament provides the Club with an excellent opportunity to showcase its state-of-the-art facilities on an international level," commented Andy Gatcliffe, Chief Executive, Warrington Wolves. The City of Manchester Stadium will host the opening England game on Sunday June 5th and will also host the Final Draw on Wednesday January 19th with representatives from all eight competing nations present. Blackburn Rovers FC will host England's next two group games and will also be the setting for the Final on Sunday June 19th. Blackpool FC completes the Group A stadia and will host three group games. Completing the host venues for Group B alongside Warrington Wolves is Preston North End's Deepdale ground. Deepdale will also host three Group B games and one Semi-Final tie. UEFA President Lennart Johansson said: "Staging the Women's EURO 2005 in England, where women's football is the top female sport is a great opportunity. I am sure that The FA and the North West region will deliver a highly professional event, promoting women's football as a skilful and competitive game and enhancing its popularity in the UK and across Europe." The FA Chairman Geoff Thompson added: "It is a great honour for The Football Association to be hosting such a prestigious tournament. Women's Football is the fastest growing sport and also the top female sport in England, and The FA is delighted to show our commitment to the women's game by hosting this event." Women's Euro 2005 is the first major women's football tournament to be played in the UK and it gives The FA the opportunity to drive participation in the game. Football is currently the top female participation sport in England and is particularly popular with girls, with research showing 1.6 million girls under 15 played football in 2003-04 (BMRB, 2004), while 101,000 girls and women are now involved in regular affiliated football competition. Tickets for the event will go on sale shortly after the Final Draw on 19th January. The prices will be affordable for families, with special discounts for all football clubs and schools.
Wolves are Well Fit Two of Warrington Wolves' finest, Captain Lee Briers and new signing, Toa Kohe Love proved that they are Well Fit! this week, when they joined their Coach, Paul Cullen and young people from St Alban's School in Warrington to show their support for the British Heart Foundation's (BHF's) Well Fit! Campaign. Well Fit! is a major celebrity-backed campaign to get young people in the North West Well Fit! The campaign, targeted at the UK's 11 and 12 year olds joining Secondary School this year, aims to tackle the growing problem of physical inactivity¹, one of the major factors in the increasing prevalence of obesity in young people. Club Captain Lee Briers commented, "Getting children active at all ages is important but maintaining their interest is an ongoing problem and if Warrington Wolves can help tackle child obesity by encouraging children to become Well Fit! By playing rugby league or another sport, then we have achieved a winning result.! So kids get 'Well Fit!'" The future forecast is bleak - if the current rapid acceleration in childhood obesity continues, at least half of the children in England will be obese by 2020². This will spell disaster for the heart health of future generations as obesity significantly increases the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease. To get the message across, the BHF is launching a: * Lifestyle magazine with celebrity interviews and free CD Rom *New report on the 'Couch Kids' epidemic sweeping the nation *Support pack for teachers *Parental advice booklet called 'Get Kids on the Go' The youth magazine, called 'Well Fit!', will be packed full of information about fun ways to get active as well celebrity gossip and interviews 'Well Fit!' is available free to secondary school starters from their school and comes packaged with a CD Rom, giveaways and competitions. An interactive youth website, yheart.net, has also been launched and contains special Well Fit! games, competitions and celebrity interviews for the class of 2004.
