Festival FeverWarrington Wolves in partnership with Scottish Power, Sportsmatch and Warrington Borough Council have staged 4 Primary Link Tag Festivals and have been involved in a fifth in association with St Barnabas Primary School. All the Festivals have been attended by Warrington Wolves first team players who have taken an active part in refereeing and coaching nearly 1000 pupils both boys and girls from nearly 50 Warrington primary schools. A key part of Primary Link is the involvement of the Town's Amateur Rugby League Clubs. All Festivals are staged at the Amateur Clubs and this week Latchford Albion, Rylands, Woolston and Crosfields have been first class in hosting the festivals at their grounds. Director of Community and Marketing, Adam Jude enthused, "Undoubtedly Primary Link would not have made the impact it has without the active involvement of the Town's Amateur Clubs. Their hard work after the completion of Primary Link coaching in the schools has resulted in a record amount of children participating in Rugby League then ever before in Warrington". Jude adds, "The Club and all its Partners would just like to express their sincere gratitude for the amount of time, effort and quality of work that the volunteers from all the Town's Amateur Clubs give to develop Rugby League". So far through the Wolves Award Winning Community Programme over 45,000 children have been coached as a result of Primary Link. 

Team for HalifaxWith the retirement of Club Captain Matt Rodwell, Head Coach David Plange is left with only 20 fit players going into their game against Halifax Blue Sox at the Shay 25th May. With Vice Captain Dean Busby is out with a long-term injury Lee Briers, who scored his 1,000th point for the club last weekend, will take the captain's armband.Young halfback Gary Hulse is an injury worry and therefore PNG International, Tom O'Reilly is expected to start at strum half.Danny Halliwell, on loan from Halifax, will be out to prove a point against his team mates.Former Great Britain Academy Captain Paul Noone returns for the Wolves after a loan spell at Chorley and is expected to be on the bench.The team will be selected from:30. Michael Watts2. Rob Smyth11. Darren Burns28. Danny Halliwell25. Leroy Rivett14. Tommy O'Reilly6. Lee Briers (c)8. Mark Hilton9. Jon Clarke10. Dale Laughton18. Nick Fozzard15. Paul Marquet16. Jerome Guisset13. Sid Domic24. Paul Noone30. Graham Appo21. Paul WoodWolves Head Coach Dave Plange stated, "The team is expecting a physical encounter against the Halifax pack. Indeed the team is relishing the prospect of a physical challenge."

Wolves New Stadium Gets MovingAfter six months of negotiations Warrington Wolves and Tesco announce the final site layout for the new stadium and Tesco Extra store on Winwick Road. Agreement has been reached on a site layout that utilises the old Tetley Walker brewery site to its best potential.Lengthy negotiations have taken place and finally plan 89B has been agreed. The Club would like to thank partners in this process Tesco, Carlsberg Tetley and Warrington Borough Council. The stadium is to the south of the site bordered by Dallam Lane, Buckley Street and Winwick Road and will run east/west with the main stand to the north. The Tesco Extra store will be located to the north of the site, between the two will be parking primarily for use by the Tesco Extra Store shoppers.Draft designs for the stadium have been produced that give a capacity of 14,000. This is made up of 8,000 standing in stands to the west and south of the stadium and 6,000 in seated stands to the north and east. The main stand to the north will include changing facilities, club offices, merchandise shop, ticket office, a crÞche and spectator bars and food kiosks on the ground floor. Overlooking the playing area will be executive boxes and corporate lounges.The east stand will house a banqueting/function facility for 450 people, on a match day this will used to provide hospitality facilities for spectators.Facilities for disabled spectators will be located in the north and east stands. Discussions will take place shortly on these facilities with the Warrington Disability Awareness Group.The Club are in negotiations with a Soccer club for them to use the facilities during the winter. This will complement the Wolves use during the summer and provide sport all the year round at the stadium. Discussions are also underway to provide the home for the North West Centre of Excellence for Martial Arts. They would be housed within the east stand complex.Furthermore, discussions are ongoing with the Wolves community partners on the facilities required to enhance and maintain the award winning community programme. The first floor of the main stand has been made available to provide these facilities.Club Parking

1. Right of Stadium main entrance 15 spaces (Day to day parking)

2. Winwick Road - 25 spaces (Day to day parking)

3. Car park front of stadium/Dallam Lane side 200 spaces for match-day parking

The Club will shortly be announcing the date for an open meeting to be held in the Touchdown Club, which will allow our fans to raise any questions with regards to either on field/off field activities with Dave Plange/Paul Darbyshire/Andy Gatcliffe and Neil Dowson in attendance.

