I thought, given we've had the "hated players" thread, it might be fun to be a bit more positive and have a look at players you couldn't help but like even though they played for Saints. We all tend to get carried away slating their players, but it might be interesting to see who, if any, have managed to transcend that divide.
Personally, I know this will be controversial but I'll go for Keiron Cunningham. He comes in for a lot of stick from opposition fans, but I think that's just a measure of how good he is. His will to win and consistency of performance are outstanding and I've lost count of the amount of matches that he has single-handedly turned for Saints over the years, dragging them back into a game just at the point they were mentally giving it up. Plus he's a one-club, hometown player which is something I can always respect.
I'd also be interested in the opposite perspective from Saints fans.

Interesting post

I'd also agree with Cunningham, an outstanding professional who is class through and through.

Saints will really miss him when he retires.

Kurt Sorensen - I know he didn't play for Saints (and had a brief spell with us), but Widnes were our big rivals back then

I remember watching him leave the field after being substituted towards the end of a game at CP.

I was standing on the Douglas side near the dug-outs and Kurt - who had had what could best be described as a typically "uncompromising" game for Widnes in which he was involved in more than a few "incidents" - received an appropriately hostile reception from the Wigan fans as he made his way to the bench.

When the noise had finally died down - and it was quite a while before the abuse ceased - a bloke standing near me could be heard quite clearly in the now quiet stand saying to his mate "What a dirty b^&!"q!*". His mate considered this for a moment and said "Yeah, but I wished he played for us though". There were then murmurings of agreement from other people who had heard what the first Wigan fan said.

That's the kind of prop we need at the moment. Unfortunately they don't seem to make them like Kurt, Skez etc anymore.

I always respected Paul Sculthorpe.

However, he nearly spoiled himself towards the back end of his career when he had numerous dummy spits.

James Graham for being a freak and actually turning up when playing for GB/England unlike Pryce and Long

Does Gary Connolly count?

Bryn Hargreaves.
Has shown real potential since signing for us

John Wilkin would love to see him playing with Hock for Wigan

No point just restricting this to Saints players...

Laurie Daley - amazing player, and had a face you would never get tired of smacking.

I don't think Wilkin is thateay inclined

I don't think Wilkin is that way inclined






Typo error fixed

You never know, maybe he's been taking ball grabing tips from Leon

Jamie Jones-Buchanan is annoying, only because he seems to have good games against us. He's a work horse and has that nuts streak I think we miss in our team.

David Solomona again, annoys the heck out of you when he's on the opposition team. Maybe a bit too injury prone now, but always seemed to cause big time damage playing for Wakey.

Jamie Peacock.

Wears his heart on his sleeve imo. Never takes a backwards step and you wouldn't hear me complaining should he sign for us

Sorensen is a good call.

Tough as they come, not a backward step.



Imagine if SF had his attitude.

Kevin Ward, best prop I've seen play.
Cunningham has been a cracking no.9 over the years.
Peacock is awesome, great player with a good attitude, not scared of throwing a few either.

If I was considering the NRL I'd be here all day.

Gorden Tallis for me.

I'd have to say from recent times Farrell and Radlinski Top players playing for their home town squad and undid us quite a few times. Respect.
Slightly further back Botica, best kicker i've ever seen

was always a fan of harragan. hard player. stephen kearney in his prime has to be one of the best second rowers ever to play the game. i think graham has the potential to be one of the best british props ever if he continues developing like he his.

I'm not overly fussed with Cunningham tbf and although he’s was a good player when him and Newton were tussling for the GB jersey i would have gone for terry 9/10.

There are a few tho who were or are the type of player you can’t help but think i wish we would have got him;

Peacock, Ellis, Burrow & Webb imo are players that you watch and think are absolute class and I would love to see at Wigan.

Lyon and Sculthorpe at Saints were a level above anything else is SL at their peaks and earned the respect of opposition fans

Forshaw also never had a bad game against us and was a hard player imo.

Robbie Paul and Withers at Bradford were two players on top of their games. Always wondered how Withers managed to ghost through defenses?

Jimmy Lowes........

Alex Murphy, the best no.7 I've seen, at club level and International.

I hated but wished they played for us Tommy Martyn and Sean Long.

Martyn had a really good rugby brain and Im suprised he never made the GB team all that often.

Did he ever get capped for GB?

Dean Sampson from old because he was a dirty bugger and IIRC broke my favorite player evers jaw (super kel). however he is loved in Cas because he was there for years and always gave 100%.

Mark O'Meely from now. hate most of the Aussie Squad but he is always outstanding against us, a real go forward hard nut. i would love to see us sign a player like that. on the other hand if he ever went to saints/leeds i would absolutley HATE him.

Looking into the future i can see the manly second row Anthony Watmough being one i may have a grudging respect for when he is with the Kangaroos. truely awsome player, but seems like a right cocky get.