Welcome to the first part of my miniseries, which will look back at Warrington's time in Super League as the competition celebrates its 25th anniversary. This piece will rank Wire's top ten Super League seasons...
10) 2006
10) 2006
Coach: Paul Cullen
Super League: 6th (26 points)
Playoffs: Semi-finalists
2006 was a year of firsts for the Wire: the first time they won a match in the playoffs, the first ever win away at Wigan's then-JJB Stadium, the club's first visit to Perpignan - where 3500 Wolves fans made the trip across - and the first appearances of Mike Cooper, now in his testimonial year, while there were also debuts for Ben Harrison and Kevin Penny. Having been on the wrong end of an absolute pummelling at the hands of Leeds Rhinos, no-one gave Wire a chance three weeks later when they travelled to Headingley in the playoffs. A sensational drop-goal from Lee Briers in the dying minutes saw off the Rhinos after a tremendous hard-fought performance which earned Wire their first ever playoff victory. Despite putting up a good fight in the semis, a superb Bradford Bulls team proved a bridge too far. Still, this was a promising season with plenty of positives.
9) 2018
Super League: 6th (26 points)
Playoffs: Semi-finalists
2006 was a year of firsts for the Wire: the first time they won a match in the playoffs, the first ever win away at Wigan's then-JJB Stadium, the club's first visit to Perpignan - where 3500 Wolves fans made the trip across - and the first appearances of Mike Cooper, now in his testimonial year, while there were also debuts for Ben Harrison and Kevin Penny. Having been on the wrong end of an absolute pummelling at the hands of Leeds Rhinos, no-one gave Wire a chance three weeks later when they travelled to Headingley in the playoffs. A sensational drop-goal from Lee Briers in the dying minutes saw off the Rhinos after a tremendous hard-fought performance which earned Wire their first ever playoff victory. Despite putting up a good fight in the semis, a superb Bradford Bulls team proved a bridge too far. Still, this was a promising season with plenty of positives.
9) 2018
Coach: Steve Price
Super League: 4th (37 points)
Playoffs: Grand Final runners-up
The start of a new era at Warrington as there was a change in coach for the first time in nine years. Steve Price replaced Tony Smith and he was joined by new signings Bryson Goodwin, Sitaleki Akauola, Tyrone Roberts, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Josh Charnley. Despite losing four of his first six games in charge, Price steadied the ship and took his side on a run of eight consecutive wins, including three massive performances on the road at Catalans, Castleford and Leeds. The highlight of the main season though was an 80-10 demolition of Hull FC at the back end of August, a result which helped cement 4th place and a spot in the playoffs. Wire were huge underdogs as they travelled to the dominant league leaders St Helens in the playoff semis though, but this didn't stop Price's team putting in an unbelievable performance to defeat the Saints and book their place at Old Trafford courtesy of two tries from Tom Lineham and a Jack Hughes effort. Although Wigan got the better of Wire in the Grand Final, this was certainly a year of progression.
The start of a new era at Warrington as there was a change in coach for the first time in nine years. Steve Price replaced Tony Smith and he was joined by new signings Bryson Goodwin, Sitaleki Akauola, Tyrone Roberts, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Josh Charnley. Despite losing four of his first six games in charge, Price steadied the ship and took his side on a run of eight consecutive wins, including three massive performances on the road at Catalans, Castleford and Leeds. The highlight of the main season though was an 80-10 demolition of Hull FC at the back end of August, a result which helped cement 4th place and a spot in the playoffs. Wire were huge underdogs as they travelled to the dominant league leaders St Helens in the playoff semis though, but this didn't stop Price's team putting in an unbelievable performance to defeat the Saints and book their place at Old Trafford courtesy of two tries from Tom Lineham and a Jack Hughes effort. Although Wigan got the better of Wire in the Grand Final, this was certainly a year of progression.