Wire are to release winger John Wilshere on medical grounds and move back within the wage boundaries set by the Rugby Football League. Super League clubs are only allowed to give 20 players an annual salary of £20,000 or more but Wolves had committed to paying 21 first teamers that amount before Wilshere's shock departure. The 26-year-old Papau New Guinea international has played only eight games since joining Wolves from Aussie outfit St George Illawarra at the end of the 2002 season. Wolves are concerned by his longstanding knee problem and have decided to terminate his contract. They are entitled to do so as Wilshere was injured for more than six months of his debut season with the club.. But Wilshere has a year left on his contract and is therefore entitled to a 'pay off release'. Wolves coach Paul Cullen said: "We are currently negotiating a settlement with the player. "It is a great shame because his Warrington Wolves career never really got going. He has had terrible luck with injuries and I would like to thank him for the work that he did for us and wish him well for the future. "He is as disappointed as we are that he will he moving on." Wilshere's departure looks set to leave Dean Gaskell and Henry Fa'afili as Wolves' first choice wingers next season. . Gaskell is a product of Wolves' Academy set-up while New Zealand international Fa'afili was recruited towards the end of last season when it became apparent that Wilshere would play no further part. Cullen said: "Henry and Dean are our most natural wingers but Brent Grose, Ben Westwood, Graham Appo and Daryl Cardiss can also play there. "They all offer different styles and different options so I won't be looking to recruit another winger. I will go with the talent that we've already got." Wilshere signed for Wolves with a reputation for being a deadly finisher and a menace under the high bomb. He scored five tries in his first seven outings before breaking his cheekbone at London. The injury sidelined him for six weeks and Wilshere then suffered knee ligament damage in his comeback game at home to St Helens. The injury proved to be far more stubborn than the club had anticipated and he eventually had an operation near the end of the season after a cartilage tear was diagnosed. Wilshere has yet to make a full recovery and Cullen said: "John is back home in Australia. He has not made sufficient recovery from a very troublesome knee operation. "The diagnosis of the injury kept changing as he failed to recover from the injury and it would have been a risk to keep him at the club next season."
17th November.Standing Tall - The Tawera Nikau Story Now in the Warrington Wolves Wolfware Shop at £15, Tel: (01925) 248888. Tawera Nikau is an exceptional athlete and veteran of international rugby league at the highest levels, with a faithful following of fans in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. His career on the field has been spectacular, but events off the field have created an air of intrigue, especially his well-documented antagonism towards fellow Kiwi international Richie Blackmore - to the extent that he refused a spot on the New Zealand team if it meant playing alongside Blackmore. The tragic suicide of his wife, Lutetia and his recent motorcycle accident which resulted in the amputation of his right leg, have seen him occupy more than a few headlines. Undaunted, he has risen above his own personal loss and tragedy to become an inspirational figure, through his fight back to physical fitness and competitive sport, setting himself a personal goal to become a Paralympian, to his work with troubled youth in his hometown of Huntley, NZ, through the funding and establishment of a gym and training facility. He is also giving something back to league, and is coaching a Huntley-based team in the national league competition in 2004. His story of life at the top of his sport, and the personal cost of his career and the challenges he has had to overcome, make for a gripping and revealing biography of an inspirational New Zealander.
11th November.-TOA Kohe-Love will relish the challenge of trying to force his way into what he believes to be the best three-quarter line in Super League. He says that competition for places has been the key ingredient that Warrington have been missing in recent years. And now that they have it he fancies Warrington to not only make the top six next season - but to make the top four! The 28-year-old, who will start his second stint at Warrington next year after first joining the club as a 19-year-old, said: "It's fair to say that there is going to be some tough competition for the two centre spots next season and I don't think anyone will be guaranteed a place in the side. "Martin Gleeson, Brent Grose and Ben Westwood are all quality players. They are very good try scorers but they can also set up tries for their wingers and that's all you can ask from a centre. "But I have every confidence in my own ability. "I have to concentrate on what I can do and what I can control. "If someone else has your shirt then you can either moan about it or fight for it and I know which one I'll be doing. "It's up to everyone else to do the same thing and that will make us a stronger team. "Competition for places is healthy for a club. It brings the best out of players and the fans should be excited about Warrington's three- quarter line for next year. "It should be explosive providing that we click together and I'm sure that we will. "I have been very excited by the things I've seen at training and our aim should be to make the top four. "Aiming for the top six is a bit of a cop out as far as I'm concerned. We should be aiming higher than that and with the players that we have the top four is a realistic ambition. "All of the ingredients are there and I think we are going