IT had been 11 long years since we had seen the famous Wigan Walk at Wilderspool.

To wave 'bye, bye' to the supporters who had rubbed our noses in the Central Park success was a fantastic feeling.

My emotion of overwhelming joy was compounded by the fact that it arrived as a massive surprise.

After all the troubles in the Warrington camp, and three successive Super League defeats, no one could have fore-told the events of Easter Monday.

We all want to the game on a downer. The pathetic display at Sheffield Eagles two days earlier had made sure of that. Then came the sacking of coach John Dorahy to leave the club in a state of crisis.

But what 7,000 fans witnessed on Monday was something special, a one-off, well alright, a miracle!

The pride and passion instilled into the players by Paul Cullen and Alex Murphy was bewildering. The team was focused and full of fire. The tackling and support play, abysmal under Dorahy this year, were superb.

Was this really the same side that had surrendered so woefully against Bradford, London and Sheffield?

They played for each other, fought for every loose ball and showed a team spirit second to none in Super League.

Warrington's wonderful loyal suporters responded magnificently. They sang their hearts out, clapped every move and gave the team a rapturous standing ovation at half-time and at the full time whistle.

Caretaker coaches Cullen and Murphy joined the players on the park at the end to lap up the applause from the same fans that had booed them on previous outings. They were wonderful scenes, high with emotion and it was a unique atmosphere.

You would have thought Warrington had just won a cup final at Wembley. That was what it meant to turn the corner in Super League. That was what it meant to beat Wigan for the first time in 11 years at Wilderspool. Bring on Oldham!

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.