8) 2005
Coach: Paul Cullen
Super League: 4th (36 points)
Playoffs: First Stage
2005 was a season that will only ever be remembered for one thing: Warrington signing Andrew Johns on a short-term contract, securing the services of the best player in the world for three matches. The signing of Johns still maintains its place as the most exciting piece of recruitment by a Super League club 15 years later, and anyone lucky enough to have been among the bumper 13k crowd at the Halliwell Jones on the night of his debut, a 33-16 win over reigning champions Leeds, will never forget it. The club and the town had caught Johns-fever and it culminated in a superb performance on debut from the great man, highlights of which you can see below. As Johns arrived, Nathan Wood - scorer of the first ever Halliwell Jones try - departed. The acquisition of Johns wasn't enough to get Wire past Hull FC in the first round of the playoffs though, and it ended as a memorable year with plenty of progress, but still no trophies. There were three wins over Widnes though, as well as a fabulous comeback win at Bradford where Wire scored 36 unanswered points. At time the team was devastating with Ben Westwood, Martin Gleeson and Henry Fa'afili being profiteers of Lee Briers' magic in the middle, while Logan Swann, Chris Bridge and Toa Kohe-Love were successful 2005 signings too. There was a feeling that 2005 was when Wire started to threaten the big boys, getting an average attendance of more than 11,000 for the first time and securing 4th place - the club's best finish so far.
7) 2014
Super League: 4th (36 points)
Playoffs: First Stage
2005 was a season that will only ever be remembered for one thing: Warrington signing Andrew Johns on a short-term contract, securing the services of the best player in the world for three matches. The signing of Johns still maintains its place as the most exciting piece of recruitment by a Super League club 15 years later, and anyone lucky enough to have been among the bumper 13k crowd at the Halliwell Jones on the night of his debut, a 33-16 win over reigning champions Leeds, will never forget it. The club and the town had caught Johns-fever and it culminated in a superb performance on debut from the great man, highlights of which you can see below. As Johns arrived, Nathan Wood - scorer of the first ever Halliwell Jones try - departed. The acquisition of Johns wasn't enough to get Wire past Hull FC in the first round of the playoffs though, and it ended as a memorable year with plenty of progress, but still no trophies. There were three wins over Widnes though, as well as a fabulous comeback win at Bradford where Wire scored 36 unanswered points. At time the team was devastating with Ben Westwood, Martin Gleeson and Henry Fa'afili being profiteers of Lee Briers' magic in the middle, while Logan Swann, Chris Bridge and Toa Kohe-Love were successful 2005 signings too. There was a feeling that 2005 was when Wire started to threaten the big boys, getting an average attendance of more than 11,000 for the first time and securing 4th place - the club's best finish so far.
7) 2014
Coach: Tony Smith
Super League: 5th (35 points)
Playoffs: Semi-finalists
Super League: 5th (35 points)
Playoffs: Semi-finalists
Whilst Wire finished 5th in 2014, a bit of a disappointing placing after what had gone before it, there was actually only a three-point gap between Tony Smith's men and top spot, occupied by St Helens. Such was the competitiveness, Wire went into their last match of the season against Wigan with a chance of finishing anywhere between 2nd and 5th. Defeat to the Warriors meant that there would be no second chances in the playoffs, they needed three consecutive wins to get to Old Trafford. A narrow home win over Widnes in the first stage was followed up with an away victory at Castleford, who had narrowly pipped Wire to 4th spot in the league. Two Joel Monaghan tries were enough to see off the Tigers and suddenly there was hope of a third consecutive Old Trafford appearance. That was slashed when Wigan were 16-12 winners in the semi-final, meaning it was another year without the Super League trophy for Warrington. Still, this was a pretty good season, with a run of eight consecutive triumphs in the middle of the campaign, including a battering of the Saints at Magic Weekend. The league leaders were put to the sword once again in the penultimate round of the year, Wire 12-39 victors at Langtree Park in the performance of the year, which you can catch below. It was always going to be a tough year in 2014, with the losses of influential quartet Lee Briers, Brett Hodgson, Adrian Morley and Garreth Carvell at the end of 2013 felt hard throughout.
