OH happy days!

It was this week 10 years ago that Warrington Wolves put their 'derby' rivals Widnes Vikings to the sword under the sweltering sun at Magic Weekend held in Manchester at the Etihad Stadium.

Australian winger Joel Monaghan scored a memorable haul of five tries as The Wire posted their highest ever win against Vikings, 68-4.

Former William Beamont student Matty Blythe also collected a hat-trick for Tony Smith's men who went to the top of the table overnight.

Warrington Guardian: Wire celebrate the second try of the afternoon scored by Garreth Carvell. All pictures by Mike BodenWire celebrate the second try of the afternoon scored by Garreth Carvell. All pictures by Mike Boden

MONAGHAN'S QUINTET:

 

12 minutes: Briers' perfectly-weighted grubber beat Patrick Ah Van and was touched down by Monaghan in the corner

Warrington Guardian:

22 minutes: Monaghan took Briers' high bomb over the head of Ah Van and grounded

Warrington Guardian:

24 minutes: Ratchford's side-step left Ah Van stranded and flying Monaghan took the full back's pass to complete a 12-minute hat-trick

Warrington Guardian:

60 minutes: Monaghan's fourth try came thanks to a sublime reverse pass from his centre Matty Blythe

Warrington Guardian:

80 minutes: Basketball passing from Simon Grix and Adrian Morley kept the ball alive before Grix's high kick to the corner bounced perfectly for Monaghan to touch down with remarkable agility

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

THE WIRE TEAM:

 

You can only look back now and see how spoilt the Warrington Wolves fans were with the quality of players and rugby on show at the time.

Even with skipper Adrian Morley left on the bench and Simon Grix filling in at hooker, Tony Smith's side were as scorching hot as the sun.

Three players who helped The Wire to a seventh successive win that day are still part of the team now, namely Stefan Ratchford in his first season, Mike Cooper in his first of two spells with his hometown club and a 17-year-old Ben Currie in his breakthrough year.

Warrington Guardian: Stefan RatchfordStefan Ratchford

Warrington Guardian: Mike CooperMike Cooper

Warrington Guardian: Ben CurrieBen Currie

Wolves team v Widnes, 2012 Super League Round 15, Magic Weekend, Etihad Stadium: Stefan Ratchford; Joel Monaghan, Matty Blythe, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Lee Briers, Gareth O'Brien; Chris Hill, Simon Grix, Garreth Carvell, Trent Waterhouse, Tyrone McCarthy, Ben Harrison. Subs: Adrian Morley, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie, Brad Dwyer.

Warrington Guardian: Ben Currie's tryBen Currie's try

Warrington Guardian: Ryan Atkins' tryRyan Atkins' try

Widnes team: Cameron Phelps; Paddy Flynn, Stefan Marsh, Chris Dean, Patrick Ah Van; Joe Mellor, Rhys Hanbury; Ben Cross, Jon Clarke, Steve Pickersgill, Frank Winterstein, Kurt Haggerty, Hep Cahill. Subs: Willie Isa, Ben Davies, MacGruff Leuluai, Alex Gerrard.

THE FANS:

 

Warrington's barmy army were out in full force for what was the first of three successive Magic Weekends staged at Manchester City's former Commonwealth Games stadium.

Warrington Guardian:

This wasn't the year of the Michael Monaghan song, which dominated the noise in the stands the following season, but they were thrilled by the 80-minute display and excited for what was to come for the rest of the season in Tony Smith's fourth campaign at the helm.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

THE HIGHLIGHTS: