2008 Wigan Warriors season explained

Year:2008
Team Colour:
  1. D31718
Font Colour:
  1. ffffff
League:Super League
League Rank:4th
League Wins:13
League Draws:3
League Losses:11
Points For:648
Points Against:698
Playoff Result:Lost in Elimination Final
Cup:Challenge Cup
Cup Result:Quarter-finals
Cup Wins:2
Cup Losses:1
Top Tries:Pat Richards (21)
Top Points:Pat Richards (375)
List:yes
List Link:List of Wigan Warriors seasons

The 2008 Wigan Warriors season saw the club compete in Super League XIII as well as the 2008 Challenge Cup tournament.

Season preview

Wigan will be looking to continue their return to the top of Super League after finishing 6th in 2007. During 2008 Wigan will continue to rebuild their squad under coach Brian Noble but they will have a new owner and chairman in Ian Lenagan from 1 December 2007 after Maurice Lindsay retired and Dave Whelan decided to sell the club.

Full squad

width=5%Nowidth=31%Playerwidth=10%Positionwidth=10%Weight (kg)width=10%Height (m)width=5%Agewidth=10%Overseaswidth=19%Previous club
1 Richie MathersFull backwidth=10%96width=10%1.88width=10%24width=10%NoGold Coast Titans
2 Mark CalderwoodRight wingwidth=10%86width=10%1.85width=10%26width=10%NoLeeds Rhinos
3 Darrell GouldingRight centrewidth=10%90width=10%1.82width=10%19width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
4 George CarmontLeft centrewidth=10%91width=10%1.80width=10%29width=10%YesNewcastle Knights
5Pat RichardsLeft wingwidth=10%99width=10%1.91width=10%25width=10%YesWests Tigers
6Trent BarrettStand offwidth=10%94width=10%1.82width=10%30width=10%YesSt George Illawarra Dragons
7Thomas Leuluai‡Scrum halfwidth=10%85width=10%1.71width=10%22width=10%NoHarlequins RL
8Stuart FieldenPropwidth=10%108width=10%1.91width=10%28width=10%NoBradford Bulls
9Mickey HighamHookerwidth=10%86width=10%1.73width=10%27width=10%NoBradford Bulls
10Iafeta PaleaaesinaPropwidth=10%118width=10%1.87width=10%25width=10%YesNew Zealand Warriors
11Gareth HockSecond rowwidth=10%92width=10%1.88width=10%24width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
12Phil BaileySecond rowwidth=10%93width=10%1.89width=10%27width=10%YesCronulla Sharks
13Sean O'LoughlinLoose forwardwidth=10%93width=10%1.87width=10%25width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
14Liam ColbonRight wingwidth=10%92width=10%1.87width=10%23width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
15Andy ColeyPropwidth=10%108width=10%1.89width=10%29width=10%NoSalford City Reds
16Harrison Hansen‡Second rowwidth=10%89width=10%1.84width=10%22width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
17Michael McIlorumHookerwidth=10%79width=10%1.74width=10%20width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
19Paul PrescottPropwidth=10%99width=10%1.90width=10%21width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
20Karl PryceCentrewidth=10%118width=10%1.98width=10%21width=10%NoGloucester RU
21Cameron PhelpsCentrewidth=10%89width=10%1.78width=10%23width=10%YesCanterbury Bulldogs
22Joel TomkinsSecond rowwidth=10%95width=10%1.88width=10%20width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
23Ben Kavanagh (On loan To Widnes Vikings)Second rowwidth=10%107width=10%1.84width=10%20width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
24Eamon O'CarrollPropwidth=10%103width=10%1.80width=10%20width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
25Thomas Coyle (On loan to Halifax)Scrum halfwidth=10%83width=10%1.71width=10%20width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
26Nicky StantonRight wingwidth=10%85width=10%1.80width=10%21width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
27Lee MossopPropwidth=10%104width=10%1.85width=10%19width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
28Mark FlanaganLoose forwardwidth=10%90width=10%1.74width=10%20width=10%NoBradford Bulls
29Sam TomkinsStand offwidth=10%77width=10%1.80width=10%19width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
30Chris TusonSecond rowwidth=10%width=10%width=10%18width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
31Shaun AinscoughLeft wingwidth=10%86width=10%1.73width=10%18width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
32Tim SmithScrum halfwidth=10%92width=10%1.80width=10%23width=10%YesParramatta Eels
40Sam Reay†Full backwidth=10%width=10%width=10%23width=10%NoWigan Warriors Academy
† Added to the squad for pre-season friendlies.†† Added to the squad on 27 May 2008.‡ Qualify as non-quota players because they were playing in the British Federation before they were 21 years of age.

