While I agree he did show early promise once he decided he did not want to be there his performances really dropped off which left a real sour taste in my mouth and I am not an out and out trinity fan.

I've watched Trin since the early/mid-80's and maybe struggle to recall a full team. However for me, based on what I've seen then I'd certainly include Nigel Bell, Billy Conway, Ray Price, Wally Lewis and Toppo.

I'd agree with you; he was superb when he came to us and one of the reasons we had such a great start to the season - continued to top some of the stats for yards and offloads for months after he'd left.

His departure did leave a sour taste, but since we don't know excatly why he spat the dummy, I'm disinclined to completely condemn him.

Pffft... tricky. I started watching Trin in the early 90's as a proper young 'un. Here's a quick list of players that stick out from the various major phases of the club since then. Wittling down to 13 and including the greats of Parkin, Toppo, the Foxes et al is going to be tough...

Early days of watching Trin; Spencer, Mason, Wilson, Bagnall, Wright, Paul, Fritz, G Price, Kelly, Belly, Thomson, B Conway, M Conway, Slater, Jackson (out of interest does anyone remember or liked Benson or Goddard? I remember I had an irrational hatred of them for some reason, but can't remember why...)
1st Div; Casey, Stephenson, Southernwood, Lord, Holland
Early SL; the Marches, Poching, Law, Fisher
McNally era; Solo, Tadulala, Domic, Ellis, Korki, BJ, JD
Kear era; Brough, Watene, Moore, Fox, Rooney, Elima

...off the top of my head, there's more I'm sure

My choices from players I have seen play:
1. Martyn Holland
2. Peter Fox
3. Andy Mason
4. Sid Domic
5. Semi Tadulala
6. Nigel Wright
7. Danny Brough
8. Jonny T
9. Nigel Bell
10. Darren Fritz
11. Willie Poching
12. David Solomona
13. Gareth Ellis

Unlucky to miss out were:
Gary Spencer
Andy Kelly
Paul Round
Henry Paul
Michael Jackson

An exercise like this certainly shows people's age.

Can't wait to see your list

1 Henry Paul
2 Andy Wilson
3 Andy mason
4 Sid Domic
5 Semi Tadulala
6 Nigel Wright
7 Geoff Bagnall
8 Darren Fritz
9 Billy Conway
10 Nigel Bell
11 Gareth Ellis
12 Micheal Jackson
13 Ray Price
14 Richard Slater
15 David Solamona
16 Mark Conway
17 Willie Poching

As a young lad Lampo & Keith Smith were my hero's & I used to run on the pitch at full time home & away to get Smithy's tie ups - eventually got them at Rochadale! How about this lot

Midgley
Fletcher
Smith
Domic
Juliff
Lewis
Bell
Ballantyne
Maskill
Burke
Skerritt
Idle
Lampkowski

Topliss
Ashurst
Keith Rayne
Kelly

When I think of Tronc, I think back to the Leeds home game (must have been one of the first home games this season). In his first 20 or 30 minutes it's the best prop performance I've seen at Belle Vue, granted I've only been watching for about 5 years.

He must have made about 4 or 5 offloads which resulted in line breaks.

What a shame he cried off back to aus!

Agreed - if that's what happened, it's a crying shame.

I'll post it as soon as I can remember who I picked last time this exercise was done. I know I had Gerry Round at Fullback though.

I thought Tronc was great before spitting his dummy out. I would have to compare him against Skerrett, Burke, Fritz, I did also like Shelford but I think I may get shouted down on that one.

See someone's got Trevor Midgley as fullback.









Wonder if the club will run a worst 13 ever competition. I've got my choice ready for one position.

I agree. Thought Shelford was awesome.
Burke and Skerrett were my favourites.

I never saw any of them play but I used to train with John Burke at Sandal RU gym. He was a really nice guy but started struggling with illness I think.

I didn't realise how he played as a player....until my dad gave me the full run down!

He sounded pretty hard.

Well I could have had Les Sheard, Willie Oulton, Henry Oulton or Harold Box

VERY HARD!

funnily enough, I was doing a feature on this for the next 4FS fanzine - but it never went any further as we failed to publish!

Bear with me on the length of this post, as it includes some unique perspective on players deemed 'hall of famers' prior to 1973.

The problem with this type of voting is that recent players get a dissproportionate amount of votes, because peopl vote on who they've witnessed - how do these players compare with the real greats of yesteryear? I've tried to be realistic and apply my own experiences with those of history.

I reviewed the book ‘100 Years Of Rugby – The History Of Wakefield Trinity Football Club – 1873–1973’ by J.C. Lindley with ‘personal recollections’ by D. W. Armitage. Where there was a 'Hall Of Fame' listed from the first 100 years of the clubs history - with details on why each player was included.

