FORUMS > Warrington Wolves > Top 10 groundbreaking signings |
![](images/sitelogos/2022-21.jpg) |
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 4534 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jul 2015 | 9 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jun 2024 | Jun 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
74166_1608576718.jpeg Just my opinions unless it's a FACT, in which case it's a fact.:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_74166.jpeg |
|
| Actually as a statement of intent I would include Henry Fa’afili, it signalled a significant step up.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Coach | 16256 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2004 | 20 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jun 2024 | Jun 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
10289_1326111229.png Challenge Cup winners 2009 2010 2012 2019
League Leaders 2011 2016:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_10289.png |
|
| Yes Fa'afili was an important signing because it followed quickly after Gleeson. It gave credibility to the things we were saying when Gleeson was signed - this is just the start, we're looking at bringing in a number of international calibre players etc. Also, he was signed mid-season to come over straight away, whereas Gleeson was suspended till the next season.
Fa'afili was a current NZ international winger who was known over here from getting a hat-trick against GB, so it was a big signing at the time. I got a NZ Warriors shirt off ebay to wear for the rest of that season.
The Gleeson and Fa'afili signings kept momentum going at an important time for us in our first season in the new stadium as these stadium moves don't always go right. Wigan's crowds dropped when they went to the JJB and the atmosphere was awful for a while, same with West Ham going to the Olympic Stadium. It can take years to recover from that as fans just start saying its not the same as the old ground. We had momentum in the second half of 2003 and Wilderspool was rocking in that last game when Appo got a hat-trick, then it carried over to the start of 2004 when we opened the HJ with that win over Wakefield. By mid season we'd stalled though because of some bad results and the old feeling of negativity, another false dawn was creeping over the club, then we signed Gleeson, backed it up with Fa'afili and then announced Logan Swann and the return of Toa (which was incredibly popular) for 2005, and it really helped create excitement which made the move to the HJ a success. The club did a great job of building a brand along with the move to the HJ, from that first season we were always an aspirational club. So much of that was of course due to Simon Moran's increased involvement.
Before we got Gleeson, the rumours had already started around agents and journalists that Warrington were looking to make a big splash. The whisper on the grapevine was that Iestyn Harris was coming back from RU and Leeds might not take up their preference option on him. Someone sent a fake press release around, with a picture where they photoshopped Harris' head on Mark Hilton's body and it made some reputable news outlets that Wire had signed Harris. ![Laughing icon_lol.gif](images/smilies//icon_lol.gif)
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 439 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jun 2002 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2024 | Jan 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
2182.gif :2182.gif |
|
| I’m surprised no one has mentioned Boyd, we made stir when we signed him (not a particularly positive stir) but he helped improve the culture of the club and brought the best out of an exciting crop of young forwards.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Coach | 16256 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2004 | 20 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jun 2024 | Jun 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
10289_1326111229.png Challenge Cup winners 2009 2010 2012 2019
League Leaders 2011 2016:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_10289.png |
|
| He was before my time so I didn't put him in my top 10, but signing one of the "1982 Invincibles" must have been on par with the Langer/Inglis signings at least.
|
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3853 | ![](images/sitelogos/forumcells/154.gif) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2010 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Oct 2023 | Sep 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
53838_1362327793.jpg And so you aim towards the sky,
And you'll rise high today,
Fly away, Far away,
Far from pain....:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_53838.jpg |
|
| Quote: sally cinnamon "He was before my time so I didn't put him in my top 10, but signing one of the "1982 Invincibles" must have been on par with the Langer/Inglis signings at least.'"
It was. The fact he was serving a large ban for eye gouging and had a reputation for, putting it nicely, enjoying the biff, helped to really sell it too.
His debut in a Lancs Cup semi against Widnes certainly had an incredible atmosphere.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 7986 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2010 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jun 2024 | Jun 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
49863_1309431041.jpg Neither glass half full or empty. Just a realist.:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_49863.jpg |
|
| Quote: sir adrian morley "Andy Gregory..showed our intent on breaking Wigan's dominance in the 80s..shame he went there after a relatively short career at wire'"
For a man of my vintage, Gregory was a massive signing (but Wigan weren't dominant then, SAM).
I started watching in late '79, and from then, until Gregory's signing in Jan 85's transfer deadline, we didn't sign ANYONE of note.
The transfer embargo of Australians was lifted circa' 84, Wigan signed Brett Kenny and John Ferguson (both brilliant). St H got Meninga (a God), and Halifax signed half of the ARL, and ended up winning the league (the next season) . We went for Paul Younane, who, at best, was average.