to explode next year." Kohe-Love has noted numerous changes at the club since Paul Cullen gave him permission to use Warrington's training facilities in July. Training with the players enabled him to complete the final stages of his recovery from reconstruction surgery and he is now raring to resume his professional career. Kohe-Love said: "It's such a relief to know that I'll be playing again next year and I couldn't be playing for a better club as far as I'm concerned. "I have always had a good relationship with the fans at Warrington but the environment is much better than when I was last at the club. "The facilities, the board, the backroom staff and the stadium have all improved and it's just a matter of getting the right team together now." Kohe-Love turned down an offer from Wakefield to join War-rington. He said: "When I came back to Warrington with Hull for the first time the reception that I got from the supporters was amazing. "And ever since then Warrington has been the only club that I wanted to play for. "It wasn't until I left Warrington that I realised how happy I was here. "So Warrington was always going to be my first choice for next season, specially after they opened the doors to me after I was released by Bradford. "That was a really nice gesture because the club didn't owe me anything. "So I owe the club a big thank you. The training that I've been doing you can't do by yourself. You need to be in a team environment to be able to do it." Kohe-Love, who got married this year and is expecting his second child at the beginning of December, has scored 71 tries in 119 appearances for Warrington. He has also been sin-binned and sent off on a fair few occasions but he insists that high shot headlines are a thing of the past.
BEN Westwood hopes that being named man of the series in the European Nations Cup will be the spark of better times for him at Warrington Wolves. The aggressive centre beat a host of big name players to the award and is confident that he can take his fine form at international level into next season's Super League campaign. The 23-year-old said: "I struggled at times last season but I was very pleased with how I performed for England in the European Nations Cup. "I could have played better in the final on Sunday when we beat Ireland 36-12 but I was struggling with the flu." Sunday's game represented the first international to be played at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium. Westwood said: "I showed what I can do earlier in the competition and to beat the likes of Rob Burrow and Mark Calder-wood to the man of the series is a great confidence booster. "There will be a lot of competition for the centre spots at Warrington Wolves next season having signed Martin Gleeson and Toa Kohe-Love. "It will be a big challenge to get into the side but I intend to knuckle down in training and have a good season." While the European Nations Cup has been enjoyable there could also be a further carrot to aim at for players in the England squad. Westwood said: "There are rumours of a five-week tour of Australia and New Zealand next year. So maybe if I've impressed in my performances there could be a space for me on that." Leading up to Sunday's final Westwood was away for nine days with the England squad to take in both the Russia and France group games and it proved to be a memorable experience for him. He said: "Not many people can say they were walking through Red Square in Moscow one weekend and having a night out in St Tropez the next weekend. Of course, there was a lot of hard training in between and we all enjoyed being together. "I didn't know any of the players before the competition but they're all great blokes and we all clicked. It's a good team spirit and I think that took us through to the final because we wanted to work for each other. "Going to Russia was an experience. We didn't know what their team was going to be like but as you can see from the 98-4 scoreline they were not up to our standard. "But I've never played a match on astro turf before and there were a few players with grazed knees as a result. And there were American football posts instead of rugby posts, so that was different. "There weren't a lot of people there unfortunately. The Olympic Stadium in Moscow fits in 75,000 people and there were only about 200 there. There were more when France played them the week before but France's big win there probably had an affect on the turnout. "We stayed at the Olympic Stadium, which was good. However, there were a lot of security people around with guns, which was a bit of an eye opener. "We had a few drinks with the players after the game and they are very much developing in the game at the moment. They'll get better as they go on." Now Westwood's focus returns to giving Warrington Wolves his best shot next season. And next year Westwood, who has three years left on his Wolves contract, will be less inconvenient for him in terms of travelling up and down the M62 for training and matches from Wakefield. Westwood said: "I've been living in Warrington for about eight weeks now and have moved in next door to Nathan Wood. That means every day is exciting and you never know what's going to happen as he is a bit of a practical joker. "I've got my door and window locks sorted and the curtains all have to be shut in case he comes round with a mask on, which he has done to players before. "I'm enjoying Warrington, I like the club and the town. I thought I'd miss home in Wake-field but I've not at all, except my mum and dad and I get to see them every week still. "My daughter's fitted in fine at school in Warrington and so everything is coming together. "I feel having another three years on contract with Warrington is going to be good for me. Next year's another challenge and I can't wait for it."
