December 2005
26th December. Widnes 24 Warrington 18 Wire Reardon, Barnett, Noone, Westwood, Riley, Briers, Bridge, Lima, Sullivan, Wood, Bracek, Wainwright, Grix, Blythe, Penny, Roper, Mitchell, Harrison, Cooper, Rourke, Colquitt. Vikings Squad Alcock, Allen, Beswick, Bowman, Coyle, Crook, Dodd, Donoghue, Heaton, Holmes, Hulse, Johnson, Marsh, Nanyn, P. O'Connor, Peachey, Smith, Summers, Tandy, Woods. Attn 5680
22nd December.WIRE FM Boxing Day Challenge Widnes Vikings v Warrington Wolves Halton Stadium, Widnes Monday 26th December 2005, kick off 3.00pm Head Coach Paul Cullen has named a 21-man squad to face Widnes Vikings at the Halton Stadium on Monday 26th December 2005, kick off 3pm in the WIRE FM Boxing Day Challenge.
1. Stuart Reardon (D)
2. Richie Barnett (D)
3. Paul Noone
4. Ben Westwood
5. Chris Riley
6. Lee Briers (C)
7. Chris Bridge
8. Danny Lima
9. Michael Sullivan (D)
10. Paul Wood
11. Andrew Bracek
12. Mike Wainwright
13. Simon Grix
14. Matty Blythe (D)
15. Kevin Penny (D)
16. Steve Roper (D)
17. Lee Mitchell (D)
18. Ben Harrison
19. Mike Cooper (D)
20. Anthony Rourke (D)
21. Danny Colquitt (D)
PROFILES on Junior Academy Players: The friendly match programme in the pre-season is a great opportunity for Academy players to "step up" to the first team and show the coaches what they can do. This scheme has been very successful in bridging the "step up" from Junior to senior player. Last season saw the successful graduation of Chris Riley and Ben Harrison to first team squad. This year the following "Young Guns" have been training with the first team and have an opportunity to showcase their talents.
Matty Blythe, 16 Position: Centre/Winger Matty is the product of the Beamont Scholarship Scheme. Started his junior career off at Rylands Sharks before moving to Leigh Miners Rangers ARLFC, has been described as very dynamic in the line and an exceptional reader of the game.
Danny Colquitt, 17 Position: Second row/loose forward Signed for the Wolves Academy from Pilks, St Helens and has been described as a true professional with an excellent attitude to the game and an outstanding athlete, a player that deserves to achieve.
Mike Cooper, 16 Position: Frontrower Mike, a big strong hard hitting frontrower, who signed from local club Latchford Albion Unicorns last season to the Foundation Academy and is pushing forward into the Junior and Senior Academies and has featured in the England U16's and the England Academy U17's in 2005.
Kevin Penny, 17 Position: Winger Kevin started his sporting career playing basketball at Padgate High School and spotted by Wolves Coaching guru Brian Chambers while playing in the Powergen Champion Schools competition. Lightening quick and a real crowd pleaser.
Lee Mitchell, 16 Position: Second Row Lee hails from Latchford Albion Unicorns. Tall and strong, with a massive work rate. He has excellent footwork and speed at the line despite his size. Featured in this year's England U16s squad.
Andy Mousdale, 18 Position: Halfback Andy started his rugby career at Rylands ARLFC, but was a late starter having played soccer for local professional club Bolton Wanderers in the junior ranks. Has been described as having a good passing and kicking game, taking the ball to the line well and is dynamic in breaking the line.
Steve Roper, 18 Position: Scrum half Steve was signed from Wigan St Patrick's to the U21s squad for the 2006 season, but has been training with the first team in the pre-season. He has been described as an astute reader of the game, great handling skills, excellent kicker and a great attitude to training.
Anthony Rourke, 16 Position: back rower/loose forward Anthony started his career at Ryland Sharks before moving on to Widnes St Marie's. He is a very aggressive defender with good go forward and great handling skills. Featured in the England U16s squad in 2005.
