I wasn't lucky enough to see the likes of Boston, Sullivan, Ashton etc and started watching Wigan at the age of 4 in 93/94 SO going off the players I HAVE SEEN and CAN REMEMBER this is mine :

1. S. Tomkins
2. Robinson
3. Renouf
4. Carmont - A lot may disagree, for me, the perfect centre and a fantastic servant to the club.
5. Offiah
6. Barrett
7. Edwards
8. Platt
9. Newton
10. C. Smith
11. Betts
12. Clarke
13. Farrell

Tomkins
Robinson
Renouf
Miles
Offiah
Edwards
Gregory
Platt
Newton
Skerrett
Farrell
Goodway
Hanley

Sam
Robinson
Renouf
Miles
Offiah
Kenny
Gregory
Dowling
Dermott
Platt
Furner
Farrell
Hanley

Post 1980

S Tomkins
Robinson
Lydon
Miles
Offiah
Kenny
Edwards
Platt
Dermott
Skerrett
Farrell
Goodway
Hanley

Bench
Gregory
Ferguson
Roberts
Clarke

Tomkins
Robinson
Bell
Miles
Offiah
Kenny
Gregory
Skerrett
Dermott
Platt
Farrell
Betts
Hanley

Could easily name two that would give any team a run for their money just from 80's onwards:

First Team Second Team

Rads Connolly
Robinson Ferguson
Tuigamala Iro
Lydon Renouf
Offiah Botica
kenny Barrett
Edwards Gregory
Platt Skerrett
Luluai Newton
Goodway Dowling
Betts Furner
Farrell Potter
Hanley Clarke

Bench Bench
Bell Dermott
C.Smith Case
O'Connor Panapa
Paul Cassidy

AWESOME!

Can't believe I'm the only one to put Dean Bell in their all time Wigan side so far.

Tomkins
Robinson
Renouf
Connolly
Offiah
Barrett
Edwards
Skerrett
Newton
Smith
Betts
Furner
Farrell

1. Fairbairn
2. Boston
3. Bell
4. Miles
5. Offiah
6. Kenny
7. Gregory
8. C.Smith
9. Dermott
10. McTigue
11. Ashurst
12. Farrell
13. Hanley

Only started watching in 1984 so this would be mine:
1-Lydon
2-Ferguson
3-Bell
4-Miles
5-Offiah
6-Kenny
7-Edwards
8-Skerrett
9-Leuluai
10-Platt
11-Betts
12-Farrell
13-Hanley

Subs: Tuigamala, Gregory, Goodway, Robinson

Tomkins
Robinson
Tuigamala
Miles
Offiah
Edwards
Gregory
Platt
McCormack
Skerrett
Betts
Farrell
Hanley (C)

Bench: Paul, C Smith, Clarke and Radlinkski

I had to make this modern era only but was sorely tempted to put Boston in anyway

. Tuigamala (who at peak fitness was the most powerful runner I've ever seen) and Boston as his winger... that would be something special.

I've put Hanley down as captain, but the truth is that with the exception of Tomkins, Offiah and Skerrett (who have their own unique characters, and maybe Sam will mature into a captain, to be fair) all the other players in that 17 were captain material, which is something that makes it an even better side. There are leaders everywhere.

Speaking of leaders, and the omission of one of the greatest captains in RL, Dean Bell - he was a great player as well as a great captain, but I can believe his omission. We are Wigan, even legends of world RL can't get into our all-time first XIII.

I don't know if you ever saw Boston play, but I would be surprised if anyone who did wouldn't put his name down first in any 'Greatest' Wigan team, still (IMO) the best player I've seen play for Wigan.

K Radlinski
J Robinson
D Bell
G Miles
M Offiah
B Kenny
S Edwards
K Skerrett
N Kiss
A Platt
D Betts
A Farrell
E Hanley

Subs
S Tomkins
G Dowling
A Gregory
P Clarke

Best/favourite I've seen.