'IT is time to break the Aussie hoodoo' is Martin Gleeson's battle cry on the eve of Great Britain's bid to secure early qualification for the Tri-Nations final. Victory over Australia at the JJB Stadium on Saturday will rubber stamp Great Britain's place in the competition's climax on November 27 and take the pressure off next weekend's game against New Zealand. But the Aussies have a fright-eningly good record against Great Britain and Wolves centre Gleeson believes that the Kan- garoos' psychological edge is the only thing standing in the way of a GB Tri-Nations triumph. Great Britain's dominant second half display in their 22-12 victory over Logan Swann and his Kiwi teammates on Saturday has strengthened Gleeson's view that Brian Noble's troops can win the inaugural competition. But he accepts that it is the Aussies who provide the litmus test and he is desperate to help put the hex to bed in front of a sell out crowd on Saturday, kick-off 6.15pm. Gleeson, who has been nursing two black eyes this week after breaking his nose in a solid individual performance against the Kiwis on Saturday, said: "There is no doubt in my mind that we are as good as if not better than New Zealand and Australia. "We had an awesome result on Saturday and there is still a lot of improvement left in us. "But we need to come out with all guns blazing on Sat|urday and finally get one over on the Aussies. "If we beat them on Saturday then it will give us a huge boost before we met them again in the final."But there is no Way that they are going to throw the game. They may already be in the final but they don't like to lose to us no matter, what the game is. "Just look at last year's Test series. They had already wrapped up the series after winning the first two games but they still went on to win the third one. "They seem to have a psychological hold on us and I'd be delighted if we finally overcome that on Saturday. "I may have broken my nose but I'm feeling fit and healthy and am really looking forward to playing against Australia again." Wolves winger Henri Fa'afili has been selected out of position at stand off for New Zealand's Test match against France in Carcassonne tonight, Thursday. He was a late call up for New Zealand's end of season international programme after Bradford Bulls man mountain Lesley Vainikolo was booked in for a knee operation.All sourced Warrington Guardian
Wolves Enhance Talent Base Warrington Wolves have signed two promising Juniors on full time contracts, firstly home grown talent Steve Pickersgill, 18 a front rower who has had a successful season winning the U18s First Division Grand Final and playing on the England Academy Under 18 tour of Australia and New Zealand alongside another new acquisition for the Wolves Andy Bracek from St Helens and Simon Grix who signed in October from Halifax. Steve signed for the Wolves at the age of 14 under an educational apprenticeship in conjunction with Warrington Borough Council, having played his junior rugby at Crosfields ARLFC. He is the younger brother of John, 20 who plays for the Wolves U21s team. He is a highly rated young player who has featured for both Junior and Senior Academy sides since 2003. His father Roy is a former Warrington player playing in the 70's. Steve has featured in the first team friendlies against Widnes on Boxing Day 2003 and in Mark Hilton's Testimonial game against Leigh in January 2004. He made 9 appearances for the Senior Academy and appeared in all the Junior Academy games last season scoring 12 tries. This season he has been ever present in the line up for both teams, with 10 appearances for the Senior Academy scoring 2 tries. Andy Bracek, 17 a second row/loose forward has signed from St Helens for £22,500 having made his Super League debut as a substitute in Round 28 v Bradford Bulls (19/09/04). Andy started his junior rugby at his home town club of Leigh Miners ARLFC before joining the Wigan Warriors Scholarship programme at 14, before signing for St Helens Scholarship in 2002 at the age of 16, Andy has played in both the Junior and Senior Academy there. He was selected to play on the England Academy U18s Tour of Australia and New Zealand. Andy decided to join the Wolves because, "I can see with the signings that Paul Cullen has made that Warrington is a club destined for big things and I want to play my part in taking them to a higher level." Head Coach Paul Cullen commented on his new signings, "Both Andy Bracek and Steven Pickersgill are exceptional and versatile forwards with great potential, who will operate as full time professionals. They will be offered every facility to achieve their goals. "Steven was our only representative on the successful GB U18s Academy tour of Australia in the summer and with the capture of Simon and Andy we are enhancing our talent base at that age group."
