Right,

I started watching Wigan RL on a regular basis when we were down in the dumps. I remember when we here bottom of the league, fighting for survival. I remember when I had to trudge through the cemetery to get to Wakefield's ground where we lost and it looked like it was all over. I was even on holiday when we were deducted 2/4 points (?). I remember that day, the dejection, the humiliation, the feeling of utter helplessness.

But you know what else I remember, one man being there. Through the hard times, a man who most people called useless through his first season with the club. A man who was transformed, with the club, into one of the best players in the league. He's been with us through the utter depths of despair to the ultimate highs. He's won the Challenge Cup, twice!...the Super League and he's been the Man Of Steel. Not to mention the numerous records he's broken at this club which Bilko could recite one after the other!

I for one think he's the greatest Aussie signings since Brett Dallas (and probably IMO ever), he deserves to hang his boots up in the middle of our stadium. Alas he wants to give it another go in the NRL, and for that I respect him even more. For this I feel he deserves a great send off. I think he deserves to have his own flag, one that would truly justify our appreciation of what he has done for our club.

I'm positive someone else, who has the relevant experience (as I have none and wouldnt know where to start), could take up the mantle of designing and manufacturing such a flag for Paddy, to which I feel he deserves for his years of loyal and just service to our great club. I also would be honoured to donate some money to fund such a flag.

Sorry if I've ranted on abit, I just feel people who have served this club like Paddy has deserve to be recognised, and to be given all the support we can muster

Tbh that's a bit OTT. He has been a very good signing, but to call him one of Wigan's greatest ever oversea's signings is too much.

Seems a nice guy and has been a great kicker for us, a good winger and will be missed.

I said IMO (because Ive never really watched many overseas players at Wigan). That doesnt mean everyone else needs to agree, and honestly I dont really care what anyone else thinks. I think when a player like Paddy comes along and puts that amount of effort and service into our club that it should be recognised. That is basically what I'm saying, and if you dont agree then fair enough, but I dont think that is what Wigan Rugby League is all about.

What do you think it's "all about" then?

He's a good kicker, been an average to good winger for us.

Rewind to 1995 and he wouldn't get a game for us. Hardly a legend on that basis.

My god man, you dont think he deserves to be recognised for his service to our club?

I cant rewind to that age because I was too young. I'm sorry I wasnt around for our "glory years", but his efforts in the last few years have wons us cups and leagues. I'm not discounting others' efforts, but he had been instrumental in achieving these with his kicking and tries (I'm guessing you didnt give a when Dallas left, or by your logic when Frano left). I'd expect a fellow Wiganer to acknowledge a player like Paddy, but again i'm disappointed.

I struggle to understand how you define average. He's generally been one of the three best wingers every season before his injury, and he's been one of the three best wingers we've had in the Super League era. That's probably underplaying it and all. Average indeed!

As I said, he's been a very good player for us and will be missed.

Not a legend though.

Sorry mate, but I am used to Wigan RL having a plethora of talent on the wings.

Pat has been good, and his kicking elevates him to very good, but let's be honest, never a great.

Whatever you say "BrettKenny"

Of course he's a great, he's represented our club in a fantastic manner, both on and off the field. In 2010 he was the best player in the league by a country mile. Not to mention every other season he's been here that long he's an adopted pie.

His commitment in defence, attack and kicking prowess have been a key part of our success these last few years, if people want to honour him with a flag that is well, justified! And in no means OTT, fair play to the OP!

Sure I heard Wane state he rates him as Wigan's ALL TIME greatest overseas signing, I wouldn't argue that opinion either.

lmfao. When did you start watching Wigan?

Stop. Your seriously embarrassing youself

Really?

A legend of a Wigan winger?

If you feel this passionately that you have to intervene with some Wigan supporters acknowledging a Wigan player such as Pat then I pity you.

Congratulations on demeaning a thread that's supposed to celebrate a players achievements and trying to get them recognised

On the contrary I have said that he has been a very good player for us and will be missed.


He is nowhere near a legend though.

Last week, and I still know he's a great player ... They even chose him to be the poster boy for the MOS game and everything.

In all seriousness, I've watched Wigan long enough to know Pat has been brilliant for us. Didn't come collect his money and job off after one year like some

No, not on the contrary. You came into this thread to demean it. Don't deny it, as that's all you've done. It's kind of sad to be honest

From somebody who's been watching long enough to remember us getting relegated...
The best Wigan wingers I have seen are undoubtedly Offiah & Robinson. Frankly, in the last thirty years there's no contest. But the best servant to the club on the wing has been Pat. He's scored stacks of tries, matured into a goalkicker good enough to fill the boots of Andy Farrell, won a deserved Man of Steel, kicked the greatest drop goal since Joe Lydon, sealed the greatest comeback most of us have ever seen and given the club the lion's share of his career. Wigan legend? You bet your...

What does he need to do to be a legend in your eyes then? Or is it just because he isn't as fast as Offiah?

I can sit in both camps on this. He's been a great servant to the club both on and off the field, he's a good kicker, great in the air and good defensively. He's not an exciting player in the way that Offiah, Robinson, Dallas, Carney, Gill or even Smyth were. I can't recal ever seeing him beat a man with a step or drop of the shoulder.

Good player - definitely
Great player - possibly
Legend - not for me

That being said he possibly does the things that aren't noticed by the specys very well and the rest of the team would rather be playing with him than against him.

It's all opinion but this guy never did it for me.

If people dont want to acknowledge a servant such as Pat Richards then that's fine with me. But I dont think thats the Wigan way, well it's not the way I'd like to envisage my clubs supporters at least. That may be my lack of judgement, but it just feels wrong

It's all down to personal opinion. I like a winger who looks dangerous within his own 25. Out of the current crop of wingers only Charnley,Briscoe and to some degree Hall offer that. Pat is reliable, steady and safe. If that's what you want in your wingman then fair play. I won't knock you for it.

Ferguson, Kenny, Ella, Miles, Blake, were all better players than Pat. But club legendary status surely isn't bestowed by a short cameo (Johns at Warrington). So in the last 50 years only West of the overseas players can be classed as a legend, with Richards next up.