IT would be inconceivable now to imagine rugby league matches without substitutes.

But that is how things were until the 1960s.

In fact, it was 60 years ago today, on August 22, 1964, that Warrington Wolves used their first substitute.

Here, Stanski delves into the world of rugby league substitutes since that milestone day…

First time:

Warrington’s first substitute was centre Joe Pickavance, who replaced the injured stand-off Willie Aspinall after 21 minutes of the season-opening league game at Leeds on August 22, 1964.

The Wire won 15-11 on a day when, before substitutes were allowed, they would probably have lost.

From the start of that season substitutes were allowed for injuries, but only up to half-time.

It was another five years before subs were allowed at any time for any reason.

Peter Donoghue was Warrington’s first substitute forward – and second ever substitute – at home to St Helens in a Lancashire Cup semi-final on Tuesday, September 29, 1964.

This time the switch could not save The Wire, who lost 10-8 in front of a bumper crowd of 19,258.

Fifteen-man game:

The first time Warrington used both substitutes in a game was in April, 1965, at Rochdale, where a 9-2 win took them to the top of the league.

First point scorer:

Ray Fisher scored the first substitute points with a try against Widnes in August, 1965.

Quickest:

Joe Pickavance came on after only one minute in the Lancashire Cup Final in October, 1967, when Peter Harvey had to go off with a broken nose.

Super subs:

Second-row Ken Parr was Warrington’s first super sub.

He came on at half-time for Dave Cotton against Workington Town at Wilderspool in August, 1967, and scored a second-half hat-trick of tries to seal a 36-6 victory.

Winger Richard Henare was dropped from the starting 13 to the bench after arriving late for Warrington’s Challenge Cup fourth-round tie at Wilderspool in February, 1997.

Once on the pitch, however, he made up for lost time, running in four tries as the Wolves romped to a 66-6 victory.

Unlucky substitutes:

Prop Brian Brady replaced Peter Cannon after 32 minutes of the game against Salford at Wilderspool in November 1970. Peter Harvey, The Wire coach, told him: “Go on, change the game.” Warrington were already 21-0 down and went on to lose 50-0!

Forward Terry Clark came on as a substitute against Leeds at Wilderspool in November, 1978, but only lasted six minutes before he picked up an ankle injury. That was his only Warrington appearance.

Shortest appearance:

Tommy Grainey, the former Leigh full-back, was Alex Murphy’s assistant during the all-conquering 1973-74 season.

He made one substitute appearance at Barrow in October, 1976, because of an injury crisis but was only on the pitch for a few minutes at the end. Warrington won 38-13. Surely the shortest appearance in the club’s history?

Four subs:

For season 1995/96 four substitutes were allowed, which Warrington used in the first game against London Broncos.

Most substitute appearances:

In 2008, hooker Mark Gleeson became the first Warrington player to make 100 appearances as a substitute.

That record has since been extended by Paul Wood, who made 186 appearances off the bench as rugby league effectively became a 17-a-side contest.

Joe Philbin is catching him up and has made 160 substitute appearances – so far.

Strongest bench:

Arguably, Warrington’s strongest bench was for the Magic Weekend game against St Helens at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester in May, 2013.

Tony Smith named Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan and Garreth Carvell (squad numbers 8, 9 and 10) plus young gun Ben Currie (24) as his substitutes.

Morley galloped in for the eighth Warrington try in a 48-22 victory.