Record Early Bird Season Ticket sales are significantly up on the corresponding period last year with a resultant 25% increase in revenue. The Wolves extended their Early Bird Deadline by a week as the exceptional demand for the offer caused shop queues and a backlog in paperwork. Last year, a record number of Early Bird Season Ticket sales was attributed to the new Halliwell Jones Stadium and the play-off position secured during Super League VIII. Despite the removal of the 'new stadium factor' the upward trend is continuing with the number of Season Ticket holders close to 4,500 compared to 4,000 at the same cut-off point in 2003. Community & Marketing Manager, Sean Mellor, commented, "With this successful Season Ticket Sales Campaign the commitment of the Wolves toward continual improvements, as illustrated by the big name signings Martin Gleeson and Logan Swann and the capture of young stars Simon Grix from Halifax, Andrew Bracek from St. Helens as well as the promotion of home-grown talent, Steven Pickersgill to the first team squad, has undoubtedly received the endorsement of the Warrington public." The next Wolves Deadline is for Wolfpack Junior Season Tickets on 24th December. Prices start at £40.
8th November. Victoria Park. This year all 12 High Schools in the Warrington area are taking part across the age and gender groups Year 7- 11. The first stage of the competition will take place against other Warrington schools and then the top two will go through to a Regional Tournament playing against other schools in the North West. The Powergen Champion Schools is a national rugby league competition for every secondary school. The aim is to provide prestigious schools competition that will reward excellence and also encourage broad participation. In its inaugural year, over 300 teams and 6000 players competed in the 2002/2003 Powergen Champion Schools, making it the largest rugby league competition in the UK. With Rugby League now being played in more towns and cities than ever before, this competition provides the game with an essential development tool to service the demand from schools who want to play rugby league. Warrington's William Beamont High School won the 2002 U14s competition and then the same team went on to become runners-up in the U15's competition in last year's competition. The team has become the first Scholarship squad who travelled to Australia in the summer and competed successfully Down Under. Last year was the first time that a girls team competed from the Warrington area and with success to; Cardinal Newman High School Year 7 won the Regional Final and went on to Cardiff to the Final and finished the competition runners-up. Wolves Special Projects Officer Brian Chambers commented, "The Champion Schools is an ideal avenue for High School children to play rugby league and for us to see players who are not involved in the game at amateur level, but could get involved. It is a good way of scouting undeveloped talent in the Warrington area."
4th November.WHAT a way for Warrington Wolves' major signing Martin Gleeson to make his eagerly awaited return to Rugby League. After serving his four-month suspension for betting irregularities while on St Helens' books, he scored an outstanding try in his comeback game on Saturday. It was no ordinary comeback game. Ring-rusty Gleeson was thrown in at the deep end as the right centre for Great Britain's Gillette Tri-Nations series opener against world champions Australia in front of a worldwide television audience and 38,572 supporters at the City of Manchester Stadium. Gleeson, who was under an intense spotlight, responded superbly by showing his true quality and highlighting why Wolves' head coach Paul Cullen spent £200,000 of Simon Moran's money to bring him to The Halliwell Jones Stadium for the next four seasons. The way he finished off the Lions' opening try of the series was outstanding and was the kind of clinical play that Wolves lacked last term and can expect to benefit from in their search for honours in 2005. His third try in six GB appearances was an effort of magnificent explosion, strength and determination. The expression on Gleeson's face and his punched-salute to the ecstatic Lions supporters showed how much the try meant to him. Reflecting on his moment of glory Gleeson said: "It was good to get over the line and to be honest it was a bit of a relief really and gave me confidence for the rest of the game. It was a great pass by Paul Sculthorpe to put Jamie Peacock away. He handed on to Terry Newton and he timed his pass perfectly so that all I had to do was finish it off." Gleeson showed modesty in his final comment as the try really did take some scoring after initial superb support play. The 24-year-old handed off