I think Moran gets a lot of undue stick, I think Wigan just used him in completely the wrong way and expecting him to create plays when, largely, he's the chap who has the talent to finish them off.

He certainly had his moments last season when he turned out for us and won a couple of games single-handedly, but I think the injuries had certainly kicked in by the end of the season.

Knew you would see sense one day.

At least my Dennis tries to tackle

I have never denied you are a massive club, but so are Newcastle United, and my team Leeds and that doesn't do us much good.

Never knew that. (guffaw)

We all have to support a Lesser team in One Sport don't we? Means we enjoy the success more for our other team! Im guessing you must be a Man U fan in football?

Nope City.




[size=59Our time will come.[/size

Moran was NOT fullback v Saints that day.

It was another Millward first.
It was Sean Gleeson, a player who had never played in that position before in his entire career.

A player who definately couldn't handle playing for a 'big' club was Jimmy Birts, signed by Maurice Bamford, we were told he was " Quick, brave, great defender and excellent goal kicker ", none of these qualities did he show in his time at Wigan, if you think Moran was bad, talk to people that saw Birts play !!!!!!!

I always thought that Moran was a little unlucky. He was signed to be a try scoring half back. Wigan still had Farrell and it was expected that Moran would "run off" Farrell. However, Farrell went to Rugby Union and Wigan then expected Moran to be a playmaker, something he clearly wasn't and the situation went downhill.

I think it's written in a book somewhere that the signing of Birts was one of the things that led Lindsay, Robinson and co to decide that Maurice Bamford wasn't the man to take Wigan forward.

My only real memory of Birts is that he looked incredibly frail compared to all the other players. For a professional rugby player, he really was stick-thin.

It's in ' The Best Years Of Our Lives' by Paul Wilson.............................. On the day Bamford left Jack Robinson asked him " If you had your time at Wigan again would you do it all exactly the same" " Yes " replied Bamford, " What, even Jimmy Birts ! " said Robinson, " Especially Jimmy Birts " he replied, I knew then we had made the right decision ( to sack Bamford ) thought Robinson.

p.s. A great book if anyone out there hasn't read it.

and gleeson didnt do TOO badly in that game

David Hodgson against Saints when they kicked for a 40/20 in the dying seconds(I think), it was going out on the full and he tried to keep it in and made a mess of it. Tommy Martyn took advantage and scored.

Wonder if Leneghan will ever have the same conversation with noble re: mathers?

I Doubt it

Cracking read



At least Jimmy could say he has pulled on the cherry & white. Very dark days those.

Can't recall the game exactly but back in the mid 80's, Rocket Ronnie Braithwate, after a lifetime in the A-team got his break in the first team. After a couple of half decent performances away from home he got his big break at Central Park. I remember the player pen picture from that days programme was an interview with Ronnie who, as well as telling us all his favourite colour was green and his favourite food was Chinese etc told us that his nickname was 'People's Champion', I think on account of the sympathy he perceived the Wigan public felt towards him

How ironic that nickname proved to be. I've never seen a more inept display from any player, ever. Knock-ons, missed tackles, dropped bombs, running into touch without even being tackled. The lot. The crowds reaction was akin to that feeling you get when driving past a terrible road accident. You daren't take your eyes of it. It's compulsive viewing, horrific and you're just glad it's happened to someone else and not you.

He didn't play in the first team again

True, I know people ( myself included, and probably you !! ) who would pay them for that privilege, which makes some of the present performances more galling !!!!!!!!!!!!


It was those days that made 84 to 95 so good !!

I'm not looking back through 5 pages - has someone mentioned Jon Whittle?

That the guy who played 1 time on-loan from Orrell RU to play on the wing against Saints? Isn't that when we saw people like Kevin Brown play for the first time?

If I remember, we won that game?

Correct.

Also Mark Roberts played in that game too.

We did with a side full of reserves.........Jamie Lyon eat your heart out

Kevin Brown won MOTM that day IIRC?

Stevos MOM I recall