We look at the London Broncos opponents next month
We take a brief look at the history and some of the Warrington Wolves stars that will be gracing MEMS Priestfield Stadium next month…Head coach of the Warrington Wolves is 46-year-old Tony Smith, now a naturalized British citizen, who has been in charge of the club since March 2009 having previously coached Huddersfield, Leeds, England and Great Britain at different times.
Wolves Head Coach Tony Smith (Photo - George Thornton)
A former Aussie, who played for Illawarra Steelers and St George Dragons, he has been in charge at the Halliwell Jones Stadium during the club’s great run in recent years.
In the Super League they won the league winners shield in 2011 but lost out in the play-off semi-final to Leeds Rhinos. Then last season the Wolves were runners-up in the league but did reach the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford but again lost out to the Rhinos.
Meanwhile they have won the Challenge Cup three times recently, 2009, 2010 and 2012 beating Huddersfield Giants and Leeds (twice) and have again reached the quarter-finals this season where they will host Huddersfield again in July.
The Warrington squad includes a number of internationals from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Lee Briers (Photo - George Thornton)
Playmaker in the Wolves side is half-back Lee Briers who captained Wales to 2010 European Cup glory. He has been with the Wolves since 1997 having left St Helens and has made over 350 appearances for the club.
Australian full-back Brett Hodgson, previously at Wests, Parramatta Eels, Wests Tigers, Huddersfield Giants, will captain the Exiles against England the week after the Wolves visit London Broncos.
Michael Monaghan (Photo - George Thornton)
He is joined at the club by Aussie brothers Joel and Michael Monaghan. The younger (Joel) is an Australian international winger who was previously at Canberra Raiders and Sydney Roosters while Michael, either a half-back or hooker was previously at the Raiders and Manly Sea Eagles. Another Aussie international is Trent Waterhouse, a former Penrith Panther second rower.
Captain Adrian Morley (Photo - George Thornton)
Props Garreth Carvell and Adrian Morley, the latter having previously played for the likes of Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls and had five years at top Australian side the Sydney Roosters plus hooker Micky Higham, once of Wigan Warriors, are all GB & England internationals.
Then we have England internationals scrum-half Richard Myler, back rower Ben Westwood, loose forward Chris Bridge, centre Ryan Atkins, back row Ben Harrison along with props Chris Hill and Paul Wood.
Also in the squad are Ireland internationals loose forward Simon Grix and second row Tyrone McCarthy, Welsh international winger Rhys Williams plus up and coming England Knights internationals full-back Chris Riley, prop Mike Cooper, who is leaving for NRL outfit St George Illawarra Dragons at the end of the season, centre Stefan Ratchford, wing Rhys Evans and back rower Ben Currie.
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