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Just looking at the record for the 2002 season on rugby league project: www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seaso ... mmary.html
It was ten years last weekend, since we beat Castleford, in that memorable game where Darren Burns was an inspiration, to secure our survival.
I wonder if we went back in time to then, what we would all think the future held for us.
This was before Simon Moran had taken full ownership of the club, although he was already playing an increasing part, he put up the cash mid season for us to sign Nat Wood, who was instrumental in our survival that season, and Ben Westwood, who must be one of the most inspired signings in SL history.
We had one more season to come at Wilderspool and I remember Cullen saying the goal was "leave Wilderspool with dignity", ie don't be crap every week like we have been this season.
I reckon back then the best I could have hoped for, was for us to establish ourselves as a steady mid table club like we had been in the late 80s and early 90s before Super League. There were a few promising signs with young players coming through like Pickersgill and Jamie Durbin who everyone had high hopes for, so I hoped they would turn out good. Oh and the dream would be to sign Danny Halliwell who had scored a lot of tries on loan for us that season...
Who would have thought back then, as we watched Adrian Morley win the NRL Grand Final with the Roosters, and starting to become accepted as the best forward in world rugby, that Morley would end up being our next captain, and lead us to three Challenge Cups....? |
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Just looking at the record for the 2002 season on rugby league project: www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seaso ... mmary.html
It was ten years last weekend, since we beat Castleford, in that memorable game where Darren Burns was an inspiration, to secure our survival.
I wonder if we went back in time to then, what we would all think the future held for us.
This was before Simon Moran had taken full ownership of the club, although he was already playing an increasing part, he put up the cash mid season for us to sign Nat Wood, who was instrumental in our survival that season, and Ben Westwood, who must be one of the most inspired signings in SL history.
We had one more season to come at Wilderspool and I remember Cullen saying the goal was "leave Wilderspool with dignity", ie don't be crap every week like we have been this season.
I reckon back then the best I could have hoped for, was for us to establish ourselves as a steady mid table club like we had been in the late 80s and early 90s before Super League. There were a few promising signs with young players coming through like Pickersgill and Jamie Durbin who everyone had high hopes for, so I hoped they would turn out good. Oh and the dream would be to sign Danny Halliwell who had scored a lot of tries on loan for us that season...
Who would have thought back then, as we watched Adrian Morley win the NRL Grand Final with the Roosters, and starting to become accepted as the best forward in world rugby, that Morley would end up being our next captain, and lead us to three Challenge Cups....? | |
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| May 2002 | 23 years | |
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Honest answer: If we would have been relegated, I really don't think the club would exist in tits present form, if at all. Scary to think how far we have come in a relatively short space of time.
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| May 2010 | 15 years | |
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Exceeded all expectations im still living the dream in that era of ten years ago and before i would of given my right arm for my beloved wire to appear in a cc final and roll on to now 3 finals a legue leaders shield and a strong position for old trafford in 4 seasons is just mind blowing
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| Oct 2004 | 20 years | |
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| Quote ="getdownmonkeyman"Honest answer: If we would have been relegated, I really don't think the club would exist in tits present form, if at all. Scary to think how far we have come in a relatively short space of time.'"
I think that's an exaggeration to be honest. The stadium was going ahead in 2004 anyway. We would have more than likely won promotion in 2003 like Salford did, and started at the HJ back in our new stadium.
The problem would have been we would have been likely to lose guys like Briers, Westwood and Paul Wood, so I think the rebuilding job would have been that bit harder.
It would have been more damaging to us, if we had had the stadium appeal turned down, that would have meant the club would not exist in its present form, I still think it would have existed though. Heck London Broncos still exist despite all the predictions that its the end for them every year, Wakefield still exist too. From the point Andy Gatcliffe came in the club changed direction and moved away from heading to the rocks, it took the new stadium and Simon Moran's money to catapult us forwards though. But also a lot of work from a lot of people behind the scenes on the youth system etc. I think there's a lot of credit to be had for people that worked for Warrington Wolves. |
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| Sep 2011 | 13 years | |
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Some of those results bring back memories. About 20-0 down at half time in that opening game V Halifax and coming back to win 30-22, shock wins at Hull and Leeds, Briers kicking 5 drop goals at the Shay and we still lost, the 72-2 battering (we scored first though, golden boots Paul Noone with the penalty), absolutely baking weather at Carcassone for that London game when they had 4 halves because everyone was knackered, absolutely baking weather for Widnes away and being in that open terrace they had, Hunte going the full length at the Salford home game and Graham Appo came from nowhere and nearly caught him, getting absolutely mullered V Wakefield on the last day of the season to keep them up. Happy ing days.
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| Feb 2010 | 15 years | |
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We have a LOT to be thankful for, in those dark days
A fantastic benefactor
A small number of good players in that 2002 season
Doug Hoyle having friends in very high places the year before. Had the club not had the go-ahead for the HJ, God alone knows where we'd be.
Some fortunate wins that season, a few which were 6 points or less, which kept us up.
Cullen's enthusiasm (even though his results were worse than Plange's, iirc).
On the downside, we had
A massive amount of dross on our books
Some local politicians, who most of us wouldn't like to meet, for fear of what we might do to them.
Appaling coaches (incl Cullen, who wasn't SL quality at the time).
All of the above just goes to show, what happens when you stick with your club. It'll all come right, in the end.
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| Mar 2009 | 16 years | |
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| Quote ="lefty goldblatt"
Cullen's enthusiasm (even though his results were worse than Plange's, iirc).
'"
Do you mean for the remainder of that season?
