First game 16/08/1981, Last game 26/08/1996, Played 330+20 Tries 56 Points 217.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Local lad Paul Cullen served Warrington Wolves as player, captain and coach for more than 25 years and with such pride and enthusiasm that he earned the title “Mr Warrington”.

As a player, he made 350 appearances, scoring 56 tries, in a playing career that spanned 15 years and four different positions – stand-off, centre, loose-forward and second row.

As head coach, he saved Warrington from relegation in 2002 and then laid the foundations for the success later enjoyed by Tony Smith.

Cullen signed for Warrington from Crosfields in November 1980 and made his debut as a stand-off in a Lancashire Cup tie at Barrow the following August. His first try also came against Barrow, at Wilderspool in April 1982, and was chosen as Warrington’s try of the season.

That summer, Cullen and centre Ronnie Duane went on the first Great Britain Colts tour to Papua New Guinea and Australia and played in the feature matches against the Young Kumuls and the Young Kangaroos.

On their return to England, the pair quickly collected Lancashire Cup winner’s medals as Warrington thrashed St Helens 16-0 in the final at Central Park. At the end of the 1982-83 season, Cullen was named Warrington’s most improved player and had the distinction of scoring the club’s last ever three-point try, in the closing minutes of a victory over Workington Town.

By then he had made the switch to centre, his best position, and more success followed with the victory over Halifax in the 1986 Premiership Trophy final at Elland Road. Cullen was a fearless and ferocious tackler and was instrumental in a 6-4 victory at Wigan on New Year’s Day 1987 when he scored the only try of the match. Wigan only lost two league games that season, both to Warrington.

The following New Year’s Day saw another titanic battle between Warrington and Wigan which Warrington coach Tony Barrow later described as “World War Three” after four players – including Cullen – were sent off and Les Boyd was sin-binned.

Cullen was the victim of a high tackle from Andy Goodway who was immediately shown a red card. As Goodway headed towards the tunnel he appeared to stand on Cullen’s hand. Cullen jumped up, chased him down the tunnel and launched himself at the Wigan forward. Cullen, too, was sent off.

His moment of madness probably cost Warrington victory in a game that ended in a 15-15 draw. It also earned him a two-match ban and ended his hopes of one day playing for Great Britain.

“I spoke with the then GB coach Mal Reilly after that game and whatever international prospects I had at that time finished there and then,” Cullen later recalled.

More disappointment followed in the spring of 1990 when Cullen was banned for eight matches for a high tackle, a brutal suspension that ruled him out of Warrington’s Wembley line-up against Wigan.

But Cullen was far from finished. He was granted a testimonial season in 1990-91 (which raised £27,500) and played at loose-forward when Warrington won the Regal Trophy by beating Bradford Northern 12-2 in the final at Headingley.

In the early 1990’s Paul also worked in the club’s commercial department, on merchandising, sponsorships and along with Brian and Evelyn McEvoy set up The Wolfpack, for Junior Wire fans.

Brian Johnson also appointed him captain, although his first game with the armband, at St Helens in January 1996, was another low point as Warrington suffered a humiliating 80-0 defeat in a Regal Trophy semi-final.

Cullen was also caretaker coach for one match following John Dorahy’s sudden departure in March 1997 when he guided Warrington to a remarkable 35-24 victory over Wigan at a sun-drenched Wilderspool.

Cullen’s next role was as the assistant to incoming coach Darryl van de Velde, a position he filled until 2000 when he was appointed head coach at Whitehaven.

Two years later, and with Warrington seemingly sliding towards relegation, Cullen was brought back to Wilderspool to preserve their Super League status. Victories at Halifax and, memorably, at home to Castleford achieved that first goal and from then on the Wire were on an upward trajectory.

In 2003 Warrington reached the play-offs for the first time – at the sixth attempt – to say farewell to Wilderspool in a manner befitting all the legends of the club who had played there.

Importantly, Warrington won the last Super League game at Wilderspool and the first game at The Halliwell Jones Stadium – both against Wakefield. In 2005, Ben Westwood was successfully converted from a centre to a second-row forward and Andrew Johns, the world’s best player, was welcomed into the side for three unforgettable matches.

In 2006, Adrian Morley was signed from Sydney Roosters and Warrington won their first play-off match, against Leeds at Headingley, as the team were transformed from also-rans to contenders.

Looking back on his career, Cullen wished he had resigned as head coach at the end of the 2007 season, after five years in the hot seat, but – against his better judgment – he decided to go again in 2008.

He appointed Morley as captain, another big step on the road to success, but resigned in May after a home defeat to Castleford, who were bottom of the table. He had left the club in a much stronger position than he had inherited.

From March 2009 to November 2010, Cullen was head coach at Widnes, guiding them to victory in the Northern Rail Cup final at Blackpool, before choosing Denis Betts as his successor.

Cullen was also a familiar voice as an expert summariser on Sky Sports for a number of year, and now, with a touch of irony, he is the chairman of the Rugby Football League’s match review panel, sitting in judgment on player disciplinary matters. Paul is also a regular to matches at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.