All-time Best Super League XIII: Warrington Wolves

In this series, we put together the ultimate Super League starting 13’s for each club that has seen at least five seasons in the competition.

Today it’s the turn of Warrington, so here’s who we think would make their ultimate Super League XIII…

1. Brett Hodgson

Hodgson signed for Warrington from Huddersfield ahead of the 2011 season and was impressive from minute one. In just 75 games for the Wire, he scored 39 tries and kicked 314 goals and also helped them to Challenge Cup glory in 2012, and the League Leaders Shield in 2011. In the Challenge Cup Final he was awarded the prestigious Lance Todd Trophy for Man of the Match, while he was also present as Wire made back-to-back Grand Finals, although they lost them both.

Notable mentions: Stefan Ratchford, Brent Grose, Lee Penny

2. Joel Monaghan

Monaghan signed from Canberra Raiders in 2011 and instantly established himself as a try-scorer. He scored 26 in 24 games during his first season, as Warrington won the League Leaders Shield for the first time, including a hat-trick against Bradford. In 2012, he continued his try-scoring exploits, crossing the whitewash in every round of the Challenge Cup as the Wolves won the competition. He ended his time at the club with 145 tries in as many games, departing for Castleford in 2016.

Notable mentions: Henry Fa’afili, Chris Hicks

3. Toa Kohe-Love

New Zealander Kohe-Love moved to Warrington in 1996 from the Auckland Warriors’ academy. His first try came on his first league game at Wilderspool, as he notched a double in a 45-30 win over Workington. His best season in a Wire shirt came in 1999, though, as he scored 25 tries in 30 matches and went on to return double figures in the following two seasons as well. Kohe-Love departed for Hull FC in 2002, before having a spell at Bradford two years later but returned to Warrington in 2005. That year was one of Wire’s best Super League seasons as they finished fourth, with Kohe-Love contributing 10 tries.

Notable mentions: Chris Bridge, Martin Gleeson

4. Ryan Atkins

Atkins signed from Wakefield ahead of the 2010 season. In his first year, he helped the club to Challenge Cup glory, scoring two tries in the win over Leeds at Wembley. He scored 34 tries in total that year and would continue as one of the club’s most dangerous attackers, with tallies of 28, 32, 27, 30, 28, 32, 26 and 19 in the following eight seasons respectively. He also picked up two League Leaders Shields and a second Challenge Cup during that time, before returning to Trinity mid-way through 2019.

Notable mentions: Matt King, Bryson Goodwin

5. Chris Riley

Riley was a product of the Warrington academy, coming through the ranks in 2005. His first try came in the 60-16 victory over Widnes at the Halton Stadium. Riley started on the wing as Warrington won the Challenge Cup in 2009 and repeated the feat a year later, being part of their 2010 Cup-winning squad. He ended his time with the Wolves in 2014 after signing with Wakefield following a successful loan spell, finishing with 119 tries in 182 games.

Notable mentions: Mark Forster, Alan Hunte, Kevin Penny

6. Lee Briers

Briers signed for Warrington from hometown club St Helens in 1997 and went straight into the starting side, kicking 37 goals for the Wire as they finished ninth. 2001 saw his best goal-kicking return, as he notched 79, including an eight goal haul against his former club at Wilderspool. He topped that in 2006 with 108 and missed just one game for the Wire, scoring in every match he played. He was instrumental as Wire won back-to-back Challenge Cups in 2009 and 2010, winning the Lance Todd Trophy in the latter year, while also helping them pick up the League Leaders Shield in 2011, and a third Challenge Cup in 2012. Briers was forced to retire at the end of 2013, as a result of a neck injury.