So – to start with, here’s the original Hall Of Fame as selected by Lindley & Armitage in 1973. Listed by their common position and year of debut:

Coach:
Ken Traill (195icon_cool.gif

Full Back:
Jimmy Metcalfe (1897), Charlie Pollard (1919), Frank Mortimer (1951),
Gerry Round (195icon_cool.gif, Gary Cooper (1966)

Wing:
Richard. ‘Dicky’ Lockwood (1895), Ted Bateson (1925), Stanley Smith (1927),
Freddie Smart (1930), Dennis Boocker (1947), Fred Smith (1955), Berwyn Jones (1964)

Centre:
C.E. ‘Teddy’ Bartram (187icon_cool.gif, Harry Hayley (circa 187icon_cool.gif, Tommy Poynton (early 1900’s),
Billy Batten (1924), Ernest Pollard (1927), Billy Stott (1944), Don Froggett (194icon_cool.gif,
Neil Fox (1955), Ian Brooke (1961)

Stand Off:
Herbert. Hutchinson (1880), Ron Rylance (1941), Harold Poynton (195icon_cool.gif,
David Topliss (196icon_cool.gif

Scrum Half:
Tommy Newbould (early 1900’s), Jonathan ‘Jonty’ Parkin (1913),
Herbert Goodfellow (1932), Keith Holliday (1952), Ray Owen (1964)

Hooker:
Sam Lee (1937), Len Marson (1939)

Prop:
Jack Wilkinson (1959), Don Fox (1965), David Jeanes (1967)

Second Row:
A.K. Crossland (1905), Bill Horton (1924), Mick Exley (192icon_cool.gif, Harry Wilkinson (1929),
Harry Murphy (1937), Don Robinson (1950), Don Vines (195icon_cool.gif, Bob Haigh (1962)

Loose Forward:
Herbert Kershaw (1905), Len Bratley (1937), Derek Turner (1959)



Based on a pro-rata basis, that meant we should expect a further 16 players to be included since 1973 - and my choice for those 16 were, based on the same criteria for the first 47 - as follows:

Andy Fletcher, Keith Smith, Andy Mason, Gareth Ellis, Wally Lewis, Nigel Wright, Mike Lampkowski, Brad Davis, David March, Trevor Skerrett, Johnny Thompson, Nigel Bell, Michael Jackson, David Solomona, Ray Price and Willie Poching.

And so – the $6,000,000 question – Trinity’s greatest side selected from the 63 Hall Of Famer’s – a tough one, but based on reading up on the centurions, having seen the last 35 years and trying to strike a balance between history and personal experience – I would go with:

Full Back: Gerry Round
Wings: Fred Smith and Berwyn Jones
Centres: Billy Batten and Neil Fox
Stand Off: David Topliss
Scrum Half: Jonty Parkin
Props: Jack Wilkinson and Trevor Skerrett
Hooker: Len Marson
Second Rows: Don Vines and David Solomona
Loose Forward: Rocky Turner
Coach: Ken Traill

I don't think that I could choose my own personal favourite 13 because when I decide some one comes along and jogs my memory a little (it's an age thing) and more players come into the reckoning. Tell you one thing though I've the greatest of respect for every player that dons the RWB, because it's my team.
I think I remember Herbert Hutchinson playing.

TBF not many in the world can catch a ball like Blaymire can.

I think Martin Pearson is worth a shout, he wasn't at Trin long but helped us a great deal, he played well above his capabilities showing the Trin spirit that until recently has kept us all coming back.

Couldn't agree more , haven't even started to try and do a best 13 . I'll have a think when I've more time .. possibly at work on Monday morning !

I picked my Greatest Trinity team some time ago using the various Wakey and general RL history books about. The team I ended up with was similar to Benny the Ball's effort posted earlier.

1. Charlie Pollard
2. Fred Smith
3. Billy Stott
4. Neil Fox
5. Dennis Booker
6. David Topliss
7. Jonty Parkin
8. Jack Wilkinson
9. Len Marson
10. Jack Booth
11. Harry Murphy
12. Don Robinson
13. Derek Turner

Difficult choices to make over the years, but based on who I have seen.

1. Gerry Round.
2. John Etty.
3. Syd Domic. just over Alan Skene.
4. Neil Fox.
5. Gert Coetzer.
6. David Topliss.
7. Geoff Bagnall.
8. David Jeanes.
9. Alan McCurrie.
10. Brian Briggs.
11. Bob Haigh.
12. David Solomona.
13. Derek Turner.

No reserves for me the first 13 was hard enough.

Can't disagree with any of those choices Chissitt. A few more of mine to throw into the mix: Geoff Wraith FB, I also liked Gary Cooper as an attacking force; Keith Slater on the wing; Matt McCleod (sp); Ray Owen; the big back rower we bought from Fev who was injured one Good Friday match and had part of his leg amputated (Peter?), played it hard with blockbusting runs; Trevor Skerret; Graham Idle (tackling machine); Bill Ashurst; not with us long the zip-zip man Steve Ella; Ray Price.
I'm gonna have to have a lie down now

I'm sure more will come to mind. Just can't choose.
David Jeanes, great player.