That’s what you call a trip
Good lad

Dave Bolton was before my time but again a player who I would have loved to have seen
Alex Murphy I think has Dave Bolton in his 13 off all time

1. Tomkins
2. Robinson
3. Inga
4. Myles
5. Offiah
6. Barrett
7. Lam
8. Platt
9. Newton
10. Farrell
11. Furner
12. Hanley
13. Locky

Hi Jonh
What Year are you working from as your criteria? I.e. When did you start watching?
Obviously the thing that stands out there is Lam over Gregory or Edwards (Whilst I was a big fan of Lam I wouldn't have included him over either of those)

Barrett over Edwards or Kenny? - I can kind of see that although personally I wouldn't

Furner was a Very good player and does get overlooked from time to time in these discussions, but Betts from 89 to 95 was just awesome. Goodway as well often gets overlooked and he was Very good for us from 85/86 through to 90
Farrell to 10 I can see and is a good way of getting Lockers in there, but we all know he's a back rower however Hanley to 2nd row is a non starter







I think we just have to accept that picking players in their true positions means we leave International/World class players out
Big Rads fan - But he misses out to Sam
Big Ferguson fan - But he misses out to Robinson
Dean bell - Wow - What a competitor - But you can't have them all - Connolly/Miles/Inga/Renouf/Iro etc.
Picking 2 halves - You have to leave out 3 of Gregory/Edwards/Lam/Kenny/Barrett for example

I love Lockers - But Hanley plays 13
I Love Farrell - But Hanley Plays 13

Farrell you could shoehorn into 12 as he played a lot of rugby there, but half a dozen games at prop doesn't warrant consideration for me.

1/ Sam Tomkins
2/ Jason Robinson
3/ Dean bell
4/ Gene Miles
5/ Martin Offiah
6/ Kenny
7/ Gregory
8/ Craig Smith
9/ Newton
10/ Platt
11/ Betts
12/ Farrell
13/ Hanley

If were having subs then :-

Edwards
Skerrett
Lockers
Barrett

In my lifetime:-
1)-Joe Lydon
2)-John Ferguson
3)-Dean Bell
4)-Gene Miles
5)-Martin Offiah
6)-Brett Kenny
7)-Shaun Edwards


-Kelvin Skerrett
9)-Thomas Leuluai
10)-Andy Platt
11)-Denis Betts
12)-Andy Farrell
13)-Ellery Hanley

I thought hard about David Bolton, but went for Brett Kenny, funnily enough after having a conversation whilst on the Aussie World Cup tour of 2008. I was sat with someone you may have heard of a man called Billy Boston and asked what he thought about Bolton and Kenny. His answer, "I loved playing with David, but Kenny is the BEST I have ever seen"

I should however have included Bill Ashurst probably in front of Betts or Craig Smith.

First game I remember watching was the 85 final where I was 7.

Realistically though probably going from 87/88 season though as a barometer.

Edwards and Gregory where my favourite players as a kid. I can’t really count Kenny as I only really remember him playing that one game for us.

For me as good as Greg was he was also very limited in the fact he generally turned his back when passing off his weak hand. Lam for me probably had a better all round game.

Edwards nearly got the nod for the longevity alone and the quality throughout his time at Wigan but again I went with Barrett because he was a more natural talent. Edwards was obviously very gifted but I feel he had to work hard for everything he got. Barrett was just a natural talent and a physical specimen.

I have never seen a better display from a 6 than in the Bradford comeback game. It was a masterclass.

Second row was one area I struggled. I nearly went with Haughton just for that brief spell where he was nearly unplayable ball in hand.

I was never a fan personally of Betts, he was obviously a wonderful player but I just never warmed to him. No idea why.

Furner I thought was brilliant for us, although just having a rethink I’d probably go for Hoffman on reflection.

Put my hand up to shifting players to accommodate them but Hanley was the master and I think he could play anywhere. Faz had maybe his best season for Wigan at Prop (didn’t he pick up the Golden Boot),
Locky just so very gifted particularly ball in hand as a 13.

Cheating a little I know but just had to include all 3.

"That" Season (2004) Faz played 10 games at prop-He played 20 in the back row
That's why no matter which way I look at it, I have to leave Lockers out - Faz and Hanley are shoe ins for 2 of the back 3 spots
And as good as Lockers has been, those 2 would both get in at 13 before him - Faz played a lot of his career in 2nd row so ok to play him there.

Don't ask me why, but from someone like yourself I find it strange that you never warmed to Betts as you put it.
He was a Model professional, Played 80mins most weeks and played EVERY week (Didn't he play something like 80+ consecutive games around 90/91/92?). He played his best rugby in the Big games and was as tough as they come.
One of my best memories is the try he scored at Headingley in Mission impossible season, He barged over taking 3/4 men with him and when he stood up after scoring and raised his arms to the 3/4k Wigan fans it was just Spine tingling.
Hoffman/Furner in terms of class would push them, Goodway was close and Faz for sheer longevity and consistency of performance, But I just think Betts had the lot. (Let's not mention Haughton, I'll put that down to Lockdown Fever or someone has pinched your password!

)

Edwards/Gregory argument is a difficult one
If I wanted someone to play for my life it would be Edwards - And I do think there is a place in any team for players with dedication/work ethic over ability
If I could watch one player again at his best one more time it would be Greg. Despite the obvious flaw of turning his back (Which I don't think ever got exposed) He was sublime at times.
Lam was very good, and defensively one of the best 7's I've seen. he was Very good in all areas of the game, but I just think he didn't get us over the line enough like the others did.

