Which players could return to the Wire?

With the news in the last week that James Graham would be returning to St Helens for the remainder of 2020 after nine years in the NRL, followed by Wigan Warriors announcing that John Bateman is coming home next year after two seasons with Canberra Raiders, I started to think about what ex-Warrington players could possibly return?


The first thing to note is that unlike Saints and Wigan, with Graham and Bateman (and George Williams), Warrington haven't really got any legend that is still playing elsewhere. The ex-Wire men that are still playing are predominantly ones that didn't make the grade at the HJ, or are of a certain age now. Here are a selection of who's still out there that once donned the primrose and blue...

Dom Crosby
Left: 2018     Current Club: Leeds Rhinos
Prop forward Crosby left Warrington very early into Steve Price's reign and has been incredibly unlucky with injuries at Leeds so far. At 29 years of age and struggling for any kind of game time, this one seems particularly unlikely.

Jack Johnson
Left: 2019     Current Club: Widnes Vikings
Johnson is now plying his trade at Widnes after a successful loan spell at Featherstone last season. He is a hard-working winger or full-back and as a backup option is just as good, and much cheaper, than Jake Mamo. Perhaps Wire could have another look at him down the line?

Peta Hiku
Left: 2017     Current Club: New Zealand Warriors
Ten tries in eleven games for Wire in a short spell in 2017. A superb centre or full-back who is now starting in the NRL and only 27 years old, if Warrington could re-sign any player, it would be Hiku for me.

Andre Savelio
Left: 2017     Current Club: Hull FC
Some Wire fans were disappointed when Savelio signed for Hull FC last year. The second-rower was a popular figure in his year at Warrington, and with question marks over the future of Ben Currie, and the impending departure of Ben Murdoch-Masila, the second row is an area that could perhaps be strengthened.

Joe Westerman
Left: 2017     Current Club: Wakefield Trinity
In 53 appearances for Wire between 2016 and 2017, Westerman established himself as a forward of good quality, a reputation he has maintained at Hull FC and Wakefield. We certainly do miss something in the forward pack, but someone about to turn 31 isn't the kind of player we should be targeting.

Tyrone McCarthy
Left: 2013     Current Club: Salford Red Devils
McCarthy was key in Salford's remarkable run to the Grand Final last year. Again, a very capable forward, but having recently turned 32, there wouldn't be much point in bringing McCarthy back.

Richie Myler
Left: 2015     Current Club: Leeds Rhinos
Myler was one of many unsuccessful half-backs in the last decade at Warrington. He now finds himself at Leeds, where he has garnered a bit of form, but still nowhere near enough for me to ever want him back at the Wire, particularly given the ill feeling between player and club. 

Morgan Smith
Left: 2018     Current Club: London Broncos
Smith is still only 22 and was a bright prospect at Warrington before moving to London, where he has been a first-team regular in the halves. While I would rather have kept Smith than Declan Patton, I see little point in having Smith back now, even as a backup - Riley Dean should now take that role.

Rhys Williams
Left: 2013     Current Club: Salford Red Devils
I'm a big fan of Williams, who is doing well at Salford this year after joining from London. While we perhaps lack depth on the wings, a near 31-year-old is not what we need.

Bryson Goodwin
Left: 2019     Current Club: Cronulla Sharks
Goodwin left the club last season after two successful years. We haven't replaced his try-scoring threat from centre this year, and he has done well since joining Cronulla, but Greg Inglis is on his way, and Goodwin is 34.

Brad Dwyer
Left: 2017     Current Club: Leeds Rhinos
Dwyer has done well at Leeds and is only 27, but in Daryl Clark we have one of the best hookers in the world and Danny Walker is a capable backup, and young too. So this one is a non-starter.

Tyrone Roberts
Left: 2018     Current Club: Gold Coast Titans
Roberts' one year in the North-West was terrible, and his stay in England was cut short, returning to the Gold Coast Titans, where he is now coached by Justin Holbrook. In Blake Austin and Gareth Widdop, Wire have two top halves now, and there is no player in the world that the club need less than Tyrone Roberts.

Matty Russell
Left: 2018     Current Club: Toronto Wolfpack
Russell scored 30 tries for Warrington but was nowhere near good enough to be starting on the wing for the club, and there would be no desire from either party to return.

Benjamin Jullien
Left: 2017     Current Club: Catalans Dragons
Along with Hiku, Jullien is the one that would make most sense in bringing back. He is only 25, a good centre and would provide experience and quality in the centre position. I'd be happy to have him back.

Ryan Atkins
Left: 2019     Current Club: Wakefield Trinity
Atkins' ten years at Warrington came to an end last season, when he had a low-key ending and re-joined Wakefield. While it was a shame to see such a long-serving player leave in quiet circumstances, it would make no sense to bring him back at all.

Chris Sandow
Left: 2016     Current Club: None
Sandow's one season in 2016 gave fans glittering memories forever. Rarely has a Warrington player produced such excitement. He is currently out of the game but there are rumours that he is looking for a way back. If Austin and Widdop were still here, there wouldn't be much point, but from a sentimentality perspective, this would be the most mouth-watering one of the lot.

Daniel (@daykind19)