A few months after Gregory, we got Boyd, Blake, Tamati and Rathbone, and we reached 2 finals and won 1. So Gregory (for me) was a groundbraker
|
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 17092 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Mar 2008 | 16 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2024 | Jul 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
38352_1407962301.jpg Packs Win Games
Great Packs Make All Backs Look Class
#onceawirealwaysawire:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_38352.jpg |
|
| Quote: lefty goldblatt "For a man of my vintage, Gregory was a massive signing (but Wigan weren't dominant then, SAM).
I started watching in late '79, and from then, until Gregory's signing in Jan 85's transfer deadline, we didn't sign ANYONE of note.
The transfer embargo of Australians was lifted circa' 84, Wigan signed Brett Kenny and John Ferguson (both brilliant). St H got Meninga (a God), and Halifax signed half of the ARL, and ended up winning the league (the next season) . We went for Paul Younane, who, at best, was average.
A few months after Gregory, we got Boyd, Blake, Tamati and Rathbone, and we reached 2 finals and won 1. So Gregory (for me) was a groundbraker'"
If Greg could have given us 2 more seasons, we’d have broke Wigan.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 4224 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Aug 2018 | 6 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2024 | Jul 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
: |
|
| John Bevan for me, should be on that list.
|
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Moderator | 5871 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2012 | 12 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2024 | Jul 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
66556_1331046115.jpg :d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_66556.jpg |
Moderator
|
| Quote: MorePlaymakersNeeded "John Bevan for me, should be on that list.'"
Spot on he'd be on my list too. Although it was easier to tempt Welsh RU players to our code he was an international and British Lion in his prime
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 4534 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jul 2015 | 9 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jun 2024 | Jun 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
74166_1608576718.jpeg Just my opinions unless it's a FACT, in which case it's a fact.:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_74166.jpeg |
|
| Every week at the start of Grandstand they showed that famous Welsh RU try and you see JB available at least twice, and every week I’d shout “pass it to Bev”...obsessed
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Coach | 16256 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2004 | 20 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jun 2024 | Jun 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
10289_1326111229.png Challenge Cup winners 2009 2010 2012 2019
League Leaders 2011 2016:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_10289.png |
|
| John Bevan was only 22 when he signed for Wire so he must have been broken through in RU very young to have been a Welsh international and already done a Lions tour.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 3853 | ![](images/sitelogos/forumcells/154.gif) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2010 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Oct 2023 | Sep 2023 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
53838_1362327793.jpg And so you aim towards the sky,
And you'll rise high today,
Fly away, Far away,
Far from pain....:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_53838.jpg |
|
| [*] Quote: sally cinnamon "John Bevan was only 22 when he signed for Wire so he must have been broken through in RU very young to have been a Welsh international and already done a Lions tour.'"
Back in the 70's, John Bevan was every Warrington schoolkids' hero.
At a time when RL players came in all shapes and sizes, he stood out like some athletic God.
He was an absolutely superb all round player.. Fantastic try scorer, great defence and also a fine rugby brain.
He is one of the few players from that era who you could say, with almost certainty, would be a top player in today's modern game.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 17092 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Mar 2008 | 16 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2024 | Jul 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
38352_1407962301.jpg Packs Win Games
Great Packs Make All Backs Look Class
#onceawirealwaysawire:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_38352.jpg |
|
| After playing he worked as staff, but he walked away from the club after we treated Roger O’Mahoney so disrespectfully.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 8605 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2005 | 19 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jul 2024 | Jul 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
12633_1312317224.jpg :d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_12633.jpg |
|
| Led Boyd was awesome for wire and I'd put him up there as a top class signing rumours at the time he and Andy Greg never seen eye to eye..Morley was the best modern day signing along with Mona's...the semi in 2009 was Mona's at his best...I know we av daz Clark who for me is the best hooker in super league by a mile shame our pack doesn't quite compliment his efforts at time...now we have Greg inglis so another chapter enfolds
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 863 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/21.png) |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Apr 2012 | 12 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jun 2024 | Jun 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
: |
|
| Boyd was a supreme leader and took that side to another level. The latter part of the 1985 campaign was awesome ending with the fantastic final win over Halifax. Bob Jackson was not what you might call groundbreaking but deserves a mention
|
|
|
![](images/sitelogos/2022-21.jpg) |
|
![](images/sitelogos/2022-21.jpg) |