Rocket RetiresWolves Club Captain Matthew 'Rocket' Rodwell has retired from Rugby League due to a persistent groin injury that has hampered his debut season in Tetley's Super League VII.Half Back, Rodwell, aged 30, was signed from Penrith Panthers on a two year deal in August 2001.Rodwell, who is to undergo a groin operation, which will result in him being out of the game between eight to ten weeks, came to a mutual agreement with the club regarding his retirement.Head Coach, David Plange commented, "It is a massive blow for the team to lose Matt. His experience and organisational ability will be missed by the team."Plange added "It was Matt's decision to retire and at present it leaves us with only 20 senior players fit. It is now a priority to recruit a proven Super League half back to fill the void left by Matt's retirement. Indeed, discussions are ongoing with a number of players."Rocket made his debut at first grade level in Australia for Newcastle Knights in 1992 and amassed a total of 179 appearances, 36 tries and four field goals in the Australian First grade. In addition to the Knights, Matt played for Penrith Panthers, Perth Western Reds and Illawara Steelers.Rocket played 12 games for the Wolves scoring 3 tries.All at Warrington Wolves wish to thank Matt, his wife Becky and their two daughters for their contribution during their stay with the club. 

Briers Gets 1,000Great Britain and Welsh International Lee Briers has broken the 1,000 points barrier for the Wolves. Since signing from neighbours St Helens in 1997, Lee has appeared in 137 (+12) matches for the club and notched up 394 goals, 48 tries and 24 drop goals to give him a total of 1,004.In an otherwise disappointing game, Lee bagged his 1,000 point for the club with a penalty on the 42nd minute to bring the Wolves to 10 points of the home side. The half-back gained 16 of the Wolves 24 points in the match.Lee joins the elite of points scorers for the club with only eight other players having reached the 1,000 mark. Amongst those are Brian Bevan, Steve Hesford, Harry Bath and Jackie Fish. In last weeks Round 10 Super League game Lee overtook Harold Palins points haul to take ninth spot in overall points scorers for the club.Lee is also currently 8th in the clubs all time goal kicking table, only 32 goals off Laurie Gilfedder and 42 goals off of Harold "Moggy" Palins totals. Steve Hesford leads the table with 1,112 goals in 310 appearances.

Team News for Round 11Head Coach Dave Plange has named a squad of 20 to for the game against Castleford Tigers at The Jungle on Sunday 19th May. New signing Graham Appo will come off the bench and the Wolves have taken on loan from their affiliated club utility back Michael Watts, 25 on loan for a month. Watts spent last season at Wolves neighbours Leigh Centurions and has previously had a two year stint in the NRL with Illawara Steelers. Michael has a British passport; therefore he will not count on the Wolves overseas quota. Watts will play fullback for the club on Sunday.The team with the inclusion of Appo and Watts are:Michael WattsRob SmythDave AlsteadDarren BurnsLeroy RivettLee BriersMatt Rodwell (c)Mark HiltonJon ClarkeDale LaughtonNick FozzardPaul MarquetJerome GuissetSid DomicPaul NooneGraham AppoPaul WoodGary HulseJohn HillInjuries: Long term: Matt Sturm (broken hand), Lee Penny (broken hand), Steve Maden(broken leg), Dean Busby (ligament damage to ankle)Short term: Tommy O'Reilly (foot), Leon Felton (ankle)

Wolves Strengthen their 3/4'sWarrington Wolves have taken steps to strengthen their three quarters after injuries to their centres. The club have signed Graham Appo, 28 until the end of Tetley Super League VII with a year option; Appo is an experienced utility back that is at home at fullback or centre. Australian Appo has secured a work permit to play this season.Graham has had an extensive career in the NRL playing for Canberra Raiders (1995-98), Adelaide Rams (1998}, Easts/Penrith Panthers (1999}, Sydney City Roosters (1999/2000) and North Queensland Cowboys (2000). Appo moved to England in 2001 to play for Huddersfield Giants in the Super League. Appo made nine appearances for the Giants scoring 6 tries before a leg injury saw him sidelined for a long period. Graham has recently played in French Rugby League at Lezignan, where he played 9 games and a Quarter Final against Toulouse at the end of April.Appo made an impact on the now defunct Adelaide Rams when he transferred to the club mid-1998 season from Canberra Raiders. He topped the points scoring for the club in just 14 appearances. His accolades during that season include the following:

• Most points in a game - 24pts by Appo (2 tries/8 goals v Balmain Tigers on 3/7/98)

• Most points in a season - 116pts by Appo (12 tries/34 goals in 1998)

• Most tries in a match: 3 v Gold Coast Chargers on 27 June at Carrara Stadium

Height: 5'8" Weight: 83kgD.O.B: 11.7.74Graham has been described as player with "exceptional ability" and "an exciting player who will make an impact on Super League."Head Coach Dave Plange commented,"Graham is what we are looking for, he is outstanding and explosive on the field. He is strong in defensive and can bust any line. He is a very skilful ball player who will bring a fresh injection into our 3/4s, which is what we are lacking through serious injuries to Steve Maden (broken leg) and Lee Penny (broken hand)."Appo will fit in with the structure here and I am looking forward to having him in training. I am hoping to have him on the bench for Castleford this weekend."

Future of the WolvesThe second phase of Service Area rugby kicks off this Saturday. The town will field teams at 12, 13, 14 and 15. Players came from our high schools and strong amateur clubs base.Warrington are leading the way in their youth development and this all comes from a strong partnership between the schools and clubs overseen by The Council and professional club.The current structure sees each team with a strong experienced coaching staff. Brian Chambers, Dave Elliot and Bob Eccles a few passing on their vast knowledge of the game.Each team will run out in the primrose and blue against Wigan and Leigh on Saturday. The U12 and U14 will take the fight to New Springs, Wigan kicking off at 10.30am.U13 and U15 will battle it out at Crosfields Rugby League ground, Hood Lane and will Kick Off at 10.30am.Come and see the future of the Wolves!

Gleeson leaves WolvesThe Wolves can confirm that Mark Gleeson has been released from the club by his own request. Mark has decided to go travelling in Australia visiting family and friends and to continue playing rugby league at amateur level whilst there. Mark, 19 came from the amateur club Ince St Williams in Wigan in 1999 where he joined the Wolves Academy along with David Alstead and Paul Wood. Mark progressed through the ranks and made his debut at Super League level last year against Bradford Bulls (4/08/01) scoring a try on his debut. Since his debut he has made 3 full appearances or 4 substitutes, scoring 4 tries.Head Coach, Dave Plange commented, "We are disappointed to lose Mark this season, but we wish him luck in his travels. We are hoping that Mark will eventually return to the UK and take up playing with the Wolves again, that is one reason that we hold his registration details and have released him at his request, that when he decides to settle at professional level in this country then we have the opportunity taking him on board again."

VandalismWarrington Wolves are disgusted with the 'mindless' vandalism that has occurred during the game against St Helens on Sunday just gone. The club have had numerous calls regarding damage to cars parked in various areas around Warrington - Slutchers Lane, The Village Hotel, The Waterside pub, St James' Car Park, Wilderspool Causeway, streets running of Wilderspool Causeway and Morrison's Car park.Chief Executive Andy Gatcliffe commented, "We are annoyed that fans have been subjected to vandalism while watching the game at Wilderspool. We have had numerous calls to the office reporting different degrees of car damage in different locations of Warrington."Warrington Wolves does not own any parking facilities in this area and therefore can not accept any responsibility for this. We can only direct people to call the police and report their damage."We can assure you that Warrington Wolves does not condone such acts and has taken steps to try and counteract this kind of thing happening again in the close vicinity of the stadium. In particular, St James' Car park (behind the Brian Bevan Stand), Fletcher Street and Priory Street bylooking at introducing CCTV."Fans who have not yet reported incidents of damage to their cars can contact the Warrington police on 01925 65 22 22.