He won 2 from 6 and apart from the bumming at Wakefield didn't do so bad all considering, and his first game we lost by a drop goal. |
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| May 2002 | 23 years | |
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| Quote ="sally cinnamon"I think that's an exaggeration to be honest. The stadium was going ahead in 2004 anyway. We would have more than likely won promotion in 2003 like Salford did, and started at the HJ back in our new stadium.
The problem would have been we would have been likely to lose guys like Briers, Westwood and Paul Wood, so I think the rebuilding job would have been that bit harder.
It would have been more damaging to us, if we had had the stadium appeal turned down, that would have meant the club would not exist in its present form, I still think it would have existed though. Heck London Broncos still exist despite all the predictions that its the end for them every year, Wakefield still exist too. From the point Andy Gatcliffe came in the club changed direction and moved away from heading to the rocks, it took the new stadium and Simon Moran's money to catapult us forwards though. But also a lot of work from a lot of people behind the scenes on the youth system etc. I think there's a lot of credit to be had for people that worked for Warrington Wolves.'"
If we had been plying our trade in the Championship in 2003, do you think Andrew Johns would have been with us in 2005? The positive publicity his short stint gave us was, and continues to be, invaluable. It would have been a a hell of a turnaround to get him here on the back of one and a bit seasons back in SL. |
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| Jun 2007 | 18 years | |
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| Quote ="getdownmonkeyman"Honest answer: If we would have been relegated, I really don't think the club would exist in tits present form, if at all. Scary to think how far we have come in a relatively short space of time.'"
The fact that we didn't get relegated means we remain the one and only team never to have been relegated from the top division.  |
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| Aug 2012 | 12 years | |
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As a barometer of how far we've come, the BBC recently described us as "a truly great challenge cup team" - I think that was the quote, I had fallen off the sofa at the time in shock.
I guess it's proof how quickly the wheel of fortune turns in sport, and how success breeds success.
Enjoy it folks, we deserve it.
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| Only ten years? That seems like a lifetime ago now, though I still remember it well. I remember how ecstatic I was when we made the playoffs the year after, and how my uncle didn't believe me mid-season when I thought we would just make it into them. The last few years still seem like a bit of a dream, that they can't really be happening.
I'm kind of glad we were struggling that much, in a way, as the memory (mostly) keeps us from being arrogant, and makes this time of success all the sweeter  |
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| Nov 2002 | 22 years | |
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It's funny I was thinking the same thing when I was watching us at Wembley the other week - that the season from hell was 10 years ago.
I remember that opening Halifax game really well - didn't Kidwell score an interception to seal the game?
I remember a dire game against Wakefield, which we won, - we unveilved Wood and Westwood before that one.
It's a season like that that makes you appreciate what we're enjoying currently.
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| Mar 2002 | 23 years | |
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2002, things i recall from that season.
Being amazed that fozzard made the first game of the season. And being thoroughly impressed by him, one of a few bright spots.
Going up to barrow in the cup, which was a mudbath, only getting warmed up by someone peeing into pints pots on the terrace which then spilled, steam coming up off it was troublingly warm.
Going to valley parade, hating it, and watching us just not play at all, rocket rodwell for some reason was being kept out of the way at hooker, cos he was injured.
That monday/tuesday night game against london on sky(same night as man utd playing in the champions league) which was the second sit in in the railway end, and also the night anderson left adn rockets car got rocked in the car park, not good.
'That' defeat away at salford, in which kidwell stunk out the place, i think he left warrington, the following couple of weeks, citing homesickness.
Getting rinsed, away at wigan on a friday night, our first team versus most of their academy team.
that defeat aleady mentioned against st helens, guisset getting sent off for the softest high tackle you've seen. Dean gaskell making his bow and then getting carried off in the first half having done his ankle ligaments
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| Mar 2002 | 23 years | |
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craig mcdowell. Too few people remember this lazy waste of space. fattest half back since adam doyle.
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| Feb 2002 | 23 years | |
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| Quote ="lefty goldblatt"...On the downside, we had
...Appaling coaches (incl Cullen, who wasn't SL quality at the time).
..'"
I think that's a bit harsh. Yes, his shortcomings became painfully obvious a few years later but at the back end of 2002 and through 2003 and to a lesser extent the following couple of years he was just what we needed. Don't forget the team that won the cup in 2009 was almost entirely made up of players signed by Cull and we still have a fair few he brought to the club or retained. No, he couldn't quite take us where we got to himself but he certainly played a part in our current success. |
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| Oct 2002 | 22 years | |
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Some horrific memories from the pitch that year but some great days out at away matches.
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| Jun 2005 | 20 years | |
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| Quote ="The All New Chester Wire"Some horrific memories from the pitch that year but some great days out at away matches.'"
The terraces were more fun then. Lots of gallows humour. |
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| Mar 2002 | 23 years | |
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| The dawn of squadbuilder meetings, they were great,
i've not been one in ages though  |
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| May 2007 | 18 years | |
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I really did think we were going down that season...Immense performance by Darren Burns in that Cas game..
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| Oct 2004 | 20 years | |
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| Quote ="Fantastic Mr Cat"
Getting rinsed, away at wigan on a friday night, our first team versus most of their academy team.'"
I left that game at half time it was that bad. Had to find a steward to let me out  My Dad was still listening to the game on the radio when i walked through to door.
That team was shocking though bar a very notable few. The worst thing was we bought into Anderson's plans, after all he'd been assistant to Chris Anderson - who's record wasn't too shabby. What we got, in current terms was a Stephen Kearney rather than a Michael Maguire... |
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My Dad was still listening to the game on the radio when i walked through to door.
