In the last 30 years?

For anyone that has watched Wigan throughout this period can you recall a moment when the clubs dominance of the 1990s was born in conjunction with one signing?

From the people i gave spoken to on this subject the signing of Graham West seems prominent as a real turning point for the club but wondered what others that were their thought?

Ellery Hanley

Andy Goodway, first full time pro

Graeme Lowe.

Edwards.

The likes of Edwards and Hanley were clearly great signings but the wheels seemed set in motion before both players were signed up.

Why did players like Andy Gregory sign for Widnes?

A move to Wigan was not always as attractive as it was in the late 80s.

Reading the history books the signings of Gill and West seemed particularly prominent.

brady malam

West was a good signing but the ball was started by Shaun Edwards signing and also the signing of a trialist full back from Vulcan RU (Steve Hampson).

Later the same season Mark cannon switched to stand off for a cup replay against Bramley and things really began to move culminating in a Wembley final.

Brett Kenny and John Ferguson the next season really got things going.

How different things might have been if Shaun Kilner's last minute drop goal attempt had gone over in the first Bramley cup game.

Graham Lowe

Got to be Edwards because he was here a long time and throughout his career his attitude and determination was the epitome of those Wigan sides. Other players might be considered better players but Edwards is IMO the key figure (player wise).

Dave

Sam Panapa

Dennis Moran

Will probably raise a few eyebrows on here, but I recall the summer of 82 when we had Doug Laughton lined up as coach, only for him to back out of the deal. We consequently brought in Alex Murphy and for the first time in years people were talking about rugby with a positive attitude in the pubs and clubs of Wigan. 10,000+ crowds for the first two home games of the season (average was about 5K in those days) and but for a blip after the incident with Murphy, Lindsay and the phone we never really looked back.

Murphy may have been limited as a coach but there was no denying his ability to get people talking.

Playing wise, too many to mention but for me based solely on events I remember - Edwards because he signalled a return to us not losing out on home based players, Hanley because he was simply the best player in the world, West for all his work on and off the field, and Kenny as the best half back in the world at the time are all worthy of mention.

Overseas signing
Dean Bell.

Massive impact on the club.

Young Lad
Shaun Edwards.

Overall.

Not exactly a signing, but the most important person to walk through the door Maurice.

I know he had a bit of a mare with his second stint, but surley he done more for RL in this country than any other single person.

Alex Murphy as head coach.

For the first time in about ten years, losing was no longer an option.

Good call, like him or loathe him Murphy kick started the revival, he had Bill Ashurst to help with the coaching, made some signings like Brian Case and Ian Potter that put some steel back in the side, and his handling of the press got us back in the headlines, at that time we needed Murphy, and Murphy needed us, it worked out well for both parties.....................and then the telephone !!!!!!!!!

For us newer fans (well, 8 years now), telephone?

Allegedly! Alex didn't like the fact he wasn't going to be paid for his work at the Pre-season 7's and threw a Telephone (Allegedly) at Mo and hit him right on the Noggin!

Murphy denied it but Mo appeared in the press for the Next week with a Big Plaster stuck on it!




Would you get that under Il eh Daveo!



That's how to sack a coach!

Agree about Murphy; mostly due to his attitude arther than his coaching ability.

Once we signed the likes of Glyn Shaw and Brian Case we started intimidating other teams again....................something we neeed to do these days.

All through our great days, playing great rugby, it was based on absolutely battering the other sides forwards.

People like Edwards/Hanley/Bell were massive in the success of the club, but it was the players that began the improvement who set us on our way.

There could be an argument Maurice himself was

We were in the 2nd division and to the surprise of all signed Gary Stephens, an international and proven player in the Aussie league which made people sit up. We were still expected to go down next season but added hairy-d props in Hodkinson and Shaw. But the one which announced we were back in the big time was David Stephenson a current young internetional who all the top clubs coveted. Every season after that we signed higher class players than Stephenson but his signing was the catalyst in saying that we intened to be a power in the game again.

none of the above , ie edwards , greg , murphy , hanley etc would have been at wigan if it wasnt for little mo

he had the vision early doors for what wigan eventually became

David Vaeliki - Because now he is the bench mark for crap players therefore new signings can't possibly be any worse than him, have as much pressure on them as him, be on as much and be as lazy as him.

On a more serious note I would say Maurice Lyndsay, love him or hate him in his first stint he was great.

dobson.........he kept us in superleague

malam, murray, hansen, holgate,...the list is endless that was worse than DV