The Super League captains are ready to go to war, including Warrington's Paul Hulme
NEWLY named Warrington Wolves’ second season of Super League was one of turmoil.
The outcome was just eight wins from 22 league games and a final position of ninth place, despite new signing Nigel Vagana’s 22 touchdowns making him the competition’s top try scorer.
Head coach John Dorahy was gone before the end of March, Western Samoan half back Willie Swann was among several players discarded early on after poor results only to be recalled after Australian Darryl Van de Velde’s arrival at the helm.
New Warrington Wolves coach Darryl Van de Velde, centre, with two of his assistants John Fieldhouse, left, and Roy Lester
A dispute overhanging from 1996 between the club and Iestyn Harris proved disruptive before the Welsh international joined Leeds Rhinos for £300,000, while star winger Richard Henare was sacked later in the year following off-the-field problems.
Iestyn Harris was left out in the cold for much of his 1997 time with Warrington Wolves
Prop recruit Dallas Mead lasted two games before a knee problem saw him return to New Zealand, while assistant coach Paul Cullen’s hopes of a first-team comeback ended as he retired through injury.
A short campaign for new recruit Dallas Mead, being carried off by physio Tony Rothwell
With a woeful start to the season and Van de Velde picking up the pieces, while seeking to stamp his presence, a staggering 43 players were called on to wear primrose and blue.
Instability from constant changes brought a run of 14 games in the middle of the campaign in which Wolves won only once.
Among the craziness, Warrington chiefs pulled off a fine piece of business in securing 18-year-old rising star Lee Briers from St Helens for £65,000 to answer the need of a half-back partner for Kiwi Kelly Shelford.
Lee Briers, who signed for Warrington Wolves from St Helens
Great Britain Academy honours for Lee Briers in his first year with Warrington Wolves
Other players handed debuts in 1997 were Tony Tatupu, Liam Bretherton, Martin Carney, Chris Causey, Martin Dermott, John Duffy, Andrew Duncan, Richie Eyres, Shaun Geritas, Chris Highton, George Mann, Anthony Murray, David ‘Doc’ Murray, Carl Roden and Paul Wingfield.
Martin Dermott, signed from Wigan Warriors
Tony Tatupu carries Wolves forward against Leeds Rhinos
Playing matches home and away against NRL clubs Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers and Auckland Warriors was historic but the expansion of the World Club Championship to include all top flight teams in the northern and southern hemispheres was flawed financially and through the margins in playing standards.
Wolves lost five of their six games heavily, while the 16-4 defeat at Auckland came in torrential wet weather conditions.
A try for former Woolston Rovers forward Shaun Geritas against Penrith Panthers
Kelly Shelford looks for a way through against Penrith Panthers in the World Club Championship
Salesi Finau tries to break free from Joe Vagana's grasp as Warrington Wolves host Auckland Warriors in the World Club Championship
Tawera Nikau leads out Cronulla Sharks in the World Club Championship at Wilderspool Stadium
Paul Sculthorpe looks to get a pass away against Penrith Panthers
Watch highlights of Warrington Wolves v Cronulla here:
Or the full game here:
The season’s highlight was an unexpected home win against Wigan, coming on Easter Monday a few days after Dorahy was sacked.
Cullen was made caretaker coach and inspired his rock-bottom team – after thumpings by Bradford, London and Sheffield – to one of the biggest upsets for years. Vagana claimed a hat-trick that day in front of 7,213 supporters.
Nigel Vagana salutes his Wolves hat-trick in the win against Wigan Warriors
A hug for Paul Cullen from Alex Murphy after masterminding the 'upset' victory over Wigan Warriors
Watch the tries from the win against Wigan here:
Wolves’ form did pick up slightly upon the return from Down Under in August, with wins over Salford, Castleford and Paris, with the latter game being moved to Bayonne in the south of France and Van de Velde’s men collecting a 17-10 win courtesy of two tries from Mark Forster.
Supporters Garry Clarke and Stan Lewandowski enjoying supporting Wolves against Paris St Germain in Bayonne
But in the main, the end of term could not come quickly enough.
