I've watched Wigan since the late 1950s and my Dad has followed Wigan since the late 1920s. We both rate Brian McTigue as the best Wigan forward ever.

He could do the lot. Make yards. His ball handling was sublime. Could score tries. He scored one at Wembley in the early 60s and he fair flew through the defence to score.

He was as hard as nails, but IIRC never got sent off.

And lastly and most important.........he scared the hell out of the Ozzies and in those days we won most of the games against Australia.

Alex Murphy in his autobiography said he thanked the Lord that 'Mac' was close by, when he wound the Ozzies pack up at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Well said !!!!.............................also must mention Bill Ashurst, would love to see him playing today, 40/20's would come naturally to him with his kicking ability, pure class.

Words could not describe a back 3 of Ashurst - Farrell - Hanley.

Got my first season ticket in 1998 therefore my team would be:

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

Wigan Players I have seen

1. Fairbairn
2. Boston (late 60's only, but hayho its BB)
3. Bell
4. Miles
5. Offiah
6. Edwards
7. Gregory
8. Smith
9. Dermott
10. Platt
11. Ashurst
12. Farrell
13. Hanley

1. Rads
2. Robinson
3. Inga
4. Mean Dean
5. Dallas
6. Edwards
7. Gregory
8. Kel
9. Tez
10. Smith
11. Lockers
12. Betts
13. Faz

14. Houghton
15. Hock
16. Skerrett
17. Pongia

I kind of remember Gregory but not Hanley yet they left Wigan roundabout the same time.

I could easily add them both but that would be lying, I really remember Mark Preston and he was my favourite player as a very young lad, he was like sh!!t of a stick, would have liked to have seen him versus Offiah in a race.

Maybe I've gone with my heart over my head but;

1. S. Hampson
2. J. Robinson
3. D. Bell
4. K. Iro
5. M. Offiah
6. B. Kenny
7. A. Gregory
8. C. Smith
9. M. Dermott
10. A. Platt
11. D. Betts
12. A. Farrell
13. E. Hanley
Coach - G. Lowe

It's absolutely incredible that I was able to leave out players like Richards, Sam Tomkins, Miles, Botica, Goodway, Skerrett, Gill, Barrett, Edwards, Clarke, Connolly, Lydon, Tuigamala, Platt, Renouf, West and of course [iCalderwood[/i.

They faced each other once in a Widnes - Wigan title decider - score was Offiah 3, Preston 0.

I have had a couple of looks at this today and I have come to the conclusion that it is so very hard to cover the best players from all the time that I have been watching Wigan.
So what I am going to do is give two lists or were I think that a player would have played in any team over the years only one name.

F B .............,,, Freddie GriffIths................................Kris Radlinsky.
R ........................................... ..Billy Boston.
R C.............................................Eric Ashton.
L C .................Alan Davies, ....................................Dean Bell.
L W .............. Mick Sullivan................................... Martin Offia.
S O ................David Bolton................................ ... Brett Kenny.
S H............................................Andy Gregory.
P F (icon_cool.gif ................................... ...Greg Dowling.
H K.................Colin Clarke.................................. ..Piggy Riddell.
P F (10)......................................Brian Mctuige.
S R ...........................................Bill Ashurst.
S R................ Dave Robinson....................... ..... Dennis Betts.
L F ...........................................Ellery Hanley.
Subs
Backs
.......................................... ... Gene Miles.
......................................... ...Shuan Edwards.
Forwards
.............................................Andy Platt.
...................... Roy Evans.

Some names that some fans may not know but still great Wiganers.

great players in all the sides,for me as long as you have the pairings of Edwards/Gregory
Miles/Offiah
a sprinkling of dean bell,andy farrell and ellery hanley(for me the greatest player to play the game never mind wear the cherry and white) you could fill the other positions with no marks and we'd still win every game.

also a spot for adrian shelford for being hard as nails,a nice bloke and a old mate of mine rip

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

So true, with a back-up of, Cherrington, Betts, Robinson, Evans & Laughton !!!!!!!!!!