1 - Radlinski
2 - Robinson
3 - Connolly
4 - Renouf
5 - Offiah
6 - Edwards
7 - Lam
8 - Skerrett
9 - Newton
10 - O'Connor
11 - Betts
12 - Farrell
13 - O'Loughlin

Really tough to miss out Bell, Barrett, Carmont, Carney, Dallas, Dermott, Sam Tomkins, Clarke.

I was too young to remember Hanley and Gregory.

I didn't (born too late!) but have been told by many people who did whose judgment I respect (including my dad) that Billy Boston not Ellery Hanley is the greatest player to have worn the Cherry and White.

I was old enough to see Hanley play for Wigan and he was simply a rugby god (Badwanger's comment in my sig is probably the most ridiculous thing I've read on these boards, and that's saying something).

I wish I had seen Billy play, especially in front of those massive crowds at CP. (Am I right in saying that 16k turned up to watch his debut for the A team?).





EDIT: sorry, forgot about "nickmanator"'s statement in my sig... that is definitely the most ridiculous thing I've seen on these boards, it makes Badwanger's comment look like a work of genius!

Then you missed a rare treat my friend. I was very young when I saw an ageing Boston play but Hanley is first on the list every time IMO

That's pretty much my team. I would probably squeeze Ferguson in for Robinson and Edwards for Kenny based on my favouritism. I would also have Ashurst in for Betts and Colin Clarke for Dermott to represent the older crowd.

HAMPSON
IRO
IRO
BELL
LYDON
EDWARDS
GREGORY
LUCAS
KISS
SHELFORD
PLATT
POTTER
HANLEY

SUBS
BETTS
GOODWAY

I only started going in 2005, so can I just say this years team?

Where's Dennis Moran?

1. Sam Tomkins/Kris Radlinski. Simply cant pick (I never thought anyone would take over Rads

)
2. Jason Robinson
3. Steve Renouf
4. Dean Bell
5. Martin Offiah
6. Shaun Edwards
7. Adrian Lam
8. Terry O'Connor
9. Terry Newton
10. Super Kel
11. Dennis Betts
12. Andrew Farrell
13. Ellery Hanley

So many more aswell. Always feel privileged to be a fan of this great club.

Here's a third side, not as good as the other two (halves and bench a bit weak), but would be a very, very strong team in SL. Quality wingmen, a proper front row, a RL legend in the centres (and Gene Miles

) and a second row/LF combo that would really have taken some stopping:

Third Team

Hampson
T Iro
Miles
Mather
Myers
Wright
Smith
Lucas
McCormack
Cowie
Gilmour
Haughton
O'Loughlin

Bench

Preston
Hall
Mestrov
P Johnson

Anyone fancy doing a 4th from the modern era? We haven't used many current players....

I only started watching Wigan in the 1996 season so my team would be...

1. Radlinksi
2. Robinson
3. Renouf
4. Carmont
5. Richards
6. Barrett
7. Lam
8. O'Connor
9. Newton
10. Smith
11. Furner
12. Fletcher
13. Farrell

No truer words will ever be written on this board. It's only when you read a thread like this that you realise how lucky we are, what a special club Wigan is.



Love the username by the way. I am considering opening a second account under the name "Nucking Fumpty" to post on the Wire and Leeds boards, I should blend in...



[size=50Only kidding Mods![/size

Can't decide between some great players in some positions, but definitely in the 13 from players I have watched are:


1, Tomkins
2. Boston
3. Ashton
4. Can't decide
5. Offiah
6. Edwards
7. Gregory
8. Can't decide
9. Can't decide
10. McTigue
11. Can't decide
12. Farrell
13. Hanley

Amazed that none of the older posters picked Mac, the greatest prop I ever saw, by far.
Also in the running for my team would be Fairbairn, Hampson, Radlinski, Kevin Iro, Bell, J. Robinson, Lydon, Skerrett, Ashurst, Platt, Betts, Bolton, Dermott, Botica....and others
I didn't consider the short-stay players, good as they were, like Kenny, Ferguson, Miles, Barrett...