Barrett was fantastic season 1 - dipped a bit season 2
But Kenny was just awesome
The one that gets missed a lot is Ella - He was every bit as good as Kenny over the regular season, but was injured when we lost the CC QF to Cas at home so missed out on the exposure of the CC Final - I do think if he'd have made a CC final people would remember him more fondly.

Ella was good but not as good as Kenny, one of the best ever for me not just for Wigan

Betts was absolute quality in both spells he had here

Kenny's "Best" was better than Ella's and his big game record was second to none, but Ella was really good and his constency through run of the mill league games when he could have coasted made him a really good acquisition For us.

Saw my first Wigan game in 1947/48 in Hull and would go with this thirteen.


Tomkins
Boston
Ashton
Renouf
Offiah
Bolton
Gregory
Gee
Egan
McTigue
Ashurst
Farrell
Hanley

Tomkins
Richards
Connelly
Bell
Offiah
Edwards
Gregory
Skerrett
Dermott
Platt
Ashurst
Farrell
Hanley

1. Hampson
2. Gill
3. Tuigamala
4. Renouf
5. Offiah
6. Paul
7. Gregory
8. C Smith
9. Dermott
10. Cowie
11. Betts
12. Goodway
13. A Farrell

Subs.

14. Carmont
15. O'Connor
16. Skerrett
17. Pongia

I started watching in 1976/77, my team would be :-

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Jason Robinson
3. Inga Tuigamala
4. Gene Miles
5. Martin Offiah
6. Brett Kenny
7. Andy Gregory
8. Kelvin Skerrett
9. Terry Newton
10. Andy Platt
11. Denis Betts
12. Andy Farrell
13 Ellery Hanley

Subs
14. Steve Ella
15. Shaun Edwards
16. Andy Goodway
17. Brian Case

I started watching in 1976/77, my team would be :-

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Jason Robinson
3. Inga Tuigamala
4. Gene Miles
5. Martin Offiah
6. Brett Kenny
7. Andy Gregory
8. Kelvin Skerrett
9. Terry Newton
10. Andy Platt
11. Denis Betts
12. Andy Farrell
13 Ellery Hanley

Subs
14. Steve Ella
15. Shaun Edwards
16. Andy Goodway
17. Brian Case

1. Hampson
2. Robinson
3. Tuigamala
4. Bell
5. Offiah
6. Kenny
7. Gregory
8. Dowling
9. Dermott
10. Platt
11. Betts
12. Farrell
13. Hanley

14. Miles
15. O’loughlin
16. Roberts (Ian)
17. Ella

From Sept 1982:

Tomkins
Robinson
Bell
Miles
Offiah
Kenny
Gregory
Platt
Dermott
Dowling
Betts
Bateman
Hanley

Edwards
Tuigamala
West
A. Farrell

If I was asked to do this again tomorrow there would no doubt be some different names in there. I think there must be a dozen names I could have EASILY have put in there as replacements. We have been so spoiled for choice.

I bet we could name four or even five full squads and they would be better than some other teams first choices over the same time period.

Sams the best fb i have seen going back to 1976, one of the four really special players we have had, Hanley, Farrell, Robinson and Tomkins.

attack dynamite and defence, never let us down from my recollection.

I wasn’t fortunate enough to see some of those players but on reputation I think you’ve named my team with the exception of Miles for Renouf and possibly Kenny for Bolton

As a club we have been blessed with truly great players.
I would have loved to have seen the front row. Ken Gee and Brian Mc would have terrorised any team from any era.
A Gee match up with Tallis would have been great. Gee dested Aussies

My dad said Gee was the 2nd toughest person he ever knew with only Ken Gee’s mam being tougher. She was a pit brow lass and apparently pretty formidable

Based on players i watched from 1988 to present.

1. Tomkins
2. Robinson
3. Bell
4. Connolly
5. Offiah
6. Edwards
7. Gregory
8. Smith
9. Dermott
10. Platt
11. Betts
12. Farrell
13. Hanley

14. Newton
15. Skerrett
16. O’Connor
17. Barrett

A child of the 90s, so missed a lot of the greats or have very few memories of them.

Tomkins
Robinson
Connolly
Renouf
Dallas
Barrett
Lam
C. Smith
Newton
O'Connor
Betts
A. Farrell
O'Loughlin

McCormack
Skerrett
Pongia
Hoffman

My rugby memory only goes back as far as about 96, so judged it from there.

1. Radlinski
2. Robinson
3. Connolly
4. Renouf
5. Richards
6. Barrett
7. Lam
8. Cowie
9. Newton
10. O'connor
11. Bateman
12. Betts
13. Farrell

Subs
14. Mcilorum
15. O'loughlin
16. C. Smith
17. Fielden

Would have included the likes of Edwards, Offiah and skerrett, but just don't really remember them playing for us, wanted to judge from who I've seen live and not past games on YouTube.

no Bill Ashurst ?

1.....Sam Tomkins
2.....Billy Boston
3.....Dean Bell
4.....Gene Miles
5.....Martin Offiah
6.....Brett Kenny
7.....Andy Gregory
8.....Craig Smith
9.....Martin Dermott
10...Brian McTigue
11...Bill Ashurst
12...Andy Farrell
13...Ellery Hanley

Tomkins
Robinson
Bell
Miles
Ofiah
Edwards
Gregory
Skerrett
Dermott
Platt
Farrell
Betts
Hanley

Tuigamala
Haughton
Cowie
Fielden

Very hard to leave out Connolly, Craig Smith, O'loughlin, Henry Paul, O'Connor, Hock, Bateman and Gilmour who i think was vastly under rated and Wigan should never of let go.

Haughton is in there because for all of his faults in defence he was the most devastating wide running forward ive ever seen and he could even do it against the Aussies. He could break the line even against the toughest defence