Parramatta's big back row forward Nathan Hindmarsh and then carried Sydney Roosters' full back Anthony Minichiello and North Queensland winger Matt Sing over the line with him. But there was no Roy of the Rovers finale for Gleeson and his teammates as Australia, as they did in the three Test matches with GB last year, scored a heartbreaking winning try with the last play of the game. Gleeson said: "I'd swap my try for the win any day. We've taken lots of positives out of the game and are look ing forward to our next challenge against New Zealand." The one disappointment in the match for Gleeson was his involvement in the missed tackles that led to Willie Mason scoring the try that put Australia back in the hunt shortly before half-time. The Canterbury man-mountain surprisingly brushed off Sculthorpe and then escaped Gleeson's grasp. Gleeson said: "That was disappointing. I should have covered Scully better than I did. Mason stepped on the inside and I ceuldn't get my body to him, only an arm but it wasn't enough." But on his overall performance Gleeson said: "I was reasonably happy considering it was my first game back. I didn't get much ball out wide and that was the same for all of the backs, it was that type of game. "I came inside to look for the ball and helped the forwards out by making the hard yards when needed. I'm not a player who will wait for the pretty ball out wide if you can sense in the game that you're not going to see much of it." Source Warrington Guardian Mike Parsons
BRENT Grose will be Martin Gleeson's main rival for the Warrington Wolves No.3 role next year. The Australian has made the right centre spot his own since arriving from Penrith Panthers for the 2003 season and he welcomes the competition for not only his own role but for every spot in Paul Cullen's team. Grose, who was Wolves' top try scorer in the Tetley's Super League IX campaign, says: "We will be stronger next season having signed Logan Swann, Martin Gleeson and Toa-Kohe Love. They are all world class players. "We've seen over the last few years what a quality player Logan is. He's played in NRL Grand Finals and he'll bring a lot of experience to the team. "As for Martin and Toa, they will make us much stronger in the backs. "They can create tries out of nothing and I will have to be playing well if I am to keep my centre spot next season. "I have enjoyed playing in the centres at Warrington and I want to stay there. "But being in the side is my number one goal and I will be happy to play wherever Paul Cullen decides to put "The team should always come first and plenty of healthy competition is something that top clubs need. "If you get a couple of knocks you want to have quality players ready to step in to replace them. "We will have that luxury at Warring-ton next season and the fans have plenty to look forward to. "We may have finished lower in the table this year than we did the previous season but man for man we are now a much better side and we are ready to make that step to being a consistent top half of the table side." Source Warrington Guardian
BEN Westwood wants people to believe in him again. By the centre's own admission, his form was below par for Warrington Wolves during their 2004 campaign. and with new centres Martin Gleeson and Toa Kohe-Love arriving at the club for 2005, there has been danger of Westwood becoming a forgotten man. But his surprise call-up to represent England in the European Nations Cup has given the player, who cost Warrington a record Super League transfer fee in 2002, a fresh lease of life and he stands to win his first Rugby League medal in the final against Ireland at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday, kick-off 1.45pm. Westwood, who moved to Warrington from Wakefield seven weeks ago, said: "I didn't have too good a season this year and I was really surprised that I was selected for this European competition. "But it was a bonus for me to be picked. I've seen it as a chance to improve on last season and show people that I can still do it and get people to believe in me again. "Hopefully I'm doing that in this series and it would be great for my home crowd to see how I go on Sunday." It will be the first time that Wolves' super new home has hosted an international match and a healthy crowd is expected to support Westwood and other emerging stars of the British game. Karl Harrison's squad is skippered by Bradford Bulls' Grand Final runner-up Rob Parker but also features stars like Super League young player of the year Shaun Briscoe and Leeds Rhinos' Grand Final winner Rob Burrow. And explosive forward Andy Coley, who plies his trade with Salford City Reds, has lived in Warrington all of his life and came through the amateur ranks in the town. Westwood has played