Better than winning the Lance Todd Trophy

Whitehead is one of only two Warrington players to win the prestigious trophy for being man of the match in a Challenge Cup Final but he rates the current recognition of his exceptional career even higher.

The 63-year-old, who was star of the 1974 Challenge Cup Final success against Featherstone Rovers at Wembley with seven successful goal kicks from all angles, has joined 27 other Wire greats in the Hall of Fame.

After his citation was unveiled to him at The Halliwell Jones Stadium's Hall of Fame Lounge, Whitehead said: "It's marvellous, wonderful. It was a great honour winning the Lance Todd and this tops it.

"I've got twin daughters and three granddaughters - there's no lads in our family. My sister said that this will keep the name of Whitehead going.

"It's nice that people don't forget and it's a real honour."

The Great Britain international, renowned for his bullet-style goalkicking and remarkable sidestep, made 274 appearances for Warrington between 1969 and 1979 but then continued on the coaching staff until 1985.

Warrington Past Players' Association induct three new members to the Hall of Fame each year, with Ray Price and Jim Tranter recently joining Whitehead as new additions.

Welshman Price, who died in 1988, was regarded as one of the finest stand offs of the post-war period and formed one of the club's greatest half-back pairings with Gerry Helme in the golden years between 1953 and 1957.

Tranter was one of the club's first superstars, appearing in the club's first Championship Final of 1926 and going on to complete 439 games for Warrington over 17 years.

Warrington Hall of Fame: Jack Fish 1898 to 1911, Ernie Brookes 1902 to 1920, George Thomas 1903 to 1914, Frank Shugars 1904 to 1912, Jim Tranter 1911 to 1928, Billy Cunliffe 1914 to 1930, Jack Miller 1926 to 1946, Tommy Thompson 1927 to 1934, Billy Dingsdale 1928 to 1940, Bill Shankland 1931 to 1938, Jack Arkwright (Snr) 1934 to 1945, Harold Palin 1936 and 1947 to 1951, Albert Johnson 1939 to 1951, Gerry Helme 1945 to 1957, Brian Bevan 1945 to 1962, Bob Ryan 1945 to 1958, Jim Featherstone 1946 to 1953, Harry Bath 1948 to 1957, Albert Naughton 1949 to 1961, Eric Fraser 1951 to 1964, Laurie Gilfedder 1951 to 1963, Jim Challinor 1952 to 1963, Ray Price 1953 to 1957, Willie Aspinall 1962 to 1971, Parry Gordon 1963 to 1981, Derek Whitehead 1969 to 1979, Ken Kelly 1977 to 1987, Mike Gregory 1982 to 1994.