Warrington Wolves nostalgia: Bowling day, Paul Cullen's return

Former Wire stars came together to catch up with each other's lives, enjoy the camaraderie and play a bit of crown green bowls in between.

Ex-Academy and reserves player Lee Rushton defeated former Great Britain international centre Ronnie Duane in the final.

Association chairman Ken Paget was asked if the finalists were particularly strong bowlers and he said with a laugh: "It was more luck than judgement.

"They both did well. Sometimes when you bowl you can have a couple of good bowls and then the next one is on the edge of town. It was a bit like that.

Ronnie Duane on the attack for Warrington Wolves with Steve Hesford in the background

Lee Rushton in his playing days with Warrington Woolston Rovers

"The bowls was just an extra, the day was a way of getting all the lads together again.

"Everyone who came really enjoyed it. It was a good turnout. We was there from 1pm and I know, because they phoned me, some of the lads carried on and didn't get home until midnight."

The association would like to have more Wire past players involved.

"We want to try and reach as many past players as we can, including as many of the Super League players as we can because we've got a void between the Wilderspool era and those who have played at The Halliwell Jones Stadium," said Kenny.

"We had a brilliant night at Wigan the Friday before. Any Warrington past players got asked to go there if they wanted – free tickets for the match, free drinks, free food, and we had a great night.

"Everybody's trying to group back together again and it would be great to see former players at meetings and down at the club."

Planning is commencing to stage a players' association dinner at The Halliwell Jones Stadium next April.

The association is open to any former Warrington RL players.

For further details, contact Ken Paget on 07896 184279.

20 YEARS AGO TODAY:

PAUL Cullen was in charge of The Wire in a match as head coach for the first time.

On August 18, 2022, just a few days after the former Warrington Wolves captain left Whitehaven to take the top job at his hometown club, he was in charge of a side desperate for points to avoid the threat of relegation from Super League.

While they didn't come that day, as The Wire lost 19-18 at Widnes Vikings, he steered his side to safety in the coming weeks with wins at Halifax and home to Castleford Tigers.

50 YEARS AGO THIS SATURDAY:

A QUARTET of Warrington Wolves players made their debuts in the same game on August 20, 1972.

Winger Denis Curling, hooker Kevin Ashcroft as well as back-rowers Brian Gregory and Clive Jones made their maiden appearances in the opening game of the 1972/73 campaign.

Kevin Ashcroft looks for a way through in his Wilderspool years