Best Wigan Tour Team : Wed Jul 03, 2024 12:06 pm  

Here’s a bit of fun (the idea pinched from an Aussie fan site).

My ultimate Wigan 'dream team' tour party of (relatively) modern times.

I was watching in the 1960s, but that’s too long ago to remember it clearly. So, I’m starting at 1970. In addition, I’m not counting anyone who’s currently in the squad. Do that, and I always find it skews your judgement.

Anyway, here we go (feel free to agree or disagree) …

STARTING XIII
1. Steve Hampson (Fullback)
2. Jason Robinson (Wing)
3. Va'aiga Tuigamala (Centre)
4. Gary Connolly (Centre)
5. Martin Offiah (Wing)
6. Brett Kenny (Stand Off / Vice Captain)
7. Andy Gregory (Scrum half)
8. Kelvin Skerrett (Prop)
9. Robbie McCormack (Hooker)
10. Andy Platt (Prop)
11. Denis Betts (Second Row)
12. Bill Ashurst (Second Row)
13. Ellery Hanley (Loose Forward/Captain)

RESERVES

Loose Forward:
14. Phil Clarke
15. Sean O’Loughlin

Second Row:
16. Ryan Hoffman
17. Andy Farrell
18. Andy Goodway
19. Graeme West

Prop:
20. Stuart Fielden
21. Brian Case
22. Greg Dowling
23. Craig Smith

Hooker:
24. Martin Dermott
25. Terry Newton

Scrum Half:
26. Adrian Lam
27. Thomas Leuluai

Stand Off:
28. Shaun Edwards
29. Trent Barrett

Centre:
30. Dean Bell
31. Kevin Iro
32. Bill Francis
33. Gene Miles

Wing:
34. Pat Richards
35. Stuart Wright
36. Green Vigo
37. Brett Dallas

Fullback:
38. George Fairbairn
39. Joe Lydon

Utility Mon (just to make it a nice round 40)
40: Henry Paul

Re: Best Wigan Tour Team : Wed Jul 03, 2024 3:06 pm  

Ged Byrne for entertainment off the field. Martin Dermott is the best hooker I have seen at Wigan so he would be in my team.

Re: Best Wigan Tour Team : Wed Jul 03, 2024 3:46 pm  

Zig wrote:

Ged Byrne for entertainment off the field. Martin Dermott is the best hooker I have seen at Wigan so he would be in my team.

I found it astonishing that I was relegating players like Derm, Edwards and Barrett to the reserves, but it shows how many good uns we've have over the years.

Re: Best Wigan Tour Team : Wed Jul 03, 2024 9:08 pm  

Cruncher wrote:

I found it astonishing that I was relegating players like Derm, Edwards and Barrett to the reserves, but it shows how many good uns we've have over the years.

I’ll will throw two more in (both would be in my starting line up) Sam Tomkins and Ian Roberts. Andy Farrell would also make it.

Re: Best Wigan Tour Team : Wed Jul 03, 2024 9:56 pm  

The Best ever Wigan team is as voted by thousands of people
1 Radlinski
2 Boston
3 Connolly
4 Miles
5 Offiah
6 Edwards
7 Gregory
8 McTigue
9 Dermott
10 Platt
11 Betts
12 Farrell
13 Hanley

Re: Best Wigan Tour Team : Thu Jul 04, 2024 5:41 am  

MR FRISK wrote:

The Best ever Wigan team is as voted by thousands of people
1 Radlinski
2 Boston
3 Connolly
4 Miles
5 Offiah
6 Edwards
7 Gregory
8 McTigue
9 Dermott
10 Platt
11 Betts
12 Farrell
13 Hanley

Mine is slightly different but i think i am now at the point where French overhauls Andy Greg in my starting lineup.

Re: Best Wigan Tour Team : Thu Jul 04, 2024 12:11 pm  

MR FRISK wrote:

The Best ever Wigan team is as voted by thousands of people
1 Radlinski
2 Boston
3 Connolly
4 Miles
5 Offiah
6 Edwards
7 Gregory
8 McTigue
9 Dermott
10 Platt
11 Betts
12 Farrell
13 Hanley

Started mine at 1970, so none of the stars of the Ashton/Boston era count. Each to their own, of course.

Re: Best Wigan Tour Team : Thu Jul 04, 2024 12:12 pm  

MR FRISK wrote:

The Best ever Wigan team is as voted by thousands of people
1 Radlinski
2 Boston
3 Connolly
4 Miles
5 Offiah
6 Edwards
7 Gregory
8 McTigue
9 Dermott
10 Platt
11 Betts
12 Farrell
13 Hanley

Started mine at 1970, so none of the stars of the Ashton/Boston era count. Each to their own, of course.

Re: Best Wigan Tour Team : Fri Jul 05, 2024 7:32 am  

i used to comment to my dad when we were leaving the East Stand, and you have the player murals, with Sean O'Loughlin on there. No doubt he was our modern day leader and stand out player, but he wouldnt even make top 3 in my all time Wigan loose forward (from early 80s when i started watching)

Hanley
Farrell
Clarke

onto the original post, and as others have commented it just shows how many good players we have had over the years. I agree re Hampson, as he was the safest full back i think i've ever seen, but Sam brought a different dimension to the position in a Wigan shirt, and was unplayable for a couple of seasons

Kenny, Miles and Barrett were outstanding for the short time they were with us, and i've not seen anything like Gene Miles in the centre position again, but i'd probably look at Bell / Tuigamala as they were both outstanding and delivered for a slightly longer term, but also agree Connolly was a fine player. Special shout to a real unsung centre in George Carmont

i'd agree with Robinson and Offiah, but without seeing him Billy Boston would be in any team of Wigan greats

Re: Best Wigan Tour Team : Fri Jul 05, 2024 10:34 am  

In my forty years of supporting this club I realise just how bloody lucky we've been, maybe even spoiled.

Long may it continue.