13th December.Wire FM Challenge Widnes Vikings -v- Warrington Wolves Monday 26 December 2005, kick-off 3pm At The Halton Stadium Warrington Fans in The (New) East Stand Warrington have already occupied this stand this past season but this in itself will not be sufficient to guarantee that every fan will know and inevitably some will still traditionally aim for the West Stand in Lowerhouse Lane. * Access to the New East Stand can only be gained via Milton Road/Cameron Road or Sinclair Avenue to the rear of the Halton Stadium complex * Parking for spectators remains available at Caldwell Road Public Car Park and the adjacent Councils Car Park at the Municipal Buildings. This car park can be accessed from Caldwell Road. Please follow 'MATCHDAY CAR PARKING SIGNS to this location. Both car parks are located to the rear of the Halton Stadium complex and are convenient to the East Stand Turnstiles * Please also note that 'NO SMOKING RESTRICTIONS' are applicable to ALL areas of the stadium on Matchday events with the exception of the Social Club * Alcohol conditions at the Stadium continue to remain as previous i.e. may only be consumed within the Concourse bars and not within the seated viewing areas Tickets are onsale in the Warrington Wolves Wolfware Store at The Halliwell Stadium and online at www.wolfwareonline.com Adults £ 12, Concessions £ 6 Please Note that Tickets Sold in this Stand are for Reserved Seating
9th December. Five Times! The Wolves with their Community AwardWarrington Wolves Community Team have bagged the Best Community Programme award for the 5th time in 6 years at the 2005 engage Super League Marketing Awards evening at Headingley on Thursday evening. Winning the award 4 times in a row before losing out to Leeds Rhinos last season, this years award is testament to the hard work of the Community Team with the programme at the Halliwell-Jones Stadium being held up as the benchmark for other clubs to aspire to. The Wolves beat top Yorkshire clubs Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls to the award and a delighted Sean Mellor and Community team were on hand to accept their certificate from Simon Malcolm of the Rugby Football League. The Wolves also picked up one of a number of discretionary awards of the evening for "Best Tactical Marketing Campaign" for the effort and succes of managing the signing and merchandising of Andrew Johns.
2nd December.French Will be Tough By Lucile Giberti
Paul Noone's career began in 1999 in the Wolves' first team. Before that, he has been with the club since he was 14 from Widnes Tigers. Super league XI starts 10th February 2006 (12th February: Warrington Wolves v Salford City Reds). A new French team will play: Catalans Dragons. On the 6th May, the Wolves will play against Les Catalans Dragons on Perpignan's stadium.
Have you started pre-season training yet? Yes, it's been very hard, we have been training for 3 weeks now, and it's going good.
What are the goals of the team for the new season? To do better than last year, this was finish higher in the league (5th), to win a cup.
What are your personal goals? To play as many games as possible, (in the starting line up) to make in to a grand final and win.
Being French, do you think the new French team (Catalans Dragons) will be able to compete in super league? Yes, because they have made some very good signings such as Stacey Jones, I think they will do well.
What is, for you, the most important game of the season? The entire one's I play in, because as a professional you're under pressure to perform (to your best). Which team do you think will be hardest to play next season? The French team Les Catalans, because you don't know what to expect, because they are a new team in the competition.
Who do you think will win Super League XI? Hopefully we (Warrington Wolves) but I think maybe Leeds, Bradford or St Helens are the main favourites to win Super League.
1st December.Off Season on the Up You may be excused for thinking that all is quiet and calm at Warrington Wolves during the close season. The off field team are busier than ever at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, the Wolves following the team's most successful season to date in Super League. Season tickets are up by 20% on this time last season, with many areas of the ground already close to capacity and we still have ten weeks to go until the start of engage Super League XI. The Wolfpack Early Bird Season Ticket Deadline is Saturday 24th December; Wolfware will be open on that day from 9am-2pm for last minute stocking fillers. Also the Club launched their new home shirts last Thursday and have sold over 1500 in the first 4 days of trading. These are available online at www.wolfwareonline.com or Wolfware at the stadium, Tel: 01925 248888. (Please be aware that the deadline for online orders pre-Christmas is Thursday 15th December) Dave Hutchinson, Commercial Director commented, "Response so far to our season tickets has been fantastic and firmly establishes Warrington Wolves as one of the hottest tickets in Super League XI, combine this with the rate at which our new Puma shirts have been selling and all bodes well for having the most, best turned out fans in Super League. "Looks like Santa will be busy later this month!"