Quote: wirecation "I don't that often go much these days. I agree the stadium is looking tired especially on the outside. The first few years at the HJ were definately rocking. There was plenty of entertainment in those Nathan Wood years. I recall we would often up our game and play the likes of Wigan and Bradford off the park but then we would often lose the next week to Huddersfield or Wakefield. We never really made it like a fortress. But i suppose that is a Warrington team all over. Inconsistent. But they have been the best memories for me. It was the last time SL was exciting. Even during 2011-13. Sure we won most games and played excellent rugby but there isn't much that sticks out in my head. Especially as a great memory. Not sure why?'"
It's a really interesting point.
The last few years at Wilderspool were similar. I remember some fantastic atmospheres in the games against big teams going back to the Allan Langer era. The match day atmosphere was better - and this is nothing to do with off-pitch entertainment / match day experience, the fans were absorbed in the excitement of the game. I think the early to mid 2000s were a high point for Super League in general and maybe we rode off the back of that. It was similar in terms of internationals, back then I used to always go to GB test matches and there would be some great atmospheres in the games against the Aussies and Kiwis.
I obviously enjoyed the Tony Smith era with us winning 3 Challenge Cups and for three years being within touching distance of Grand Final winners. But in those years we didn't seem to have the same edge in the stadium, even in the big games against Wigan or when we finally started beating Saints.
When was the turning point? I think the peak HJ atmosphere had already passed by the end of the Cullen era. It was at its best from around 2004-07.