SEASON'S RESULTS:
Challenge Cup:
Feb 9: Wolves 66 Barrow Braves 6
Feb 23: Wolves 31 Sheffield Eagles 18
Mar 8: Wolves 10 Salford Reds 29
World Club Championship:
Jun 8: Wolves 12 Cronulla Sharks 40
Jun 15: Wolves 22 Penrith Panthers 52
Jun 23: Wolves 28 Auckland Warriors 56
July 18: Penrith Panthers 48 Wolves 12
July 26: Cronulla Sharks 44 Wolves 0
Aug 3: Auckland Warriors 16 Wolves 4
Premiership Trophy:
Sep 5: Sheffield Eagles 26 Wolves 16
Super League:
Mar 14: Bradford Bulls 58 Wolves 20
Mar 21: Wolves 18 London Broncos 38
Mar 28: Sheffield Eagles 32 Wolves 18
Mar 31: Wolves 35 Wigan Warriors 24
Apr 6: Wolves 28 Oldham Bears 18
Apr 13: Castleford Tigers 8 Wolves 24
Apr 20: St Helens 60 Wolves 16
Apr 27: Wolves 37 Paris St Germain 34
May 11: Halifax Blue Sox 42 Wolves 30
May 18: Wolves 14 Bradford Bulls 38
May 23: London Broncos 30 Wolves 6
May 26: Wolves 12 Sheffield Eagles 38
May 30: Leeds Rhinos 50 Wolves 12
Jun 27: Salford Reds 26 Wolves 14
July 6: Wolves 25 Halifax Blue Sox 22
July 11: Wolves 16 Leeds Rhinos 23
Aug 10: Wolves 23 Salford Reds 8
Aug 13: Wigan Warriors 32 Wolves 16
Aug 16: Paris St Germain 10 Wolves 17
Aug 22: Wolves 20 St Helens 22
Aug 25: Wolves 22 Castleford Tigers 14
Aug 31: Oldham Bears 20 Wolves 14
SUPER LEAGUE TABLE:
P W D L Pt
Bradford Bulls 22 20 0 2 40
London Broncos 22 15 3 4 33
St Helens 22 14 1 7 29
Wigan Warriors 22 14 0 8 28
Leeds Rhinos 22 13 1 8 27
Salford Reds 22 11 0 11 22
Halifax Blue Sox 22 8 2 12 18
Sheffield Eagles 22 9 0 13 18
Warrington Wolves 22 8 0 14 16
Castleford Tigers 22 5 2 1 12
Paris St Germain 22 6 0 16 12
Oldham Bears 22 4 1 17 9
SQUAD STATS:
App T G Dg Pt
Paul Barrow 0+2 0 0 0 0
Liam Bretherton 0+2 0 0 0 0
Lee Briers 22 4 45 6 112
Martin Carney 0+1 0 0 0 0
Chris Causey 0+6 0 0 0 0
Gary Chambers 25 0 0 0 0
Andy Currier 0+2 1 0 0 4
Paul Darbyshire 0+7 0 0 0 0
Gareth Davies 1+4 0 0 0 0
Martin Dermott 3 1 0 1 5
John Duffy 5+4 0 0 0 0
Andrew Duncan 2+2 0 0 0 0
Richie Eyres 3+5 0 0 0 0
Salesi Finau 20+6 7 0 0 28
Mark Forster 28 12 0 0 48
Shaun Geritas 1+7 2 0 0 8
Iestyn Harris 1+1 0 3 0 6
Richard Henare 13+2 12 0 0 48
Chris Highton 1+2 0 0 0 0
Mark Hilton 5 0 0 0 0
Chris Holden 2+1 0 0 0 0
John Hough 3 1 0 0 4
Paul Hulme 17 1 0 0 4
Ian Knott 10+8 3 0 0 12
Toa Kohe-Love 9+3 4 0 0 16
George Mann 17+7 1 0 0 4
Mateaki Mafi 4+0 1 0 0 4
Dallas Mead 2 0 0 0 0
Anthony Murray 1 0 0 0 0
David Murray 0+3 0 0 0 0
Lee Penny 19+1 4 0 0 16
Carl Roden 1+2 0 0 0 0
Jon Roper 28+2 9 31 0 98
Chris Rudd 8+8 1 1 0 6
Paul Sculthorpe 28 3 0 0 12
Kelly Shelford 28 5 0 1 21
Warren Stevens 15+11 0 0 0 0
Willie Swann 20+1 9 0 0 36
Tony Tatupu 31+1 7 0 0 28
Tony Thorniley 0+8 0 0 0 0
Nigel Vagana 30 22 0 0 88
Mike Wainwright 8+9 1 0 0 4
Paul Wingfield 5+3 6 1 0 26
Click here for Super League l review, pictures and videos
Wolves overseas players, from left, Nigel Vagana, Salesi Finau, Tony Tatupu, Kelly Shelford and Richard Henare
One for the future...Ian Sibbitt, signed during 1997
What are your memories of the 1997 season? Leave your comments below
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