WHAT a difference a year makes.
New head coach Paul Cullen turned Warrington Wolves from relegation candidates to play-offs contenders as excitement grew towards the club’s move into a new stadium in 2004.
New stadium was on its way up
Highlights were Wolves’ first ever appearance in the Super League play-offs, courtesy of finishing sixth, an emotional farewell to Wilderspool and the way they dealt with an injury blow that could have rocked the campaign.
Fans crammed into Wilderspool Stadium for the last league game on the ground
Although lengthy contracts afforded to some existing players by previous boss Steve Anderson restricted Cullen’s dabbling into the transfer market, he recruited a few gems.
Three-quarter Brent Grose arrived from South Sydney Rabbitohs, while back-rowers Ian Sibbit and Mike Wainwright, as well as hooker Mark Gleeson, returned to the club.
Brent Grose breaks free with Jerome Guisset trying to keep up
Dave Alstead, Dean Busby, Leon Felton, John Hill, Dale Laughton, Steve Maden, Tommy O’Reilly and the retiring Paul Marquet made way.
Although sights were set on simply ensuring Wolves did not get dragged into another relegation dogfight, the team responded to Cullen’s ‘must win’ tactics for key games.
But skipper Lee Briers, the ‘heart and soul’ of Wolves’ three wins in four games in mid-season in what was seen as a response to omission from the Lancashire team for the Origin Series, broke a bone in his wrist during a two-try display in a 50-8 dismantling of London Broncos.
The long-term injury to Wolves’ main organiser and most potent creative force resulted in the team being written off but Cullen and company had other ideas.
Nobody could have guessed the immense impact Aussie Graham Appo, out of condition when signed from French rugby union in 2002, would go on to make as Briers’ deputy.
A Graham Appo try against Leeds Rhinos
He formed a top quality half-back combination with stand-in skipper Nathan Wood, including scoring a club league record 34 points – four tries and nine goals – in Wolves’ biggest win of the Super League era (Wolves 66 Halifax 6).
All led to the last ever league game at a crumbling but sold-out Wilderspool Stadium, with Wolves needing to win to finish in the top six.
The capacity crowd was treated to a sensational Wolves performance, with Appo, three, Sid Domic, two, Ben Westwood, two, and Paul Noone marking the historic occasion with tries in a 52-12 success. Appo also set a league record for Wolves by banging over 10 goals.
A Ben Westwood try in the last league at Wilderspool Stadium
All of these pictures are from the last Warrington Wolves league game at Wildersppol Stadium
Impressive Wolves led 12-6 at half time at Wigan in the play-offs but failed to add to their score in the second half as the home forwards took over on their run to the Grand Final.
Wolves rounded off their 2003 season with a friendly against the touring New Zealand A, officially the last first-team game on the 105-year-old ground.
SEASON’S RESULTS:
Challenge Cup:
Feb 8: Wolves 12 Bradford Bulls 38
Super League:
Feb 22: Huddersfield Giants 8 Wolves 20
Mar 9: Wolves 22 Leeds 32
Mar 22: London Broncos 8 Wolves 29
Mar 30: Wolves 14 Hull FC 27
Apr 6: Bradford Bulls 32 Wolves 8
Apr 18: Wolves 35 Wakefield Trinity 20
Apr 21: St Helens 56 Wolves 6
May 3: Wolves 34 Widnes Vikings 6
May 9: Halifax 8 Wolves 38
May 16: Wigan Warriors 21 Wolves 20
May 24: Wolves 16 Castleford Tigers 32
Jun 1: Wolves 30 St Helens 30
Jun 8: Wakefield Trinity 32 Wolves 12
Jun 15: Wolves 20 Bradford Bulls 24
Jun 22: Widnes Vikings 28 Wolves 32
Jun 28: Wolves 32 Huddersfield Giants 28
Jul 6: Leeds Rhinos 30 Wolves 20
Jul 13: Wolves 50 London Broncos 8
Jul 20: Hull FC 38 Wolves 14
Jul 27: Wolves 66 Halifax 6
Aug 3: Wolves 16 Wigan Warriors 18
Aug 10: Castleford Tigers 16 Wolves 29
Aug 17: London Broncos 19 Wolves 12
Aug 23: Wolves 30 Widnes Vikings 16
Aug 29: Leeds Rhinos 34 Wolves 26
Sep 7: Wolves 40 Halifax 18
Sep 12: Huddersfield Giants 12 Wolves 25
Sep 21: Wolves 52 Wakefield Trinity 12
Play-offs:
Sep 27: Wigan Warriors 25 Wolves 12
Tour game:
Oct 26: Wolves 28 New Zealand A 26
SUPER LEAGUE TABLE:
P W D L F A Pt
Bradford Bulls 28 22 0 6 878 529 44
Leeds Rhinos 28 19 3 6 751 555 41
Wigan Warriors 28 19 2 7 776 512 40
St Helens 28 16 1 11 845 535 33
London Broncos 28 14 2 12 643 696 30
Warrington Wolves 28 14 1 13 748 619 29
Hull FC 28 13 3 12 701 577 29
Castleford Tigers 28 12 1 15 612 633 25
Widnes Vikings 28 12 1 15 640 727 25
Huddersfield Giants 28 11 1 16 628 715 23
Wakefield Trinity 28 7 1 20 505 774 15
Halifax Blue Sox 28 1 0 27 372 1,227 2
SQUAD STATS 2003:
App T G Dg Pt
Graham Appo 29+1 23 62 0 216
Phil Berry 1 0 0 0 0
Lee Briers 15 7 64 4 160
Darren Burns 27+2 9 0 0 36
Mike Callan 0 0 0 0 0
Daryl Cardiss 7 2 2 0 12
Jon Clarke 29 4 0 0 16
Kevin Crouthers 2 0 0 0 0
Sid Domic 21+3 10 0 0 40
Jamie Durbin 1+1 1 0 0 4
Nick Fozzard 26+1 1 0 0 4
Dean Gaskell 20 1 0 0 4
Mark Gleeson 2+18 1 0 0 4
Mike Govin 1 1 0 0 4
Brent Grose 30 15 0 0 60
Tommy Grundy 0+1 1 0 0 4
Jérôme Guisset 8+18 3 0 0 12
Danny Heaton 1 0 0 0 0
Mark Hilton 26+1 2 0 0 8
Gary Hulse 3+15 2 0 0 8
Paul Noone 13+14 1 0 0 4
Nick Owen 1 1 4 0 12
Dave Pennington 0+1 0 0 0 0
Lee Penny 13 4 0 0 16
Dave Saxton 0+1 0 0 0 0
Ian Sibbit 21+1 5 0 0 20
Rob Smyth 18 11 3 0 50
Warren Stevens 2+23 0 0 0 0
Matt Sturm 1+5 0 0 0 0
Richard Varkulis 1 0 0 0 0
Mike Wainwright 21+3 1 0 0 4
Steve Warburton 1 1 0 0 4
Ben Westwood 18+1 8 0 0 32
Shane Williams 1 0 0 0 0
Matty Wilson 0+1 0 0 0 0
Nathan Wood 29 10 0 2 42
Paul Wood 14+12 6 0 0 24
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