are as good a trio of players in these positions as I remember in the Super League era.



Against Widnes they were the difference between the 2 sides. Almost every kick was caught on the full, the returns were direct and strong and I think Hall and Briscoe picked up about 5 penalties between them. The play after every Hall carry in the first half looked like it might lead to a break and so they had to hold him down and give penalties away.



Hardaker is consistently outstanding and Briscoe, despite being slaughtered by some on here showed his true class. He appears to be a confidence player so I hope that does him the world of good. He was MOM for me on Friday despite the excellent performance from Cuthbertson.



As well as the strength in the return game, they are all great finishers and all have excellent and varied skill sets. Only the Bulls side of the late 90s would be able to compare and I can't put them at quite the same level - here we have the brute strength they had with some extra touches of class. I can't wait to watch them over the course of this year. When we're constantly looking for negatives sometimes we forget to celebrate what we actually have.

Broadly I totally agree. Hardaker looked like a seasoned fullback, not someone just starting his second season there.

However, I think a lot of credit for Briscoe must go to achurch. His running into gaps, good offloading and strength created the gaps that Briscoe exploited. For me the correct use of achurches skill set was very pleasing.

Also very happy to see some good tactical awareness from McD. Hall ran at Mellor every chance he got and just drained their main attacking threat of energy.

Briscoe is and has been for years about the best in the league at getting quick play the balls or penalties. If he's figured out how to catch he'll be quite a player.

Big call.

Connolly or Henry Paul, Offiah and Robinson

Radlinski, Dallas and Carney

Tomkins, Charnley and Richards



And that's just from Wigan, I'm sure fans from other clubs would also disagree.

The first one, yes (though did that ever happen in Super League?)



The second one, maybe.



The third one, no.

Meh. Radlinski was a fraud, and the biggest international failure of the last 40 years, and how many SL games did Offiah play for Wigan?



We do have a terrific back 3, is it as good as, Withers, Vaikona, Vianakolo? I'm not sure.

First one no doubt but the other two? Give it a rest

To clarify, the OP was about returning the ball and getting a team on the front foot. Tomkins would barely ever return the ball (if he caught it), Richards was a very good all-round player but would put kicking and jumping higher on his danger-list than returning or driving, and Charnley is bang average.

I would have said had Radlinski, Richards and Robsinson played together, you would have been talking more the equivalent of what we have now. The other combinations not as good.

Agree with OP.



Could well be the back 3 for England this autumn if Mcnamara moves Tomkins to half back and Briscoe can maintain form.

I'd give you the first one Rogues if you could assure me they played together more than a couple of times in the SL era. We're Henry Paul and Offiah even close to being at Wigan at the same time? The other 2 aren't comparable at all. Tomkins for all his strengths is nowhere near as complete a fullback as Hardaker. Hall > Richards. Briscoe (in form) > Charnley.



I'd continue Withers and the 2 Vs as an almost equivalent but I think Hardaker has a bit more to offer than Withers did

Offiah had left for london i think at the start of SL.Wigan would have had a back 3 of Connelly/Paul Robinson and Tuigamala.still excellent.

Nobody going for Wellens, Gardner and Meli?

Meli is a Leeds Grand Final legend. Nailed on for the Southstander Hall of Fame.

Beat me to it! A real highlight reel of great try assists for us at OT down the years.

Webb, Donald and Hall?



Mathers, Bai and Calderwood? And before everyone slags Richie Mathers, he was rock solid under the high ball and defended short kicks as well as anyone, he was also a former half back who added real skill in the attacking line. Also, the term "turnstile" has been used to describe pretty much every full back ever at some point, usually by people who have never actually played full back and had to watch the "defensive" line in front of them take turns to invite runners through to have a crack at the poor lonely f****r in the 1 shirt.

Mathers was an excellent player - sadly two things slowed him down - the knee injuries and the weight of the thing on his shoulders

Mathers was superb in 2004/5 up until his knee injury. Had he been a yard or 2 quicker he could have been one of this country's greatest ever FBs.

Cryptic clue from Zak on Twitter

"Money in NRL on another level"

Young enough & good enough to make it over there IMO

Without doubt. Neither would he have to try to live up to the expectations that young Tomkins did.

And about an hour later:



"well I mention NRL and everyone thinks I'm going haha calm down just my opinion.."

I'd far rather see (or rather not see him) go down under than join Wigan or Warrington.

But I'd even more prefer that he stayed with us.