Transfers

Transfer for 2008 (in)

width=25%Namewidth=30%Transferred fromwidth=20%Feewidth=40%Date signed
Andy Coley[1] Salford City RedsFree transferSeptember 2007
Richie Mathers[2] Gold Coast TitansFree transferNovember 2007
George Carmont[3] Newcastle KnightsFree transferNovember 2007
Karl Pryce[4] Gloucester Rugby UnionFree transferDecember 2007
Cameron PhelpsCanterbury BulldogsFree transferMay 2008
Tim SmithParramatta EelsFree transferMay 2008

Transfer for 2008 (out)

width=25%Namewidth=30%Transferred towidth=20%Feewidth=40%Date released
Bryan Fletcher[5] RetiredN/ASeptember 2007
David Vaealiki[6] Manly Sea EaglesReleasedOctober 2007
Shane MillardRetiredN/AOctober 2007
Danny Hill[7] Widnes VikingsReleasedNovember 2007
Ben KavanaghWidnes VikingsFree transferJune 2008
Nicky StantonLeigh CenturionsFree transferSeptember 2008

2008 loans (out)

width=20%Namewidth=25%Loan towidth=25%Loan startedwidth=25%Loan ended
Ben KavanaghWidnes VikingsFebruary 2008June 2008

Fixtures/results

Competition Round Opponent Result Score Home/away Venue Attendance Date
N/A Warrington WolvesLose 30–22Away 6,57313 Jan 2008
Exhibition gameFriendly N/A Bradford BullsWin 16–28 Away 5,03620 Jan 2008
Exhibition gameFriendly N/A Widnes VikingsWin 18–42 Away 5,106 27 Jan 2008
1 Harlequins RLWin 28–47 Away 8,041 9 Feb 2008
Super League XIII 2 Castleford TigersWin 28–16 Home 16,667 15 Feb 2008
Super League XIII 3 HullLose 24–22 Away 13,226 22 Feb 2008
Super League XIII 4 Bradford BullsWin 28–14 Home JJB Stadium 15,444 1 Mar 2008
Super League XIII 5 Warrington WolvesLose 32–20 Away Halliwell Jones Stadium 13,024 8 Mar 2008
Super League XIII 6 Huddersfield GiantsWin 19–20 Away 8,417 16 Mar 2008
Super League XIII 7 St. HelensLose46–10 Away 17,500 21 Mar 2008
Super League XIII 8 Hull Kingston RoversWin 18–12 Home JJB Stadium 16,457 24 Mar 2008
Super League XIII 9 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsWin 8–4 Home JJB Stadium 12,933 28 Mar 2008
Super League XIII 10 Leeds RhinosWin 10–14 Away 18,769 5 Apr 2008
Super League XIII 11 Catalans DragonsLose 24–26 Home JJB Stadium 13,044 11 Apr 2008
Rnd4 Win 74–4 Home 4,423 20 Apr 2008
Super League XIII 12 Bradford BullsLose 26–12 Away Grattan Stadium 11,894 27 Apr 2008
Super League XIII 13 St Helens Lose 57–16 Away 32,516 4 May 2008
Challenge Cup Rnd5 Win 106–8 Home JJB Stadium 3,814 12 May 2008
Super League XIII 14 Warrington WolvesWin 38–14 Home JJB Stadium 15,537 16 May 2008
Super League XIII 15 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Win 38–30 Away 6,370 25 May 2008
Challenge Cup QF Leeds Rhinos Lose 23–16 Away 10,129 1 June 2008
Super League XIII 16 Huddersfield Giants†Postponed N/A Home JJB Stadium N/A 6 Jun 2008
Super League XIII 17 Catalans DragonsLose 45–38 Away 9,125 14 Jun 2008
Super League XIII 18 Castleford TigersDraw 22–22 Away 7,048 22 Jun 2008
Super League XIII 19 Harlequins RLWin 38–20 Home JJB Stadium 11,453 27 Jun 2008
Super League XIII 20 Leeds RhinosWin 23–22 Home JJB Stadium 14,911 5 Jul 2008
Super League XIII 21 Hull Kingston RoversLose 39–22 Away 8,481 13 Jul 2008
Super League XIII 22 St HelensLose 46–12 Home JJB Stadium 19,958 18 Jul 2008
Super League XIII 16 Huddersfield Giants†Lose 34–4 Home JJB Stadium 12,216 25 Jul 2008
Super League XIII 23 Hull FCWin 66–6 Home JJB Stadium 12,842 1 Aug 2008
Super League XIII 24 Catalans DragonsDraw 16–16 Away Stade Gilbert Brutus 9,535 9 Aug 2008
Super League XIII 25 Wakefield Trinity WildcatsWin 32–22 Home JJB Stadium 12,319 15 Aug 2008
Super League XIII 26 Leeds RhinosLose 16–52 Home JJB Stadium 14,778 22 Aug 2008
Super League XIII 27 St. HelensDraw 16–16 Away 14,113 5 Sep 2008
Super League XIII PlayoffsWeek 1 Bradford Bulls‡ Win 30–14 Home/Neutral 6,806 12 Sep 2008[8]
Super League XIII PlayoffsWeek 2 Catalans Dragons Win 26–50 Away Stade Gilbert Brutus 9,985 20 Sep 2008
Super League XIII PlayoffsWeek 3 Leeds Rhinos Lose 14–18 Away Headingley Carnegie Stadium 13,112 26 Sep 2008

