Warrington Wolves team of the decade, left centre vote

Over the coming weeks, we will be running polls to find out which Wire stars you would choose in a team of players from between 2010 and the present day.

This week, the left centre position is up for grabs and it is a simple choice between two players…

RYAN ATKINS:

NOT many players will go as close to completing a full decade in one position, but “Rhino” came pretty close.

Since his arrival for the 2010 season, the left edge was pretty much sacrosanct as Atkins’ home.

Not even he could have foreseen the impact he would have after joining from Wakefield Trinity.

Indeed, the tongue-out try celebration for which he has become synonymous was seen plenty of times.

He has crossed 93 times at The Halliwell Jones Stadium – nobody has scored more at The Wire’s home ground.

Furthermore, no centre has scored more tries in the primrose and blue than Atkins’ haul of 168, which included one at Wembley as he helped The Wire win the 2012 Challenge Cup.

In the previous season, only Joel Monaghan topped his 26 tries in the 2011 League Leaders’ Shield-winning season.

This staunch Yorkshireman was an adopted Warringtonian and proud, with his two daughters Nala and Jada both born in the town.

The low-key way in which he left to rejoin Wakefield earlier this year was sad, but Atkins’ place in Wire folklore is secure.

Ryan Atkins' familiar try-scoring celebration. Picture by Mike Boden

BRYSON GOODWIN:

IT was Bryson Goodwin’s arrival from South Sydney Rabbitohs that ended up dislodging Atkins from his vaunted left-centre role.

However, it is testament to the job he did that some fans have described the New Zealander as one of Warrington’s best imports in recent times.

High praise indeed and it shows the kind of impact Goodwin was able to make in his two-season stint at the HJ.

A classy operator in the three-quarter line in both defence and attack, his Wire career saw him score 26 tries and 43 goals in 61 appearances for the club.

Five of those tries came in one game against Hull FC in 2018, a haul that equalled the Super League record for most tries scored by one player in a single game.

Nevertheless, it is perhaps his defensive effort to stop Tommy Makinson from scoring in this year’s victorious Wembley final that may go down as his most memorable contribution on these shores.

As he leaves to return to the NRL and Souths, his departure leaves a big hole in The Wire’s back five.

Bryson Goodwin celebrates scoring against Hull FC in this year's Challenge Cup semi final. Picture by Mike Boden

THIS POLL IS NOW CLOSED - THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES