In the first century of their existence, Warrington Wolves won the Challenge Cup five times: before briefly dominating the competition around the turn of the last decade, winning three in four years.
Under the stewardship of Tony Smith the Wolves became the Challenge Cup’s dominant force, seeing off Huddersfield and Leeds twice. A handful of players were lucky enough to lift the cup on all three occasions: but just as we did earlier this week with Hull’s 2005 cup final-winning squad, we ask: where are they now?
Chris Riley (winger)
Riley played on the wing in the Warrington wins of 2009, 2010 and 2012, and was a pivotal part of Tony Smith’s teams on each and every occasion. Riley left his hometown club in 2014 to join Wakefield on loan, eventually signing a permanent deal at Belle Vue. Now? He plays for League 1 side Rochdale Hornets on a part-time basis.
Lee Briers (stand-off)
One of the most enigmatic and talented half-backs of the Super League era, Briers is still a familiar face to Warrington fans on a weekly basis, as he’s now part of the club’s coaching set-up. Expect to see him plenty this weekend in the build-up to the game – and even when it’s underway!
Adrian Morley (prop)
One of two prop forwards to play in all three of Warrington’s hat-trick of Wembley successes within the space of four years, Morley left the Wolves at the end of 2013 to bring the curtain down on his career with hometown club Salford Red Devils. After retiring at the end of last season, Morley now plays a key role in the club’s off-field team on a daily basis: like the other prop on this list!
Michael Monaghan (hooker/half-back)
Signed by Warrington at the start of the 2008 season, Monaghan would quickly go on to become a pivotal part of the Wolves side who dominated Wembley three times in four years. He played on at the Wolves until the end of 2014, when he hung the boots up to move into coaching, taking up a role at Catalans Dragons which he still holds to this day.
Garreth Carvell (prop)
Like Adrian Morley, Garreth Carvell was a prop who played in all three of Wembley wins – and like Morley, he now works with Salford Red Devils! Carvell, after finishing his career at Castleford and Featherstone, hung the boots up and joined the Red Devils’ off-field team.
Ben Westwood (second row)
Unsurprisingly, Westwood has remained part of the fixtures and fittings at the Halliwell Jones Stadium since those Wembley triumphs – and he will bid to lift the cup for a fourth time with Warrington on Saturday. Still a regular in Tony Smith’s side, “Super Bennie Westwood” will be crucial for the Wolves again this weekend.
Ben Harrison (loose-forward)
The Cumbrian-born forward had spent his entire career with Warrington – until earlier this year, that is, when he signed a short-term loan deal with Wakefield. Still yet to appear for the Wildcats as he makes his way back from serious injury, it is unclear what the future holds for the 28-year-old workhorse.
Micky Higham (hooker)
Higham won three Wembley titles with Warrington either coming from the bench or starting at hooker – and he will also be hoping for success of a different kind this year. Higham left the Wolves to take up a deal at hometown club Leigh last year, being named captain for their tilt at promotion this year – which is going fairly well at the time of writing, with Leigh three from three in the Qualifiers.