Statistics

width=49%Team Statistics
width=50%Statisticwidth=50%Total
Total Tries109
Total Points648
Total Goals105
Drop Goals2
Metres34324
Carries5111
Tackles7412
Offloads316
Attacking Kicks282
Runs From Dummy Half744
Tackle Busts667
Maker Tackles857
Clean Breaks149
Forty Twenties1
Kicks in General Play497
Missed Goals31
Missed Tackles31
Errors270
Penalties229
Red Cards (Sent Off)4
Yellow Cards (Sin Binned)4
width=49% style="vertical-align: top;"Top 5 Appearances
width=50%Player namewidth=50%Appearances
Andy Coley36
Thomas LeuLuai35
George Carmont35
Pat Richards34
Harrison Hansen34

Top 5 Try Scores

width=50%Player namewidth=50%Tries
Pat Richards17
George Carmont15
Harrison Hansen14
Thomas LeuLuai14
Joel Tomkins12

Top 3 Goal Scorers

width=50%Player namewidth=50%Goals
Pat Richards157
Cameron Phelps4
Sean O'Loughlin4

Staff

Management board

Rugby

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Wigan snap up Coley from Salford. BBC Sport. 6 September 2007.
  2. News: Mathers returns to UK with Wigan. BBC Sport. 6 November 2007.
  3. News: Wigan sign Samoa centre Carmont. BBC Sport. 27 November 2007.
  4. News: Pryce back in League with Wigan. BBC Sport. 18 December 2007.
  5. News: Wigan's Fletcher decides to quit. BBC Sport. 6 October 2007.
  6. News: Vaealiki Joins Manly. Sporting Life. 10 November 2007.
  7. News: Wigan release second rower Hill. BBC Sport. 28 November 2007.
  8. Web site: Wigan Warriors Attendance figures 2008 . 16 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120223202309/http://www.superleague.co.uk/results.php?team=Wigan&days=&submit.x=11&submit.y=1&submit=login&c=62&s=2008&id= . 23 February 2012 . dead . dmy-all .

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