WARRINGTON SEASON REVIEW: One Step Beyond

Warrington Wolves' 2020 season was a remarkably similar one to 2019. A year of much promise which faded into late-season obscurity. Whilst the late-season fade was not as stark this year, the outcome was the same.

Warrington made a mix of signings for the 2020 season: Matty Ashton, Keanan Brand, Anthony Gelling, Gareth Widdop, Samy Kibula and Leilana Latu. Brand, Kibula and Latu have found opportunities scarce. Gelling has departed after less than one year. Widdop, whilst he has not been as bad as his detractors suggest, has not lit up the Super League. Only Matty Ashton, an exciting and speedy talent from Swinton can be described as a signing which had a major positive impact on Warrington's year.

With Widdop injured for the season opener against Wigan, Ratchford was switched to scrum half to give Ashton an early opportunity at full back. His acceleration and agility caught the eye immediately, with a try-saving tackle keeping Warrington in the game in the second half. The Wire may have lost 16-10, but did play an hour with 12 men following a Chris Hill red card. They played 10 minutes with 11 men, a period which yielded Liam Marshall's winning try.

Super League 2020 exploded into life that January night. It may have been a loss for Warrington, but there were plenty of signs of encouragement.

Warrington could not have had a tougher start to the season. Following Wigan away, it was St Helens at home! This night brought greater joy. Warrington were patient, aggressive, supplemented with a brilliant offload game and neutralised St Helens. They kept the reigning champions to nil in a significant statement of intent. St Helens were without six of their better players, but that did not take a way from an impressive display.

Nothing is ever straight forward at Warrington. Their season then went from the sublime to the ridiculous. They fell to a surprise defeat to Wakefield the next week. Then followed a 36-0 hammering at the hands of Leeds. Whilst Leeds were strong, it was as supine of a performance seen by a Warrington side for many years.

Warrington had now won one of four to start the season, on the back of a woeful end to the 2019 season. The pressure was starting to increase of Steve Price. If Warrington fell to defeat against Castleford the next week, many suspected Price would be relieved on his duties. The game was tight, won by a last-minute Blake Austin drop goal. Regardless of the result, the spirit which was absent the week before had returned. Warrington entered lockdown with a thumping win over Hull FC to lift the cloud of gloom from above the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Lockdown gave Warrington a chance to move towards stability. Seven consecutive wins in the league and cup brought Warrington up the league standings and they were once again talked about as a contender for top spot. 

These credentials were reinforced with a Challenge Cup Quarter Final victory over St Helens, in a repeat of the previous year's final. Anthony Gelling tormented St Helens that day and the telling part of the game was an impressive second quarter which saw Warrington score three tries.

Warrington were heavy favourites going into their semi final against Salford. Steve Price raised eyebrows when he selected Blake Austin at loose forward to accommodate Matty Ashton, Gareth Widdop and Stefan Ratchford. It was a gamble that backfired. Ashton made an error leading to one Salford try and Warrington appeared imbalanced.

Warrington never really recovered from this defeat, suffering a defeat to Wigan and struggling past a very youthful Leeds team. A matter of weeks earlier, Warrington were looking like contenders. By now, they appeared to be the third best team behind Wigan and St Helens. A lot can change in a short space of time in rugby league.

Ultimately, Warrington's season ended as it started. A Chris Hill red card harmed their hopes in the season opener against Wigan. Their season hopes faded again against Hull FC, when a Chris Hill high tackle led to a Marc Sneyd penalty opening a seven point lead with little time remaining. And with that, Warrington's season again ended in disappointment.

Warrington are going big again in 2021. The signing of Greg Inglis, confirmed in May, was a big surprise. Inglis was once one of the best players in the world. Only time will tell whether he has the ability to dominate Super League or if age, injury and time away from the sport will leave him a shadow of his former glory.

It will not make as many headlines, but I am more excited about the signings of Rob Mulhern and Rob Butler. The absence of Mike Cooper in the play off against Hull exposed a weakness in Warrington's forwards. Neither of the signings are superstars, but both are industrious, hard-working and reliable. Not to mentioned talented.

In the long-run, the new players may prove to be an upgrade on the likes of the departing Ben Murdoch Masila, who could be devastating, but could be anonymous. A pack with Hill, Cooper, Philbin and Mulhern as four prop forwards is one likely to bring greater consistency.

In the past I have questioned whether Warrington's big-spending, superstar-heavy recruitment approach was wise. We may be witnessing subtle change towards a lower-spend, more consistent approach. Is the Warrington pursuit of glory changing tact? Maybe. The journey starts again in March.