Alex Murphy's Warrington Wolves debut 50 years ago today

He was a sensational summer capture from Leigh, just days after they had won the Challenge Cup at Wembley in May 1971.

The euphoria over the signing day had died down, and in its place the hard work through summer of getting Warrington back to being a top team after they had finished in 22nd place in the previous league campaign.

Murphy pointed out at the time: “A coach can do all the preparation he likes, but when it’s hey-lads-hey, it’s the players’ work on the field that decides the way a match goes.”

His father James had also played for The Wire previously, at centre, in the reserves.

So Murphy, aged 32, donned the primrose and blue jersey in a Lancashire Cup first round tie at home to Whitehaven.

The team lined up as follows: Derek Whitehead; Conrad Barton, Bob Fleet, Ron Smith, Mick Hennighan; Alex Murphy, Parry Gordon; Brian Larkin, George Heard, Brian Brady, Brian Gregory, Peter Cannon, Ken Parr.

Two other players were making their debuts that day, centre Ron Smith, and hooker George Heard.

Ron Smith, above, and George Heard below, far left

If Murphy was going to show to the fans that he meant business, then he did so by completing a ‘treble’ in the game.

He scored a try, kicked a conversation and dropped a goal, as Warrington progressed into the next round, winning 17-9.

The seven points he scored in that match were ironically the most he ever got in a game for Warrington.

He would go on to make 66+1 appearances, scoring nine tries, 12 goals, and 28 drop goals, totalling 107 points for the primrose and blue.

His Warrington heritage number is 713, probably ideal for him as a top number 7 in the 13 man game.

The good times were on their way!

Report contributed by Stanski