I agree, Walsh was a superb player.

Yeah Tommy was an unassuming bloke,best player not to be picked for GB .Thoughtful post Mugwump

Ellery Hanley or Mugwump.

Ellery every time.

Nice one Muggers. I agree with every word. My favourite ever Saints player. I'm also going to claim credit for the first use of the phrase "Tommy God", back when this website was in its infancy. I have no proof to back that up other than assertion, of course.

Definitely. I can't confirm or deny your first use of the phrase 'Tommy God' (although it wouldn't surprise me!) but it definitely fits.

Missed the damned thing tonight. Kicking myself.

Can anyone lend a hand?

5:30am repeat. Sky+ it.

No Sky+, unfortunately.

Dang.

Sorry Mugwump, can't help you unless you fancy coming down to Wiltshire and watching my Sky+ recording.

Tommy was one of those guys who made the game really worth watching because. from a supporter's point of view, he always made the game enjoyable whichever team you supported.

Best set your alarm then

Although I remeber the whole Tommy vs Hanley issue, I do not remeber him almost signing for Wigan! (maybe I've blocked that memory out)

He didn't mention the name of the player Hanley was going to replace him with, but he tells a very funny story about it in his after dinner speech, if you're ever lucky enough to hear it.

It's also on at 9.30 this morning on SS3, if that's any use.

brilliant player, good eye candy as well. gorgeous.

I completely agree

(not so) tricky trindall

Do they repeat these on the sky sports website? I know they did last season?

@ Mugwump



Cracking read on Tommy a true hero of St Helens

Graham Holroyd was the player Hanley wanted to replace Martyn with.
Also at the time there were very strong stories he wanted rid of Cunningham and replace him with a bloke I cant even remember the name of.

Was it Pekevicth (sp) or a name very similar?

The majestic Richard Pachniuk.

I got his name on my shirt in anticipation then we were left with that waster KC.

The statue should have been Richard's.

You're thinking of Penkywicz but it was Richard Pachniuk if memory serves me right (as confirmed in the post above).

youve got a PM.

Yep, Hanley's master plan was Tommy and KC out, Holroyd and Pachniuk in.

Tommy Martyn was the only Saints signiture that I have sought for myself and that's after meeting Captain fantastic Joynty face to face and getting him to sign my sisters shirt for her birthday.

Martyn had that unexplainable quality. I say inexplicable because it is just one of those things you cannot coach. Maybe it's in the genes who knows. But also he made playing look fun. An interesting revelation to me, was that even though Hanley wanted to sell Tommy and Milward saved him, Tommy seamed to have better words for Hanley than Milward. He did not expand on his thoughts for why he thought he was removed by Milward but that the injury was used as an excuse.

I'm sure I've also heard before now that even though Milward brought success not all players where enamoured with him as he had his favourites and the rest where well lets say a 2nd thought.

When we got rid of Tommy for me that was the start of where we ended up reducing our creative talent pool.

At that point we had 3 talented ball players. Scully at loose, Tommy and Long. We got rid of Tommy and replaced with Hooper - occasionally playing with Scully at half back. This eventually gave way to Scully retiring and leaving us with just Long as the creative and organising player at half back.

Yes we signed leon but he was not an organiser or a kicker when we signed him, that was something he was developing alongside long.

We had gone from Scully/Martyn/Long to Long/Pryce/Flannery.

I'm hoping this year will be the start of a return to having 3 creative players in the 6 7 and 13 positions all of which have a kicking, passing and running game.

I did enjoy the interview on SKY, I would love to see the story come full circle and Tommy regain a passion for RL. Most people I know rate him, and I've yet to here a Saints fan I know have a bad words about the guy. I'm not saying a future Saints coach (I'm not against the idea, but I think people would want a little more experience) but he could certainly bring alot to the game and who knows maybe on day we'll see him directing a team from the stands.