Notable mentions: Kurt Gidley, Graham Appo

7. Nathan Wood

Aussie halfback Wood signed for Warrington from Wakefield mid-way through 2002. He scored two tries in his first season, the first coming in a derby against Widnes. His try-scoring exploits improved in the following three seasons, as he notched 11, 12 and 15 respectively, whilst also helping provide countless others with his crafty attack play. He also made history as the first scorer at the new Halliwell Jones Stadium in 2004, during a 34-20 win over his former club Wakefield. He retired at the end of the 2005 season, having scored a total of 45 tries in 96 games.

Notable mentions: Andrew Johns, Richie Myler

8. Chris Hill

Hill joined from Leigh ahead of the 2012 season in a move that has agruably been one of the best pieces of business in the Super League era. In his first season he helped Wire to Challenge Cup glory, whilst also appearing in back-to-back Super League Grand Finals. In 2016, Hill was named club captain and lifted his first trophy, as Warrington claimed the League Leaders Shield. His second silverware as skipper came in 2019, when the Wolves once again lifted the Challenge Cup. An England and Great Britain international, he remains one of the club’s top players and has made over 250 appearances in total.

Notable mentions: Adrian Morley, Chris Leikvoll

9. Jon Clarke

Clarke signed mid-way through 2001 from London Broncos. He scored his first try in a 26-18 defeat against Salford, however his most productive season came in 2007, when he scored 11 tries, including a double against Hull KR. Known for his relentless defence and solid distribution in attack, Clarke went on to play 264 games for the Wolves, scoring 61 tries, before eventually joined Cheshire rivals Widnes after their re-entry into Super League in 2012.

Notable mentions: Michael Monaghan, Daryl Clark, Mickey Higham

10. Paul Wood

Wood came through the academy at Warrington, making his debut in 2000. He was a regular feature in the squad, playing at least 20 games in 12 of his 15 seasons at the club. In 2010, Wood came off the bench as the Wolves won their second straight Challenge Cup, while he was also part of the 2012 Cup-winning side. Perhaps the most bizarre story throughout his long career came in 2013 where he, somewhat heroically, played almost the entire second half of the Super League Grand Final loss to Leeds with a ruptured testicle, an injury which was only discovered after the game. His final appearance came in Wire’s 2014 play-off victory over Castleford, before he joined Featherstone the following year.

Notable mentions: Gareth Carvell, Mike Cooper, Paul Rauhihi, Mark Hilton

11. Ben Currie

Currie came through the academy ranks at Warrington, making his debut in 2012. From 2013, he was a regular in the first team, playing out four consecutive 20-plus game seasons, before a serious knee injury saw him play just 12 games in two-and-a-half years. In 2019, however, he was rewarded for his hard work in recovery with a first Challenge Cup Final win, as Warrington beat St Helens with Currie playing in the unfamiliar stand-off role. His form has been so good since his return from injury that he’s now back in the international picture, having been named in Shaun Wane’s 31-man prospective squad for the now postponed Ashes series.

Notable mentions: Logan Swann, Paul Sculthorpe, Trent Waterhouse, Louis Anderson

12. Ben Westwood

Westwood signed from Wakefield during the 2002 season. Originally a centre, he made the switch to the second row in 2005, where he continued to excel with his size and late footwork, and would go on to become a modern-day club legend. In 2009 and 2010 he was utilised across the forward pack, helping Warrington lift consecutive Challenge Cups, before picking up the trophy again in 2012. As Westwood reached his mid-30’s, his impact on the squad refused to waiver, with his experience and knowledge of the game often being passed down to the Wolves’ younger forwards. He eventually retired at the end of 2019, with over 400 appearances to his name for the Primrose and Blue.

Notable mentions: Mike Wainwright, Paul Noone, Jack Hughes, Steve McCurrie

13. Ben Harrison

Harrison played the majority of his club career with Warrington. He made his debut in 2006 and in 2009, helped Wire to their Challenge Cup triumph, starting in the final before repeating the feat a year later and winning a third in 2012. The hard-running utility forward spent 10 years at the club, making over 200 appearances in total.

Notable mentions: Simon Grix, Ian Knott