1. Radlinski (This will be Sam IF he stays for a few years longer at fullback)
2. Boston (never saw him play in the flesh but IMO the greatest Wigan player of all time)*
3. Tuigamala
4. Connolly
5. Offiah
6. Paul
7. Edwards
8. Skerrett
9. Newton
10. Smith
11. Betts
12. Farrell
13. Hanley (c)

This is always a tough one - so many fine players end up left out.

Radlinski
Robinson
Bell
Miles
Offiah
Edwards
Gregory
Case
Dermott
Platt
Goodway
Betts
Hanley

subs:
Farrell
West
Iro K
Skerrett

FB was a really difficult one (Hampson,Lydon ), and I was so tempted to put Iro in instead of Miles, only real weakness so no top goal kicker in the starting team.

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Billy Boston
3. Eric Ashton
4. Gene Miles
5. Martin Offiah
6. Brett Kenny
7. Andy Gregory
8. Brian McTigue
9. Colin Clarke
10. Andy Platt
11. Andy Farrell
12. Bill Ashurst
13. Ellery Hanley

Watched Wigan from 1967 onwards but brought up on legends too. I'd back this lot against anyone and there would be few packs of forwards trying to rough this lot up - Ryan Bailey would probably not come out of the dressing room. Having seen Wigan through the years I firmly believe Sam Tomkins is a special player - one of those, we say, only comes along now and then - wouldn't he enjoy playing behind this back line!! This is all in good fun and nice to see how people remember players from different eras.

Selected only from players i have seen.

1. Kris Radlinski
2. Martin Offiah
3. Gene Miles
4. Gary Connoly
5. Jason Robinson
6. Shaun Edwards
7. Andy Gregory
8. Kelvin Skerrett
9. Terry Newton
10. Andy Platt
11. Andy Farrell
12. Dennis Betts
13. Ellery Hanley

Tomkins
Robinson Bell Miles Offiah
Edwards Gregory
Skerett Dermott Platt
Farrell Betts
Hanley

Might be an idea to count up the votes at some point in the future and come up with the definitive RLFans.com greatest Wigan XIII.

Kenny for Edwards, Dowling for Skerrett and that'll do it for me.

That would just be biased in favour of more recent players surely ?

Past legends like Jim Sullivan, Billy Boston, and Brian McTigue, would be nowhere in a list for younger Wigan fans.

Radlkinski.
Boston, Ashton, Bell, Offiah,
Edwards, Gregory,
McTigue, Dermott, Skerrett,
Farrell, Ashurst,
Hanley.

It would be a reflection of the opinions of people on here, hence RLFans.com Wigan XIII. For quite a few posters players I grew up with and were my heroes will just be names but that's the way it is.

Since I've been following Wigan 95/96

Rads
Robinson
Connolly
Renouf
Carney
Paul
Edwards
Robbie McCormack - before he was clotheslined by Morley
Cassidy
Betts
Cowie
Skerret
Farrell

Subs
Dallas
Houghton
Hoffman
Sam

Quote ="Catalancs"It would be a reflection of the opinions of people on here, hence RLFans.com Wigan XIII. For quite a few posters players I grew up with and were my heroes will just be names but that's the way it is.'" But it wouldn't be the 'greatest ever Wigan 13' would it ? It, if a poll was included in this thread, would merely reflect the largest age base on this forum. I'd let the Wigan club site pick the legends such as this; www.wiganwarriors.com/Wsquadp.aspx?SquadID=10

Quote ="Catalancs"It would be a reflection of the opinions of people on here, hence RLFans.com Wigan XIII. For quite a few posters players I grew up with and were my heroes will just be names but that's the way it is.'" But it wouldn't be the 'greatest ever Wigan 13' would it ? It, if a poll was included in this thread, would merely reflect the largest age base on this forum. I'd let the Wigan club site pick the legends such as this; www.wiganwarriors.com/Wsquadp.aspx?SquadID=10