a valuable part in England's progress as he crossed for two tries in the record-breaking 98-4 defeat of Russia at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow a fortnight ago and at the weekend the 23-year-old was the man of the match when Harrison's men ended France's hopes and kept alive the ambition of defending the crown they won against France in what was the last international match to take place at Wilderspool Stadium. He said: "I was pleased to be named man of the match in France and I'd been waiting for a game like that to come along for me. Hopefully I'll carry the form into the final against Ireland. "I made a lot of breaks down the right hand side in France. I usually play down the left for Warrington and hadn't played on the right before but I enjoyed it. "I received a lot of the ball and we were getting through the French line. I seemed to stand out as a result and it was very nice to gain the recognition at international level. "France weren't too bad a side. The 42-4 score didn't reflect how the game went. France really dug in and gave us a good game. They were tackling hard and running hard but they just weren't as skilful as what we were." Ireland could be something of an unknown quantity to Westwood and his teammates. Westwood said: "Barrie McDermott played for them in their defeat of Scotland at the weekend and there's rumours that Mick Cassidy and Gary Connolly may play for them in the final. "But I'm very confident the season can finish on a high for me and my England teammates. Ireland finished top of their group by beating Wales and Scotland and will be confident too so it should be a good game." Turnstile prices for Sunday's final: North Stand - adults £10, concessions £5; West Stand - adults £8, concessions £2; disabled areas - £5, carer free. Qualifying results: Group One: Wales 12 Ireland 25. Scotland 30 Wales 22, Ireland 43 Scotland 10. Group Two: Russia 10 France 58, Russia 4 England 98, France 4 England 42. Source Warrington Guardian
SUCCESSFUL Warrington Woolston Rovers are relaunching with a new identity in time for pre-season training to start. The Rugby League team which won summertime's National League Three title in 2003 and reached the Grand Final again this year are to be known as Warrington Wizards from now on. They will continue to play their home games in 2005 at Wilderspool Stadium, the former home of Warrington Wolves which is now owned by Warrington Borough Council. A statement from Warrington Wizards officials this week reads: "Following two seasons of playing summer rugby in National League Three, we believe that changes need to be made in order to maintain our position as a leading National club. "Therefore, Warrington Woolston Rovers will now be known as Warrington Wizards and will reposition itself as an entity that reflects the entire historic and famous town of Warrington. "The new club colours, kit and logo will be revealed in the near future. There will also be an additional team to support the first team and this will play in the North West division of the Rugby League Conference." Warrington Woolston Rovers were born out of the Woolston Rovers Amateur Rugby League Club and while they have flourished since setting up in 2002 the Rovers' open age section has fallen away since finishing top of North West Counties Division One last season. No teams currently represent Woolston in the open age league. The statement continued: "It is very important to point out that from autumn 2005, we will encourage the rebirth of the Woolston Rovers club at open age level with a view to it playing in the North West Counties League initially. "The local Service Area will assist with recruiting new players and administrators. It is regarded as imperative that Rovers return as an independent winter side to take its place alongside the other top amateur sides in the town." Warrington Wizards begin pre-season training on November 23"at Padgate Recreation Centre, starting at 7pm.
3rd November.Warrington Wolves have extended the deadline on their Early Bird Season Ticket offer, with 4 free games until Tuesday 8th November due to overwhelming demand. Season Tickets sales are already 8% up on the corresponding time last year. Community and Marketing Manager, Sean Mellor explained, "The demand for Early Bird Season Tickets has been overwhelming as Wolves’ fans have endorsed our recent big name signings. We have taken the decision to extend the deadline because lengthy shop queues may have detterred a few of our busier fans and prevented the processing of telephone orders." To be part of the Super League X at The Halliwell Jones Stadium call 01925 248888 or call into WOLFWARE before Tuesday 8th November 5:00pm to take advantage of the Early Bird deadline extension.