6) 2003
Coach: Paul Cullen
Super League: 6th (29 points)
Playoffs: First Stage
Super League: 6th (29 points)
Playoffs: First Stage
The year of the greatest transition so far at the club, as Warrington players, fans and staff said goodbye to Wilderspool ahead of the move to the Halliwell Jones Stadium in 2004. Paul Cullen had become coach at the back end of 2002 and enjoyed a stellar first full campaign in charge, guiding Wire to their first ever appearance in the playoffs. Sights were initially set on avoiding relegation but ambition increased as the season went on, with Cullen's 'win at all costs' tactics working a treat. It looked like Wire's season would fall apart when creator-in-chief and talisman Lee Briers sustained a broken bone while masterminding a demolition of London Broncos, but deputy half-back Graham Appo had a wonderful impact in Briers' absence and formed a tasty partnership with Nathan Wood in the halves. Wire had got themselves into a good position and with one game left they needed a win over Wakefield to ensure they would finish 6th and qualify for the playoffs for the first time - in the final match at Wilderspool. The packed crowd on an emotional day was treated to a memorable performance - Appo scored a hat-trick while Sid Domic and Ben Westwood added braces - there was a score for Paul Noone too as the Wolves bid farewell to their 123-year-old home in style. An early exit to Wigan in the playoffs followed, but a year of huge progress nonetheless.
5) 2010
Coach: Tony Smith
Super League: 3rd
Playoffs: Semi-finalists
A season that I suspect most people will mainly remember for the second successive Challenge Cup victory, but it was also a very positive year in the league for the Wire too. This was the first time the club had breached the top three in the Super League era, and it did so playing exciting and attractive rugby league. In scoring 885 points, Tony Smith's team had eclipsed anything any Wire side had done in Super League and also achieved Wire's best defensive record since the competition began. The first game of the season was a microcosm of this - a 58-0 thumping of Harlequins. Wire's best performance of the season came at Magic Weekend, battering Salford 68-16 at Murrayfield, one of several tonkings the team dished out as the season went on. Ryan Atkins was signed from Wakefield, and the team now possessed one of the most feared packs in the league led by Morley, Michael Monaghan and Carvell. Huddersfield eliminated Warrington in the playoffs, inspired by soon-to-be-Wire Brett Hodgson. In just his second season, Smith had turned a perennially mid-table club into one that had won two Challenge Cups and finished in the top three - Wire have only twice not made the playoffs since. This was the year that Wire joined the big boys.
Super League: 3rd
Playoffs: Semi-finalists
A season that I suspect most people will mainly remember for the second successive Challenge Cup victory, but it was also a very positive year in the league for the Wire too. This was the first time the club had breached the top three in the Super League era, and it did so playing exciting and attractive rugby league. In scoring 885 points, Tony Smith's team had eclipsed anything any Wire side had done in Super League and also achieved Wire's best defensive record since the competition began. The first game of the season was a microcosm of this - a 58-0 thumping of Harlequins. Wire's best performance of the season came at Magic Weekend, battering Salford 68-16 at Murrayfield, one of several tonkings the team dished out as the season went on. Ryan Atkins was signed from Wakefield, and the team now possessed one of the most feared packs in the league led by Morley, Michael Monaghan and Carvell. Huddersfield eliminated Warrington in the playoffs, inspired by soon-to-be-Wire Brett Hodgson. In just his second season, Smith had turned a perennially mid-table club into one that had won two Challenge Cups and finished in the top three - Wire have only twice not made the playoffs since. This was the year that Wire joined the big boys.
4) 2013
Coach: Tony Smith
Super League: 2nd (41 points)
Playoffs: Grand Final runners-up
Oh, so near but yet so far. Wire made their second appearance in a Super League Grand Final but were beaten by old adversaries Wigan at Old Trafford. It was actually Huddersfield who topped the table with Wigan down in 4th, meaning Wire became red-hot favourites when they defeated the Giants in the semis. However, it wasn't to be. Still, Wire were very good in 2013, finishing comfortably 2nd and just a point off top spot. They finished the league season with seven consecutive wins and followed it up with a wonderful 40-20 win over Leeds in the playoffs, Ben Westwood crossing four times at the Halliwell Jones to help move the team into the semis. Huddersfield may have been the league leaders but Warrington played like champions against them, seeing off their challenge with braces for Simon Grix and Joel Monaghan, and Ryan Atkins scoring too. Despite a superb first half at Old Trafford which had Wire in touching distance of a first Super League title after tries from Monaghan, Grix and Westwood had earned a 16-6 lead, a second-half collapse in which Wigan scored 24 unanswered points, four of which came from a try for future Wire man Josh Charnley. A devastating end for Lee Briers in his last game as a rugby league player, while the Wolves also waved goodbye to legends Garreth Carvell and Adrian Morley. Ugh.
