JEROME Guisset never quite managed to get to a cup final with Warrington Wolves but at least primrose and blue supporters got the chance to cheer him to Wembley with Catalan Dragons.
Prop forward Guisset, the former France and Catalan Dragons captain, is currently the only man to have played for both Wolves and the Perpignan-based club – and was just as popular at both!
Guisset made 137 appearances for Warrington between 2000 and 2004 after spells with hometown club St Esteve and Australian outfit Canberra Raiders.
He is still the only Frenchman to have pulled on the famous primrose and blue colours.
Guisset tasted defeat in three Challenge Cup semi finals with Warrington – against Bradford Bulls in 2000 and 2001, as well as Wigan (who he later joined for a year) in 2004.
But when Catalan Dragons gained a Super League franchise in 2006 he was the perfect squadman choice for his new hometown club after having flown the flag for French rugby league for many years.
And his move back home – with his wife Victoria, from Warrington – was rewarded with an appearance in the first Challenge Cup Final to take place at the new Wembley in 2007.
More than 800 Wolves fans had flocked to cheer him and his teammates on their way when they met Wigan in the semi final at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium a month earlier.
When Guisset retired from playing at the end of the 2010 season, he joined the staff of new head coach Trent Robinson.
The other man to have had a foot in both camps is Kevin Walters.
Former Australian Test stand off or hooker Walters was a late Warrington Wolves signing for the 2000 season in what was set to be a mouthwatering partnership reunion with former Brisbane colleague Allan Langer, who was also preparing for his first season in Super League with Wolves.
But Walters’ stay in Warrington lasted just four games due to personal family reasons and he returned home to Australia.
His next involvement with Super League came as coach of Catalan Dragons.
Walters replaced Mick Potter at the helm at the start of the 2009 campaign and after the team’s shaky start the Australian steered Dragons to an impressive play-offs run that only ended with a narrow 27-20 defeat to eventual Grand Final winners Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium.
The game will always be remembered in history as the ‘choice’ match. For the first time in the game’s history, chiefs allowed the table-toppers to choose their opponents at the semi-final stage and Leeds very nearly lived to regret choosing Walters’ very dangerous and highly physical Dragons outfit.
Walters' coaching role with Dragons ended in September 2010 and he was then replaced by fellow Australian Trent Robinson.
What are your favourite memories of Jerome Guisset as a Warrington Wolves player? Leave your thoughts using the 'have your say' link.
How the Wolves and Dragons embrace started
Fierce fortnight as Wolves lose in France and then beat Dragons in Challenge Cup semi final
Supporters sing each other’s songs at paella party
Sharing in Catalonian celebrations
Meet those with a foot in both camps
The day Wolves fans cheered Les Catalans to Wembley
Back to our Warrington Wolves-Catalan Dragons celebration page
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