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Chris Riley and Derek Finnigan were inducted into the Warrington Players’ Association Hall of Fame at the organisation's annual dinner staged at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. Chris Riley with the Challenge Cup at Warrington Wolves' homecoming at the Town Hall in 2012 (Image: Newsquest) Derek Finnigan breaks away for a Wire try at Wilderspool Stadium during the 1970s (Image: Newsquest) The room of Wire stars past and present included guest of honour, John Bevan. The new Hall of Famers shone for the club in different eras.
Riley is a three-time Challenge Cup winner with The Wire in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and is the only Warrington-born player to achieve three Wembley titles. The winger, who also featured at full-back earlier in his career, made his debut in 2005 and went on to make 180 appearances across nine seasons. He was a prolific scorer under Paul Cullen and Tony Smith, with 120 tries registered.
Chris Riley, centre, with fellow Hall of Famers Bob Eccles, left, and Paul Cullen, right, at the Warrington Players' Association annual dinner (Image: Joe Richardson/Warrington Wolves) Riley also lifted the League Leaders’ Shield in 2011 and scored a try away to St Helens in the play-off semi final in 2012 which sent The Wire to the Grand Final for the first time in their history. Finnigan is one of the great full-backs to play for the club. He signed from Moore Rugby Union club in 1973 and went on to make 254 appearances for The Wire, scoring 34 tries.
Derek Finnigan, right, receives his Hall of Fame induction award from special guest and former Wire teammate John Bevan (Image: Joe Richardson/Warrington Wolves) Finnigan was part of some historic victories which became part of club folklore during his 11 seasons with the club. The 15-12 win over Australia in October 1978 was one such victory and Finnigan was one of the heroes on that famous day. He also played in four finals in four years – Premiership Trophy (1977), John Player Trophy (1978 and 1979) and Lancashire Cup (1980) – as The Wire thrived in cup competitions.
The 26-10 victory over Wigan in that Lancashire Cup final remains the only time that Warrington have beaten their arch rivals in a major showdown..