3) 2012
Oh, so near but yet so far. Wire made their second appearance in a Super League Grand Final but were beaten by old adversaries Wigan at Old Trafford. It was actually Huddersfield who topped the table with Wigan down in 4th, meaning Wire became red-hot favourites when they defeated the Giants in the semis. However, it wasn't to be. Still, Wire were very good in 2013, finishing comfortably 2nd and just a point off top spot. They finished the league season with seven consecutive wins and followed it up with a wonderful 40-20 win over Leeds in the playoffs, Ben Westwood crossing four times at the Halliwell Jones to help move the team into the semis. Huddersfield may have been the league leaders but Warrington played like champions against them, seeing off their challenge with braces for Simon Grix and Joel Monaghan, and Ryan Atkins scoring too. Despite a superb first half at Old Trafford which had Wire in touching distance of a first Super League title after tries from Monaghan, Grix and Westwood had earned a 16-6 lead, a second-half collapse in which Wigan scored 24 unanswered points, four of which came from a try for future Wire man Josh Charnley. A devastating end for Lee Briers in his last game as a rugby league player, while the Wolves also waved goodbye to legends Garreth Carvell and Adrian Morley. Ugh.
3) 2012
Coach: Tony Smith
Super League: 2nd (41 points)
Playoffs: Grand Final runners-up
By this point, Tony Smith had built a formidable team that had established themselves as one of the main threats in Super League. 2012 was a continuation of this - finishing 2nd, a point off top spot after a very consistent season. Wire had three hotshots in Joel Monaghan, Ryan Atkins and Chris Riley, who between them scored 71 tries. The highlight of the regular season was undoubtedly a 68-4 dismantling of arch-rivals Widnes at Magic Weekend in Manchester, a game in which Monaghan scored five times. 2012 saw some freshening up of the squad too with the arrivals of Chris Hill, Stefan Ratchford and Trent Waterhouse, all of whom proved to be fantastic signings for the club, while Ben Currie also made his first-team debut. When it came to the playoffs, a home win over Hull FC was followed by a wonderful victory away at St Helens, in which Waterhouse and Riley both scored twice, with added tries for Monaghan and Grix, supported by the excellent goal-kicking of Brett Hodgson. It had taken Wire 16 years to make the 17 mile journey to Old Trafford, but finally they were there. Leeds Rhinos - who Wire defeated at Wembley to win the Challenge Cup six weeks earlier - lie in waiting. It was 14-14 at half-time, Richie Myler and Joel Monaghan scoring, but while Leeds accelerated in the second half, Wire struggled to keep up with the tempo and added just four more points, through Atkins, and Leeds ran out 26-18 winners. Still, at least there was the Challenge Cup.
2) 2016
By this point, Tony Smith had built a formidable team that had established themselves as one of the main threats in Super League. 2012 was a continuation of this - finishing 2nd, a point off top spot after a very consistent season. Wire had three hotshots in Joel Monaghan, Ryan Atkins and Chris Riley, who between them scored 71 tries. The highlight of the regular season was undoubtedly a 68-4 dismantling of arch-rivals Widnes at Magic Weekend in Manchester, a game in which Monaghan scored five times. 2012 saw some freshening up of the squad too with the arrivals of Chris Hill, Stefan Ratchford and Trent Waterhouse, all of whom proved to be fantastic signings for the club, while Ben Currie also made his first-team debut. When it came to the playoffs, a home win over Hull FC was followed by a wonderful victory away at St Helens, in which Waterhouse and Riley both scored twice, with added tries for Monaghan and Grix, supported by the excellent goal-kicking of Brett Hodgson. It had taken Wire 16 years to make the 17 mile journey to Old Trafford, but finally they were there. Leeds Rhinos - who Wire defeated at Wembley to win the Challenge Cup six weeks earlier - lie in waiting. It was 14-14 at half-time, Richie Myler and Joel Monaghan scoring, but while Leeds accelerated in the second half, Wire struggled to keep up with the tempo and added just four more points, through Atkins, and Leeds ran out 26-18 winners. Still, at least there was the Challenge Cup.
2) 2016
Coach: Tony Smith
Super League: League Leaders (43 points)
Playoffs: Grand Final runners-up
Everything about this season looked perfect. Tom Lineham, Jack Hughes and Joe Westerman had significantly bolstered the ranks, but most importantly Wire now had Chris Sandow in the halves, controlling things and creating magic every time he got the ball. Wire won their first seven matches of the season, Sandow getting seven tries in that period. For the first part of the season it looked as if he was guaranteed to win the Man of Steel, further affirmed by a jaw-dropping start at Wigan (highlights below of the best individual performance I've ever seen - even if it was for only half an hour) before picking up an injury which halted his progress. The new man had already kicked a sensational winning drop-goal at Salford and torn Wigan to pieces but was rushed back from injury and never quite recovered his form. Still, massive wins at St Helens and Hull on the last day meant Wire won the league leaders shield for the second time in the club's history, a great achievement. After brilliantly downing Saints in the playoff semis, Wigan awaited at Old Trafford for the Wire. Sandow hadn't played since getting seriously injured in the Challenge Cup final loss five weeks before but was deemed fit for the Grand Final. Tony Smith's men were superb in the first half, preventing Wigan from scoring a try, and went in 6-2 up after a score from Declan Patton. It was a familiar tale though, losing 6-12 after tries from Oliver Gildart and Josh Charnley. That was the last we ever saw of Sandow and Smith's final year in 2017 ended up being a disaster. That was a team that deserved at the very least one of the two major honours. Sandow's injury probably cost them both.
1) 2011
Everything about this season looked perfect. Tom Lineham, Jack Hughes and Joe Westerman had significantly bolstered the ranks, but most importantly Wire now had Chris Sandow in the halves, controlling things and creating magic every time he got the ball. Wire won their first seven matches of the season, Sandow getting seven tries in that period. For the first part of the season it looked as if he was guaranteed to win the Man of Steel, further affirmed by a jaw-dropping start at Wigan (highlights below of the best individual performance I've ever seen - even if it was for only half an hour) before picking up an injury which halted his progress. The new man had already kicked a sensational winning drop-goal at Salford and torn Wigan to pieces but was rushed back from injury and never quite recovered his form. Still, massive wins at St Helens and Hull on the last day meant Wire won the league leaders shield for the second time in the club's history, a great achievement. After brilliantly downing Saints in the playoff semis, Wigan awaited at Old Trafford for the Wire. Sandow hadn't played since getting seriously injured in the Challenge Cup final loss five weeks before but was deemed fit for the Grand Final. Tony Smith's men were superb in the first half, preventing Wigan from scoring a try, and went in 6-2 up after a score from Declan Patton. It was a familiar tale though, losing 6-12 after tries from Oliver Gildart and Josh Charnley. That was the last we ever saw of Sandow and Smith's final year in 2017 ended up being a disaster. That was a team that deserved at the very least one of the two major honours. Sandow's injury probably cost them both.
1) 2011
Coach: Tony Smith
Super League: League Leaders (44 points)
Playoffs: Semi-finalists
How did this side not win the Super League? Warrington in 2011 were playing a whole different sport at times to the rest of the competition. Quite simply, no-one could get near them. After signing Brett Hodgson, who made a staggering difference at full-back, and Joel Monaghan, an electrifying winger who scored tries with ease, to add to the likes of Lee Briers and Matt King, Wire's attacking threat was borderline illegal. Monaghan scored 26 tries with Hodgson grabbing 22 as Tony Smith's team obliterated everything in front of them. Wire hit 40 points or more in 14 matches (for comparison, last year's team did it three times). All of this added up to Wire scoring 1072 points over the course of the 27-game-season, becoming one of only eight teams in the competition's history to get to the 1000 point mark, and only two of them (Bradford 2001 and Leeds 2005) scored more, albeit both of them did it in a game extra. To emphasise that achievement even more, the great St Helens team of 2019 fell short of 1000 points despite playing two games more than Wire in 2011. Last season, Wire scored 709 points (a mind-blowing 363 - three hundred and sixty-three - less than 2011 in two matches more!)
Through the course of the season, Wire achieved rare doubles over Wigan, Leeds and St Helens, demolishing the Rhinos 6-42 at the fortress that is Headingley. As stunning as the team's attack was, the defence was exceptional too, nilling their opponents three times including a 62-0 demolition of Castleford and a stunning 0-60 annihilation away at Salford on the club's final visit to the Willows. Eight times the team conceded six or less points as Wire's incredible defence matched their sparkling attack. With forwards like Adrian Morley and Garreth Carvell, the foundation was always laid for Hodgson, Briers and the Monaghan brothers to wreak havoc. After finishing the Super League season with ten consecutive wins - the club's longest winning run in the competition - Warrington Wolves won the league leaders shield for the first time in its history. Attention turned to the playoffs, where Wire faced Huddersfield at home. Would they be able to rise to the challenge? You bet they would, running out 47-0 winners in a rampant display. Then came the heartbreak. Leeds travelled to the HJ for the semis and somehow booked their place at Old Trafford after a 24-26 victory, with Wire's Matt King having a try controversially disallowed very late on.
This was a side that deserved to win Super League. It was one of the best teams the competition has ever seen, just without the trophy to show for it. They averaged 39.7 points per match, a crazy return. I'm not sure we'll ever see such a good team. A crying shame that they didn't get the crown they so deserved. Warrington's best Super League team and their best Super League season.
Super League: League Leaders (44 points)
Playoffs: Semi-finalists
How did this side not win the Super League? Warrington in 2011 were playing a whole different sport at times to the rest of the competition. Quite simply, no-one could get near them. After signing Brett Hodgson, who made a staggering difference at full-back, and Joel Monaghan, an electrifying winger who scored tries with ease, to add to the likes of Lee Briers and Matt King, Wire's attacking threat was borderline illegal. Monaghan scored 26 tries with Hodgson grabbing 22 as Tony Smith's team obliterated everything in front of them. Wire hit 40 points or more in 14 matches (for comparison, last year's team did it three times). All of this added up to Wire scoring 1072 points over the course of the 27-game-season, becoming one of only eight teams in the competition's history to get to the 1000 point mark, and only two of them (Bradford 2001 and Leeds 2005) scored more, albeit both of them did it in a game extra. To emphasise that achievement even more, the great St Helens team of 2019 fell short of 1000 points despite playing two games more than Wire in 2011. Last season, Wire scored 709 points (a mind-blowing 363 - three hundred and sixty-three - less than 2011 in two matches more!)
Through the course of the season, Wire achieved rare doubles over Wigan, Leeds and St Helens, demolishing the Rhinos 6-42 at the fortress that is Headingley. As stunning as the team's attack was, the defence was exceptional too, nilling their opponents three times including a 62-0 demolition of Castleford and a stunning 0-60 annihilation away at Salford on the club's final visit to the Willows. Eight times the team conceded six or less points as Wire's incredible defence matched their sparkling attack. With forwards like Adrian Morley and Garreth Carvell, the foundation was always laid for Hodgson, Briers and the Monaghan brothers to wreak havoc. After finishing the Super League season with ten consecutive wins - the club's longest winning run in the competition - Warrington Wolves won the league leaders shield for the first time in its history. Attention turned to the playoffs, where Wire faced Huddersfield at home. Would they be able to rise to the challenge? You bet they would, running out 47-0 winners in a rampant display. Then came the heartbreak. Leeds travelled to the HJ for the semis and somehow booked their place at Old Trafford after a 24-26 victory, with Wire's Matt King having a try controversially disallowed very late on.
This was a side that deserved to win Super League. It was one of the best teams the competition has ever seen, just without the trophy to show for it. They averaged 39.7 points per match, a crazy return. I'm not sure we'll ever see such a good team. A crying shame that they didn't get the crown they so deserved. Warrington's best Super League team and their best Super League season.
Daniel (@aloosewire)
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