Warrington Wolves team of the decade, full-back vote

With that in mind, we thought we would give you the chance to select your Wire 13 from the past 10 years.

We have picked a shortlist of players in each position who have donned the primrose and blue from 2010 to the present day for you to choose from.

There will be votes each week on our website, with the full team to be revealed in our Christmas edition.

What every team needs is a good, dependable full-back and we are sure any of the following three would do a sterling job.

However, only one can gain a place in your team…

RICHIE MATHERS:

The 27 appearances Mathers made at full-back during the 2010 season in which he scored seven tries qualify him for this shortlist.

He started at Wembley for the second season in succession as The Wire retained the Challenge Cup by beating Leeds Rhinos.

Overall, Mathers made 54 appearances for The Wire and his contribution to the glorious early days of Tony Smith’s reign as head coach will always be appreciated.

Mathers joined Castleford after leaving Warrington and had spells at Wakefield, London and Bradford during the rest of his playing career.

Upon retirement, Mathers returned to the Halliwell Jones Stadium to work behind the scenes before leaving again earlier this year.

Richie Mathers. Picture by Mike Boden

BRETT HODGSON:

When Brett Hodgson signed for The Wire ahead of the 2011 season, a player of real prestige was about to arrive.

This was a New South Wales representative who had won individual honours on both sides of the globe.

Before coming to England to join Huddersfield, he had been voted as the NRL’s best full-back and once he had arrived, he won the Man of Steel award in 2009.

Much was expected of Hodgson, and he certainly delivered.

His performance in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final thrashing of Leeds Rhinos earned him the Lance Todd Trophy as he lit up Wembley with a try and five goals.

Three seasons of near faultless reliability and metronomic accuracy from the kicking tee assured Hodgson’s status as a fans’ favourite.

His record upon leaving The Wire after the 2013 season – a move that proved his last as a rugby league player as he retired shortly after – had him averaging more than 10 points per game.

In his 75 appearances in primrose and blue, the Australian scored 39 tries, kicked 315 goals and added two drop goals for good measure.

Hodgson had a spell on the coaching staff at Widnes Vikings before returning to Australia, where he now works as an assistant to head coach Michael Maguire at NRL side Wests Tigers.

Brett Hodgson celebrates winning the 2012 Challenge Cup. Picture by Dave Gillespie

STEFAN RATCHFORD:

Such is Ratchford’s versatility and willingness to play anywhere, he has popped up in every position other than prop forward during his career.

However, of all the spots he has filled in his time at The Wire, he has finally found a home as the last line of defence.

The past three seasons have seen him play almost uninterrupted as a full-back, with Steve Price in particular keen to emphasise it as his nailed-on position.

Solid under the high ball and with an uncanny ability to release the ball quickly and accurately after receiving it, Ratchford’s consistency has seen him return to the England set-up as he featured in their run to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final.

Still Warrington’s undisputed number one, Ratchford has made 236 appearances since joining from Salford in 2012.

During that time, he has crossed for 80 tries and is just three goals shy of 300 in a Wire shirt.

He has helped Wolves lift two Challenge Cups – in 2012 and this year – and became only the third player in Super League history to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy while finishing on the losing side of a Grand Final in 2018.

Stefan Ratchford. Picture by Mike Boden

THIS VOTE IS NOW CLOSED - THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAD THEIR SAY