A couple of weeks ago a poster who goes by the user name of Singing Warrior introduced himself with some very interesting comments about the players he had seen since he began watching Wigan, greats like Sullivan, Mountford, Bradshaw, Blan, Cunliffe and Boston etc. Some of these players who where still playing in the 50s I saw myself.

It was by reading this that made me think about great players I had seen myself since I first watched Wigan in 1953, being a Billy Boston mad teenager I could not believe that there could have been a better winger than Billy.
When I went with a few mates on away trips to Yorkshire we always said to the Yorkshire fans that Billy was the greatest, one name was always thrown back at us, that Lionell Cooper of Huddersfield was better.
Even the older Wigan Fans used to say that he was a very good winger (he scored 10 trys in a match against Kieghley in one match in the 50s)

So I have had look at the stats of 4 wingers playing in the days when I first began supporting R/L.

Brian Bevan of Warrington
Pld 695 club matches and scored 740 trys which equates to 1.064 trys per match.

Billy Boston of Wigan
Pld 488 club matches and scored 478 trys ...".........".......to .979 trys per match.

Tom Van Vollenhoven of St Helens.
Pld 409 club matches and scored 392 trys...."........."........to .958 trys per match.

Lionell Cooper of Huddersfield.
Pld 332 club matches and scored 432 trys ..."........."........to 1.3 trys per match

Even though I cant remember seeing Cooper, (but I more than likely did at the back end of his career) he must have been some player, he came over from Australia in 1946 and played until 1955.

It would be interesting to see the comments of other posters who remember Cooper, probably Singing Warrior or Fleabag and his dad.
I know stats can sometimes mislead, but they can also open ones eyes. But I still say Billy was the best.

It would of interest also to see which OPPOSISTION players fans have seen who stand out in there memories without naming players from their own teams.

Big Les, Long & Peacock spring to mind when i think about opposition players in the SL era.

Big Les was a freak of a man and his try scoring record speaks for itself.

Long was a tool but you knew that come the big games he'd more than likely turn out a top performance.

Peacock is simply a warrior. He's the type of guy you can't not respect a guy that would grace any side of any era imo. I'd have loved him at Wigan.

I was only a kid during the 80's and 90's and didn't really pay attention to the other teams players. As a kid it's always about your own team players.

Lyon, Vainikolo, Briers, Long, Cunningham, Morley, Peacock and Sculthorpe stick out for me as the.best opposition players of the SL era, all genuinely.world class in their prime

A couple more 'old' Wigan wingers to look at...........Brian Nordgren, 294 apps, 312 tries. Gordon Ratcliffe, 212 apps, 185 tries, including 7 in 1 match !!.



ps, best opposing player I've seen against Wigan.........Alex Murphy, outstanding, probably the best scrum half I've seen up to now.

Jonathan Davies - such a naturally gifted player, would have been sensational at Wigan

Mike gregory, Kurt sorensen and kevin ward all awesome forwards.

Lance Hohaia

Jamie Lyon

Tommy Martyn

Alex Murphy was a great player, as were Roger Millward, Neil Fox, Brian Bevan. Tommy Voll etc. But my favourite opposition player was Johnny Walsh who played for Saints. Not the quickest but a brilliant rugby brain.

Jim Mills for the entertainment value...you always knew he would lose the plot at some point

Frank Blackburn , no contest .

Murphy was outstanding, and always shone out.

Yep, they just used to 'wind him up' and Big Jim seemed to fall for it every time.



Folk used to bet on, not if, but when he would get sent off.

Ernie Ashcroft the great Wigan and GB centre it was widely rumoured wouldn't pass the ball to Nordgren(noggy).According to the rumour he said "He gets more money than me !"



Lots of women used to drool over 'noggy' by all accounts.

Brian Nordgren came with Cec Mountford from NZ.

Just asked my old Dad, and he really rated Lionel Cooper who was "class" to use his word. He also rated the 'Headingley Express' Eric Harris.

Harris was very fast, but Cooper was better, according to my old Dad.

My mam now 91 years of age was one of them.

Was told Brian Nordgren came to us from Union.
Was it NZRU or is it not true?

Ellery Hanley in the cup against us in 85. Every Wigan fan was scared to death whenever he got the ball. We sneaked home 7-6, still don't know how.

Yes I did watch Lionel Cooper play although the match I best remember is one in which he failed to shine. It was the Championship Final at Maine Road in 1950. Wigan went into that match minus 8 players who were in the Great Britain squad on their way to Australia. Huddersfield were largely unaffected by international calls and as a few weeks earlier they had beaten a full strength Wigan team they were considered nailed on certs to win. Among the A team players coach Jim Sullivan was forced to play was a young 2nd row forward by the name of Nat Silcock. Sullivan put him on the wing opposing Cooper and not only did he completely bottle him up but he scored the first try into the bargain. Wigan went on to win 20 points to 2 and in my humble opinion that was the greatest achievement in our club's glorious history. On the other wing for Wigan that day was Brian Nordgren who until Billy Boston came on the scene was the best winger I had ever seen.

Mal Meninga

No he came from A Rugby League club. I think it was called Ponsonby.

Thanks SW.

My Dad played wing as a young man and always rated these two.

Of the players I have seen Paul Newlove was one of the best opposition centres I have seen and another was Paul Sccofiled (pity since he retired he's gone the way he has).

As a Leeds fan Jamie Lyon, Andy Farrell and Kieran Cunningham. All players who would walk into any side at any time they've played. I used to love seeing Moz smashing up the aussies when he played for the roosters as well.

Three names which stick out in my mind were from the Barrow team of the Fifties, one was a player said to be one of the all time greats, Willie Horne. He was a standoff with sublime skills who was also known for his round the corner style of taking goal kicks.

The other two names were two wingers who would walk into any Super League team today, Frank Castle and James Lewthwaite. Barrow at the time also had a couple of centres who if playing today would be in the England /GB team Phill Jackson and Dennis Goodwin.