2014 Warrington Wolves season

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2014 Warrington Wolves season
Super League XIX Rank5th
Challenge Cup Semi-finals
2014 recordWins: 20; draws: 1; losses: 10
Points scoredFor: 793; against: 515
Team information
ChairmanSteven Broomhead
Head coach Tony Smith
Captain
Stadium Halliwell Jones Stadium
Avg. attendance9,870
High attendance13,157 (vs St Helens, 13 Feb 2014)
Top scorers
Tries Joel Monaghan (26)
Goals Chris Bridge (67)
Points Chris Bridge (178)
<  2013 List of seasons 2015  >

This article details the Warrington Wolves RLFC's 2014 season. The Wolves have been present in all previous Super League seasons dating back to 1996. This year they are competing in Super League XIX and the 2014 Challenge Cup.

Contents

Preseason

Warrington played their annual Festive Derby friendly against the Widnes Vikings in late 2013, snatching a 36-32 victory in a close-fought contest. In the new year, the Wolves completed a three-week training camp in Australia, including sessions with NRL clubs Sydney Roosters, Manly Sea Eagles and Canterbury Bulldogs. [1] They played two more friendlies upon returning to England, beating Championship side Leigh Centurions 34-20 at Leigh Sports Village and facing off against newly reformed Salford Red Devils a few days later, battling to a 14-8 victory in their first home fixture of 2014.

LEGEND
 Win
 Draw
 Loss
DateCompetitionVsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttTVReport
29/12/13Friendly Widnes colours.svg Widnes Vikings A Select Security Stadium Won36-32Russell, Penny, Ormsby, Atkins, Currie, Riley, PeetO'Brien (4)3,025No
02/02/14Friendly Leigh colours.svg Leigh Centurions A Leigh Sports Village Won34-20Penny (3), Burke, Shaw, PhilbinO'Brien (5)1,024No
05/02/14Friendly Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils H Halliwell Jones Stadium Won14-8J Monaghan, Westwood, C RileyWestwood3,022No

Super League XIX – regular season

The Wolves faced a challenging start to the season, with their opening three fixtures all replays of 2013 losses. History repeated itself against St Helens R.F.C. at home and Leeds Rhinos away in Rounds 1 and 2 respectively, bringing about Warrington's worst start since the 2009 season. However, a gritty 18-16 win at home to Hull F.C. followed by two consecutive away wins to 2013's bottom teams, London Broncos and Salford Red Devils got their season under way with some points on the board. Next came a replay of the 2013 Grand Final against the Wigan Warriors, where an error-strewn performance in wet and windy conditions led to further disappointment for the Wolves in a 12-4 loss to the reigning champions. The next round brought a visit to Huddersfield, where the Wire trailed 14-4 at half time to the Giants. However, an outstanding second half fightback and five unanswered tries secured a 33-14 Wolves win - their tenth in a row against the Huddersfield Giants in all competitions. Next up was a double fixture against Hull Kingston Rovers. Warrington successfully booked a place in the 5th Round of the 2014 Challenge Cup in their visit to the Craven Park, however five days later when they hosted the Robins at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, they lost 12-25. A modest 4 wins from the first 8 rounds of Super League.

At home to the Widnes Vikings, Warrington put on an impressive show for the Sky cameras, securing a comprehensive 44-6 win against their local derby rivals. Despite seemingly returning to form, the following two fixtures of Super League saw the Wolves slip down the ladder with back to back away defeats in the league. Castleford Tigers, the early surprise package of 2014, ended an 8 match losing streak against the Wire in style with a 40-6 win. A visit to the Odsal then brought about a shock result as the struggling Bradford Bulls utterly out-enthused the Wolves in a topsy-turvy game which culminated in a 34-28 win for the Bulls. Warrington effectively bounced back from this setback however, finding a good bit of form with a new combination of Chris Bridge and Stefan Ratchford at half-back, with Richie Myler out with a shoulder injury.

What followed was a spectacular 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions, amongst which Warrington thoroughly reasserted themselves as contenders in 2014 with impressive wins over top teams St Helens and Leeds Rhinos. At the end of July came a dip in form where Warrington suffered two consecutive Super League losses; for the second year running they were beaten away by their derby rivals Widnes and the following week saw the emphatic homecoming of Chris Riley (who played only one match for Warrington in 2014 before being sent on loan) whose hat-trick in Wakefield colours consolidated a 28-40 home loss and a drop to 6th in the table.

August arrived and the Wolves travelled to Perpignan to take on the Catalans Dragons who had only lost one of their ten home games so far in the 2014 season. After an epic battle in stormy conditions - lightning striking overhead throughout the match - Warrington snatched the win by 2 points, thanks to Bridge's faultless kicking game. Upon their return to England and Challenge Cup action, Warrington for the second year running fell at the last hurdle of the race to Wembley in a 16-24 loss to the Leeds Rhinos.

In the final four games of the regular season, the Wolves faced a string of tough games against each of what would finish the Top 5 of Super League. Firstly a Castleford side stripped down in preparation for a trip to Wembley was disposed of convincingly at the Halliwell Jones. Two weeks later Warrington took on Huddersfield and, in a fightback not quite reminiscent of the reverse fixture earlier in the season, earned a 24-all draw from 23-6 down. And with that the Wolves' ten-match winning run against the Giants became an eleven-match unbeaten run. The following week Wire produced their best 80-minute performance of the season to dispatch the league leaders St Helens 39-12 on their own patch. The final game of the regular season was a loss at Wigan in a chilling repeat of the previous year's Grand Final where Warrington took a convincing 18-4 lead only to concede four unanswered tries and eventually lose 24-20.

LEGEND
 Win
 Draw
 Loss
DateCompetitionRndVsH/AVenueRScoreTriesGoalsAttTVReport
13/02/14 Super League 1 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens H Halliwell Jones Stadium L8-38J Monaghan (2)13,157 Sky
21/02/14 Super League 2 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds A Headingley Stadium L12-18J Monaghan, WestwoodRatchford (2)16,164 Sky
02/03/14 Super League 3 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. H Halliwell Jones Stadium W18-16Ratchford, B Evans, WaterhouseRatchford (3)10,276
09/03/14 Super League 4 Broncoscolours.png London A The Hive Stadium W44-16R Evans (4), Atkins (2), C Bridge, Ormsby, AsotasiRatchford (4)1,377
14/03/14 Super League 5 Redscolours.svg Salford A AJ Bell Stadium W28-12C Bridge, Higham, Ormsby, J Monaghan, AsotasiRatchford (4)6,260
20/03/14 Super League 6 Wigancolours.svg Wigan H Halliwell Jones Stadium L4-12Ormsby11,550 Sky
30/03/14 Super League 7 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield A John Smith's Stadium W33-14R Evans, Myler, Westwood, Russell, Ormsby, J MonaghanRatchford, C Bridge (3), DG-Ratchford7,068
11/04/14 Super League 8 HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers H Halliwell Jones Stadium L12-25Myler (2)C Bridge (2)8,778
18/04/14 Super League 9 Widnes colours.svg Widnes H Halliwell Jones Stadium W44-6R Evans (2), O'Brien, J Monaghan, M Monaghan, C Bridge, Currie, AtkinsC Bridge (4), Ratchford (2)10,750 Sky
21/04/14 Super League 10 Castleford colours.svg Castleford A Wish Communications Stadium L6-40M MonaghanRatchford6,853
04/05/14 Super League 11 Bullscolours.svg Bradford A Provident Stadium L28-34England, C Bridge, Penny, J Monaghan, RussellC Bridge (4)6,173
09/05/14 Super League 12 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons H Halliwell Jones Stadium W42-10J Monaghan (2), England, Ratchford, C Bridge, Higham, LaithewaiteC Bridge (7)8,816 Sky
18/05/14 Super League 13 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens N Etihad Stadium W41-24R Evans (2), J Monaghan (2), Ormsby, Hill, Atkins, RussellC Bridge (4), DG-Ratchford28,213 Sky
25/05/14 Super League 14 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity A Rapid Solicitors Stadium W36-4Currie (2), Ratchford, Atkins, Myler, Ormsby, C BridgeC Bridge (4)3,698
30/05/14 Super League 15 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds H Halliwell Jones Stadium W24-6C Bridge (2), Hill, J MonaghanC Bridge (4)10,312 Sky
13/06/14 Super League 16 HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers A KC Lightstream Stadium W34-4J Monaghan (2), Ormsby, Ratchford, B Evans, AtkinsC Bridge (5)6,850
22/06/14 Super League 17 Redscolours.svg Salford H Halliwell Jones Stadium W36-20Ormsby, Atkins, C Bridge, J Monaghan, R Evans, CurrieC Bridge (6)10,120
29/06/14 Super League 18 Bullscolours.svg Bradford H Halliwell Jones Stadium W50-24O'Brien (2), J Monaghan (2), Harrison, Atkins, Westwood, Ormsby, R EvansRatchford (7)9,003
04/07/14 Super League 19 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. A KC Stadium W24-18Ratchford, Ormsby, Harrison, AtkinsC Bridge (4)12,328
13/07/14 Super League 20 Broncoscolours.png London H Halliwell Jones Stadium W72-12J Monaghan (4), Currie (3), Hill (3), Ormsby, Wood, HarrisonC Bridge (10)9,381
18/07/14 Super League 21 Widnes colours.svg Widnes A The Select Security Stadium L14-28Atkins, C Bridge, CurrieC Bridge7,158 Sky
27/07/14 Super League 22 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity H Halliwell Jones Stadium L26-40R Evans (2), J Monaghan, Ratchford, AtkinsC Bridge, Ratchford (2)9,252
01/08/14 Super League 23 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons A Stade Gilbert Brutus W26-24M Monaghan, Ormsby, R Evans, J MonaghanC Bridge (5)7,000 Sky
15/08/14 Super League 24 Castleford colours.svg Castleford H Halliwell Jones Stadium W48-10R Evans (2), Atkins, O'Brien, C Bridge, England, Ratchford, J MonaghanC Bridge (3), Ratchford (5)8,391 Sky
28/08/14 Super League 25 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield H Halliwell Jones Stadium D24-24Harrison (2), O'Brien, AtkinsO'Brien (4)8,777 Sky
04/09/14 Super League 26 Saintscolours.svg St. Helens A Langtree Park W39-12J Monaghan (2), Ratchford, M Monaghan, O'Brien, Myler, AtkinsRatchford (4), O'Brien, DG-Myler12,854 Sky
11/09/14 Super League 27 Wigancolours.svg Wigan A DW Stadium L20-24J Monaghan (2), MylerRatchford (4)15,656 Sky

Due to the unprecedented competitiveness of this year's Super League, Warrington could have finished anywhere between 2nd and 5th in the table going into the last game of the season. As it was, Warrington let an 18-4 lead slip, losing 24-20 at the DW Stadium and dropping to 5th. The Wolves has qualified for the play-offs for the fifth year in a row but unlike the previous four years finishing outside the top 4 meant there would be no second chances; Warrington were straight into knock-out territory entering the play-offs.

Super League XIX
PosTeam
PldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Saintscolours.svg St Helens (L, C)271908796563+23338Play-offs
2 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 271818834429+40537
3 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants 271737785626+15937
4 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 271728814583+23136
5 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 271719793515+27835
6 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 2715210685421+26432
7 Catalanscolours.svg Catalans Dragons 2714112733667+6629
8 Widnes colours.svg Widnes Vikings 2713113611725−11427
9 HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers 2710314627665−3823
10 Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils 2711115608695−8723
11 Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 2710215653586+6722
12 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 2710116557750−19321
13 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls (R)278019512984−47210 [lower-alpha 1] Relegation to Championship
14 Broncoscolours.png London Broncos (R)2710264381237−7992
Source: [3]
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ↑ Bradford Bulls deducted 6 points on 25 February 2014 for entering administration [2]

Super League XIX – play-off series

DateCompetitionRndVsH/AVenueRScoreTriesGoalsAttTVReport
20/09/14 Super League Elimination Play-Off Widnes colours.svg Widnes H Halliwell Jones Stadium W22-19J Monaghan (3), R EvansRatchford (3)7,229 Sky
25/09/14 Super League Preliminary Semi-final Castleford colours.svg Castleford A Wish Communications Stadium W30-14J Monaghan (2), Atkins, O'BrienRatchford (5)6,219 Sky
03/10/14 Super League Qualifying Semi-final Wigancolours.svg Wigan A DW Stadium L12-1615,023 Sky

2014 Tetley's Challenge Cup

DateCompetitionRndVsH/AVenueRScoreTriesGoalsAttTVReport
06/04/2014 Challenge Cup Round 4 HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers A KC Lightstream Stadium W28-24Atkins (2), Asotasi, Evans, J MonaghanBridge (4)4,911
27/04/2014 Challenge Cup Round 5 Doncaster colours.svg Doncaster H Halliwell Jones Stadium W68-0C Bridge (4), Penny (3), Russell, Atkins, Dwyer, J Monaghan, R EvansC Bridge (10)3,002
08/06/2014 Challenge Cup Quarter-finals Bullscolours.svg Bradford A Provident Stadium W46-10Myler (2), J Monaghan (2), Russell, Ormsby, CurrieBridge (7)5,064 BBC Sport
09/08/2014 Challenge Cup Semi-finals Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds N Langtree Park L16-24Ratchford, Westwood, C BridgeC Bridge12,102 BBC Sport

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References

  1. ↑ "Wolves head Down Under - Warrington Wolves". Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Bradford Bulls deducted six competition points". Super League. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Super League XIX 2014
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