The price was just about right last season for the Wire, as Warrington reach both major finals in the 2018 campaign.
Warrington Wolves 2018 Club Record
Wins: 22
Losses: 12
Competition Points: 29
2018 Player Achievements
http://gty.im/1023266254
Most Tries: Tom Lineham
Most Points: Stefan Ratchford
The Wire Season Summary
Some would say that Warrington’s 2018 season was a complete shambles with the club failing to win any of the two major finals they competed in. On the other hand, many fans would say that last season was a huge step in the right direction, with it being Steve Price’s first season at the helm. Both finals were lost two years ago, in 2016 which was a real finger wagger although Warrington’s demise in ’17 was redeemed in ’18 with the Wolves reaching the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley and the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford. For quite an unknown Aussie coach, in Price, for him to come and become Warrington’s head coach at the start of an extremely crucial season in the Club’s history was tough enough but for him to lead the team to quite a successful season, cannot go unnoticed.
The on-field expectations after 2017 would be to have completely wrote the previous season off and go again, back to basics which is the exact philosophy Steve Price went for. With the fans and the powers that be at the club demanding that illusive Grand Final win, it was the expectation for the players to give the Super League a real good crack and that’s exactly what they did. Obviously the team lost in both of the major finals but overall if you look at the season compared to the last one, you can’t truthfully say it was a bad one. There were plenty of great moments the supporters can look back on, just the two Semi-Final wins are two!
There wasn’t many huge injury issues for Warrington throughout the course of the 2018 season although it was a second ACL injury for Ben Currie, four games into the season. That, saw the second-rower miss the entire season. Price thrives on having a healthy squad and he kept one for the majority of the season which helped the Wire along the way to a pretty tremendous year.
In terms of players who broke through into the first team during 2018, there were two main players you could talk about. Even though Harvey Livett played a strong role during 2017, he only missed a few games throughout 2018 as he came in to replace Currie in the second row, alongside Jack Hughes. Livett contributed with nine tries and a few points from kicking some goals. The second player who broke through, is former Castleford youth player, Luis Johnson. Johnson was signed by Price at the beginning of 2018 and only made the one appearance from the start, which was away to Wigan in the Super 8s where Warrington lost 26-6.
Warrington know 2019 will be key, will it be their year or will the Cheshire club be made to wait once again? Is the question… One thing is for sure, is that Warrington have secured some brilliant and exciting talents ready for the new season. In an amongst the six players to be signed, there are just two that are the most exciting ones. Warrington born, Danny Walker, signs from recently relegated Widnes on a deal that should see him play his best Rugby at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. He will add some pace & young aggression off the bench when he comes on in place of Daryl Clark. The one signing that everybody is looking forward to, is the former Canberra halfback, Blake Austin. Assigned to replace Tyrone Roberts, Austin should add the wow factor to this Wire team that has been missing since Lee Briers some would say.
NothingButLeague Player of the Season
The NothingButLeague player of the season for Warrington has to go to, Josh Charnley. His arrival back in March was one welcomed extremely warmly by the Warrington faithful, even after his time at Wigan. He went to play for Sale Sharks in Rugby Union after beating Warrington in the Grand Final with Wigan in 2016. Charnley was once hated but now adored by the Wolves fans and his contribution on the right wing was a great one in 2018. He changed Warrington’s season, he was and still is the missing piece of the jigsaw. With fifteen tries in the Super League alone, he came, seen & conquered. Scoring in every game against Wigan, Warrington played in 2018. One of his best moments was in the Challenge Cup Semi Final where he scored two tries, where the Wire went on to win and make the Wembley stage. Charnley is well and truly a Wire. He signed on a two-year-deal, so maybe 2019 is the year he can contribute more for Warrington to get their hands on the Super League trophy for the first time.
2019 GAINS AND LOSSES
Gains
Blake Austin (Canberra Raiders, 2021), Jason Clark (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2020), Jake Mamo (Huddersfield Giants, 2019), Lama Tasi (Salford Red Devils, 2019), Danny Walker (Widnes Vikings, 2021)
Losses
Dominic Crosby (Leeds Rhinos), Tyrone Roberts (Gold Coast Titans), Matthew Russell (Toronto Wolfpack)
