Kelvin Skerrett - was worth the entrance fee on his own, to see what he would get up to.



Super Kel.

O Connor

+1

Adrian Shelford wasn't bad
Greg Dowling too

If I am allowed an opinion - Whilst not disagreeing I would put Craig Smith up there - Only reason I would put Platt above is due to length of service to the club.

For the 3 seasons he was here he was outstanding.

Shelford? Hard to find a lazier prop. Remember Greg on many occasions giving him hell, namely under the sticks after he missed a tackle.

Agree. Smith was outstanding after a slowish start.

Bringing his old Kiwi teammate in Pongia really sparked him into life.

They were a fantastic frontrow partnership.

One that flew below the radar for me as well was Scott Logan. Not claiming him to be worthy of the best Prop in 30 years but expectation when he joined vs actual performance was fantastic.

Smith Platt loved Scott Quinnell

Agree about Smith but the "Slow Start" to me was a bit unkind - I remember him coming too in the CCSF against Cas at Headingley and commenting that night that he'd had a real good game - It was only his 6th game for Wigan (He had missed about3/4 through injury).
So to be at the club for only 2months is understandable that he hadn't quite hit Top form.

Interesting though you mention Scott Logan
That was another I was thinking of.

1st half of that season he, like everyone else was below par but maybe not as much as some of the others.

But 2nd half of season from the day we signed Fielden he was Fantastic - It was only a Dozen games though so obviously that negates a lot as I think when you mention Greats anyone who did it over a longer period stands out (Hence why Platt May go in front of Smith for me).

For example there weren't many as good as Phil Blake (He could have played in a dinner jacket for 10 games) - But I can't call him a Great over someone like Radlinski/Tomkins/Hampson who played 200+ games, That has to count for something.

Craig Smith, Andy Platt, Kelvin Skerret, Quentin Pongia.

A couple of worthy mentions for me would be Terry O’Connor, Ben Flower and Feka (for a season or so anyway).

I'd probably go with Platt or O'Connor to the original question. Craig Smith however stands out for the best game I've ever seen a prop play in the September 2003 match against St Helens.

I'm pretty sure that was the game where a poster on here who I was sat next to said "If he doesn't win MOS I'll Eat this seat"!
I wonder if said poster will read this and own up to it!



Sculthorpe won it but Smith was Absolutely Fantastic that particular season.

Smith was great when he wanted to play. He played in era when we had a lot of party animals so that may have accounted for some his displays when he just didn't turn up. A fully fit and firing Smith was a top prop.

Just wish we could have signed Pongia earlier in his career. Tough and uncompromising. My kind of prop.

My all time favourite prop would have to be Skerrett. The problem is that he wouldn't play for 75% of the season now as his game was full on aggression which unfortunately, just isn't accepted anymore.

I would have loved to have seen Brian McTigue in his pomp. A ball handling prop and as hard as they come. Perfect for any era after WW2.

Slightly off topic, not saying he's one of our best, but I would have loved to see more of Scott Logan in a Wigan shirt.

Just outside the cutoff on dates but for me one G West was a tremendous player and made a huge difference to the professionalism of the club as well.

Otherwsie can't argue with many of the names mentioned here. Although a little surprised no one has mentioned Neil Cowie not flash but consistent and hard working

Cowie would be my joint number 2 with Skerrett after Platt. He was a consistant top prop for us over many years. Craig smith, Terry O'connor close in 3rd but Platt was like a British Webke. There was no better sight than a fully fit Andy Platt charging the ball in and he could even handle the Aussie forwards.

Greg Dowling
Ian Roberts
Andy Platt

Brian Case was also another fav of mine.

I didnt mention case as he said 30 years and by the end of 88/89 season he was coming to the end.(thats why i didnt mention dowling as its 32 plus years since he played).

I always say this, in 86/87 we broke all kinds of records for point scored, games won, tries scored etc and Ellery Hanley scored something like 59 tries and the player of the year was Brian Case.
How well would you have to play to be player of the year in that team playing with those players.

Is it that long ago? Now I do feel old !

One of the greatest sides ever the 86/87 team, if it wasn’t for Paddy Kirwan we would have won the lot. I still have nightmares of him going over from dummy half

I thought Smith was average in his first season, had a bad ankle injury and looked unfit.

Different player in his second season though and even better once joined by Pongia.

Super Kel's top 5 hits. Would drive 1000 miles to watch this guy at his best (or nastiest) which ever.

Legend.

I have only been a regular following Wigan for just over 20 years and in that time I think prop has been our weakest position. The two that stand out for me are Smith and Quinell but both where only here a short term, Cowie and O’Connor stick out as the best over a longer term and a special mention to Feka as a brilliant impact prop for a couple of seasons.

Fielden was a shame, was one of the best in the world at Bradford, never had the consistency with us.

I know you would never really consider Faz a Prop but when he played there at the end of his Wigan career despite being on one knee he was outstanding. In fact I think he won the Golden Boot playing a large number of games in the frontrow.

Honourable mention too to Andy Coley. Very slow start to his Wigan career but he transformed into a brilliant Prop in his later years.

For those that have played the game Coley looked like an awful player to play against. Rawboned and all knees and elbows.

His performance in a losing effort in the WCC vs St George when he was the only recognised Prop in the team was maybe one of the best individual efforts I can remember from a Wigan Prop.

He is exactly the kind op player we need to add to our pack, maybe Bullock who looks a similar style can fill that gap.