Rating Warrington's Recruitment Since 2018

Despite one of the competition's highest salary cap spends Warrington finished in 11th place in Super League, just one place above relegated Toulouse. The season has been a disaster from around round 4 onwards. Daryl Powell has been backed by the board when many called for his sacking. Instead, there have been departures en-masse. It appears that the board have concluded that the players are the problem.

This is something Powell has alluded to, appearing unimpressed at what he calls the 'culture' at Warrington. Things have gotten so bad in 2022 that some Warrington fans even yearn for the return of Steve Price, who was maligned and castigated throughout his four year tenure as Head Coach. Warrington are big spenders and arguably their biggest problem is recruiting failure.

Since 2018, Warrington have signed 34 players on a permanent basis (not including for next season). In this post, we assess whether these signings have been 'green', 'amber' or 'red' in terms of quality and value for money. (Yes, this idea has been shamelessly stolen from Sky Sports' Monday Night Football looking at Manchester United's recruitment).

Green

1. Bryson Goodwin

Warrington's best signing of the last few years by a mile. An experienced international centre who oozed class. He spent two solid seasons at Warrington, winning a Challenge Cup (coming up with a crucial try-saver in that match). He could even kick goals. A magnificent signing.

2. Danny Walker

A young hooker signed from Widnes was a shrewd piece of recruitment. He's now an England Knights international and is only 23 years old. He's lively when he comes onto the field and a player who is nowhere near his full potential yet.

3. Matty Ashton

Picked up from Swinton and has now made the number 5 jersey his own. He's lightning quick with an enviable try scoring record. By no stretch is he the complete player, but he has represented excellent value for Warrington. I'd argue the best winger at the club. Probably higher than you may think or expect due to excellent value for money.

4. Gareth Widdop

I think this one will divide opinion! Has Widdop been good value for his marquee salary? Probably not. Despite that, Warrington look like a far more threatening outfit when he plays and he has largely been at the centre of anything positive in Warrington's attack.

5. Ben Murdoch-Masila

I think this one will divide opinion even more! Yes, he could be lazy. But Warrington knew that when they signed him. At his best, he was a devastating ball carrier. In particular, blistering performances in Warrington's Challenge Cup Quarter Final win over Wigan in 2018 and 2019 Challenge Cup Final win over St Helens stand out. Big performances in big games put him in 'green', just about.

Amber

In the words of our new Prime Minister Liz Truss when talking about Britain's historic allies, the juries out on this category.

6. Matt Dufty

It's hard to form a full judgement on Dufty yet, given he has come into a duff team with little to play for. From the little he has played, he has looked sharp in attack and has made a couple of big contributions. With a full pre-season behind him, Dufty could soon move to 'green'.

7. Matty Nicholson

This was shrewd recruitment by Warrington. They offered the young back rower a more immediate chance at first team rugby than Wigan could and he made the move. The frustration that Wigan showed at losing him highlights his potential. Despite his young age, he's looked very competent. Another who could move to green with time.

8. Blake Austin

He was brilliant when he first came to Warrington but as time went by, his influence faded and he found himself on the outer. The balance of those two factors put Austin firmly in the amber category. Not quite "arguably the best half back pairing in Super League but in Rugby League globally" as Warrington's official website described him and Widdop in 2020 though!

9. Thomas Mikaele

He's added some punch to Warrington's pack in the latter half of the season. Warrington look better with him than without him. There is a sense that a man of his natural power could do more though.

10. James Harrison

I have a degree of sympathy for Harrison, whose debut season has been curtailed by serious injury. I suspect 2023 will reveal the true quality of otherwise of the signing.

11. Jason Clark

He's never let anyone down but I also can't bring to mind any match where he's stood out. Like a poorer version of Luke Yates. Solid, but not worth a spot on an overseas quota.

12. Anthony Gelling

He would play one in every five games brilliantly. If you were the opposition for every fifth game, he could make you look silly. For the other four, he was better on his BMX bike. The less said about Gelling's off-field behaviour, the better.

13. Bodene Thompson

See Jason Clark.

14. Sitaleki Akauloa

I think I have a soft spot for Sita because of his eye catching big hits and the ability of him to cover on the wing. His entertainment value alone probably puts him above 'red' for me.

15. Jake Mamo

Mamo was signed primarily as a cover player, but found himself nailing down a centre spot. He had an excellent try scoring record in 2021 but was guilty of several key defensive misreads often at crucial times.

16. Matt Davis

A versatile forward who could cover at hooker as well as back row. I liked the looks of him when he signed for Warrington but his influence has gradually diminished to the extent that he has now been released. For value for money, he's been ok.

Red

I expect that this will be the longest part of the list...

17. Josh Charnley

We start with someone who I feel a bit harsh putting in here. You know that you get tries with Charnley. He left the club under a cloud though and was certainly not the same player as he was with Wigan.

18. Tyrone Roberts

Roberts was signed as the leading half it was hoped would guide Warrington to Grand Final glory. He played in two finals for Warrington in his only season at the club but the fact that he was replaced after 1 year says all you need to know.

19. Joe Bullock

Maybe this is a bit harsh. He hasn't really done a lot wrong for Warrington this season. He has been a first team regular. Given how dreadful 2022 has been for the club, maybe that's why he's a 'red'.

20. Ben Pomeroy

Yep, he played for Warrington. 8 matches in 2018. I remember nothing of those matches. Does that make red harsh? Maybe.

21. Greg Minikin

Another player whose first season was ruined by injury. It struck me as a strange signing at the time. Maybe he can change minds in 2023.

22. Peter Mata'utai

On paper, this was a good signing. It just hasn't worked for whatever reason in 2022.

23. Keenan Brand

He made three appearances in two years for Warrington, spending large parts of his time there on loan. Warrington never really needed a player like Brand, who is far better suited for Leigh.

24. Rob Mulhern

Warrington have lost Mulhern for 2023 and Powell has stated that he wished to keep him. He must have seen something I didn't. Again, I thought this was clever recruitment by Warrington but he looks to have gone backwards since Hull KR.

25. Oliver Holmes.

See Peter Mata'utai. Expect I'm not convinced it was the smartest of signings in the first place.

26. George Williams

Wigan offered their largest ever contract to try and snare Williams when he returned from the NRL and Warrington blew the offer out of the water.  Williams has simply failed to deliver.

27. Mitch Brown

File this one under "why did Warrington sign him in the first place?"

28. Samy Kibula

A player touted as having much potential. He made two appearances before being shown the door.

29. Lama Tasi

It will forever fascinate me how he got the nickname "the Bondi Bruiser". Equally mysterious is how he managed to secure contracts at both Warrington or St Helens. He must have a fantastic agent.

30. Rob Butler

See Mitch Brown

31. Greg Inglis

A classic Warrington signing. An outstanding, world-class player once upon a time. It was destined for glorious triumph or glorious failure. It was the latter.

32. Luther Burrell

I mean, what were they thinking?!

33. Billy Magoulias

Think Beau Falloon. Think Mark Carroll. Think when St Helens signed Phil Adamson by mistake, thinking it was his brother Matt. A contender for the worst ever Super League signing.

34. Leilani Latu

Who?!

The purpose of this blog post is to highlight that Warrington's recruitment since 2018 has been a shambles. Until this is sorted, the wait for a maiden Super League title will go on. Let me know what you think! Would you make any changes from these categories?