Warrington Wolves: How they went from potential Grand Final winners to relegation candidates

Jack Wynne
Jul 27, 2017 · 5 min read
The Wolves were beaten 12–6 by Wigan in last year’s showpiece event. Photo credit: warrington-worldwide.co.uk.

Another regular season has come to an end in Super League. Now each of the 12 teams will either be hoping for a night of celebration at Old Trafford or preserving their status in the top-flight.

One of the sides surprisingly contemplating the latter are the Warrington Wolves.

They may have been one more win off making the super 8s — where the top eight teams play each other for a place in the Grand Final — but just last season they finished a point behind Hull FC in first place.

2017 so far

­­After the heartache of narrowly missing out on a first Super League crown in 61 years following their defeat to Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford last year the Wolves made a disappointing start at ending that hoodoo in 2017.

Ryan Atkins scored a brace to help his side secure their first league win of 2017. Photo credit: bbc.co.uk.

They went on a six-game losing run and only registered their first league win two months into the season, beating Leeds Rhinos 25–14 at the Haliwell Jones Stadium.

Despite speculation surrounding the future of head coach Tony Smith, the Wire built some much-needed momentum and moved up to ninth with wins against St Helens, Wakefield Trinity and Huddersfield Giants.

However their hopes of continuing to climb up the table were dealt a substantial blow, losing big games against Leeds, Salford and Castleford, who were in the top four at the time.

The start always presented Smith and his side with a tall order of securing a place in the Qualifiers and despite a late push, the Giants ensured it was they who would claim the final spot by beating Leigh Centurions a few weeks ago.

What were the reasons behind Warrington’s fall from grace?

The first two months of the 2017 campaign represented the worst start ever for the Wolves.

One of the key factors that seemed to have an adverse effect on the beginning of their campaign was a lack of consistency in the half-back area.

Smith was unable to field the same pair for more than a couple of games, Declan Patton and Kurt Gidley playing together against Catalan before Kevin Brown replaced Gidley against Castleford and Salford.

20-year-old Harvey Livett was then chosen to feature alongside Brown but couldn’t stop the rot as they were comfortably beaten by Wigan at home.

This lack of continuity in such an influential position is likely to have been a big problem particularly when trying to build attacking plays.

An extensive injury list, which included the likes of England international duo Stefan Ratchford and Chris Hill as well as Ben Currie, also had a negative influence on the Wire’s start to 2017.

Hill was a real driving force behind Warrington’s attack last season, making the most metres in all of Super League (3983), so the lack of his ability to break through opposition defences proved a big miss.

Currie featured in his first Challenge Cup final aged 22. Photo credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire.

The Wolves were also without Currie, who was a key player in 2016 scoring 17 tries and looked certain to make his England debut until he picked up a serious knee injury just two weeks before the Grand Final.

These individuals helped to play a big role in Warrington’s success and so their absence was always going to be hard for the Wire to deal with.

Chances of survival

In less than two weeks the Wolves will begin their journey through the Qualifiers.

This is where bottom four Super League sides and top four Championship teams go head-to-head home and away, with the top three automatically booking their place in the top flight next season.

Gareth O’Brien’s magical drop kick ensured Salford preserved their Super League status. Photo credit: bbc.co.uk.

Teams that finish fourth and fifth battle it out in the Million Pound Game to clinch the final Super League spot.

Warrington will be coming up against Widnes, Catalan and Leigh from Super League whilst Hull KR, London, Featherstone and Halifax make up the Championship contingent.

The Wolves will feel confident about coming up against their Super League opponents, beating all three of them over the past month, including a 50–10 thrashing of the Centurions.

­As for the remaining opponents, Smith will be wary of the likes of Halifax and Featherstone who present somewhat of an unknown quantity — The pair have not come up against the Wolves in recent years.

In contrast, the Broncos were a regular opponent up until a few years ago, losing four of their last five matches against Smith’s men.

The Robins lost just three games all season on the way to Championship glory. Photo credit: hulldailymail.co.uk.

Finally Hull KR, who won the Championship with three games left, are likely to pose a stern challenge.

The Robins held Warrington to a draw just last year and comfortably secured all two points with a comprehensive 36–10 victory in 2015.

Recent form suggests it will be plain sailing for Warrington over the next couple of months but you only have to look at Leeds’ performance last year to realize it could be far from straightforward.

The Rhinos, who won the treble in 2015, suffered a shock defeat to Huddersfield and were run close by Hull KR and the Broncos before eventually ensuring they would remain in Super League.

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