The 18th Man Column: Heroes, Magic, and rugby league fads

Our 18th Man Columnists answer three rugby league questions...
Kris Radlinski with the Challenge Cup in 2002Kris Radlinski with the Challenge Cup in 2002
Kris Radlinski with the Challenge Cup in 2002

Which four players made you fall in love with rugby league?

Alex Graham: I was fortunate to be born in ‘85 so was spoilt watching the superstars in that special early 90s era. The four players I’ve chosen are for different reasons. If there was a player who was almost entirely ever present and whose character epiphanized that dominant era it would be Shaun Edwards.

A local lad, captain, trophy-lifter, halfback, try scorer and entertainer he was living the average Wigan boy’s dream.

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As supporters we pay our money to watch tries scored and no player in my childhood came close to Martin Offiah, arguably the sport’s most recognisable national superstar.

Another unique talent we had in the 90s was Frano Botica, whose kicking was almost worth the admission fee alone, while teeing the ball up slanted which felt like rugby league innovation. Finally, during a period of tough working class blokes playing on cold Sunday afternoons, Henry Paul was 10 years before his time in every sense.

Sean Lawless: The four players that made me fall in love with the game have to be: Andy Farrell – as someone who is too young to have watched Ellery Hanley, Farrell is the best player I have seen play for Wigan, he really did have it all! Kris Radlinski reignited my love for rugby league during the 2002 Challenge Cup Final, I remember thinking we had next to no chance during that game – but Radlinski changed that for me. The partnership he had with Terry Newton will always stick in my mind as a great early memory of the JJB Stadium.

Steve Renouf and Va’aiga Tuigamala are the other two. Both weren’t at Wigan for a long time but they certainly made an impact. They both lit up their respective sides and had the X factor to change a game, in the blink of an eye. The Renouf break for Radlinski’s try against Bradford, is still one of the best moments to have happened at the DW Stadium in its 20-year existence.

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Jon Lyon: I was only eight when I first went to a game in 1985 and, although I probably didn’t appreciate everything about him at the time, Brett Kenny just seemed so effortless and graceful in everything he did.

Next up was the brute strength and pace of South African winger Ray Mordt. I loved that he didn’t even try and sidestep his opposite number, usually running over the top of him or dragging him to the try line.

Joe Lydon had a gift for pulling out the unexpected just when it was needed.

Like Kenny, he could look uninterested at times but would out of nowhere do something most players couldn’t dream of – 61-yard drop goals, fly kicking half the length of the pitch, burning past Garry Jack for GB, going the length of the pitch to score or create a try, there was nothing he couldn’t do.

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But the greatest player I’ve ever seen live has to be Ellery Hanley. I was in awe of his ability to always come up with the big play when it was needed. No matter the size of the occasion he would always pop up with a match-winning try. I have never seen anyone else who could run faster sideways than most can run forwards, and he had incredible strength and endurance.

Darren Wrudd: I suppose there have been so many great players it would be a really difficult one to choose who drew me to the game, but once a fan – who actually made me fall in love with the game – narrows it down somewhat.

I remember watching Andy Gregory at Central Park and the sheer joy he had at putting players through gaps and stepping around defenders was brilliant to see, but it was his apparent commitment to the team which I liked best.

He would get stuck in against the biggest opposition and drove home in my mind how a team should really commit to the all-for-one attitude.

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Another cut from that cloth was Mick Cassidy. Now Mick will be the first to admit that flamboyant footy was not his thing, but none of that can happen without a bedrock on which to build.

A very emotional man next would be Adrian Lam. Watching him play was a joy as I am sure you remember, but hearing him speak as a coach who understands the huge importance of what he does and how it directly affects so many ordinary lives, is both touching and humbling.

Finally, one I expect to see on a few people’s lists is Kris Radlinski.

I have the pleasure of knowing Kris personally and his commitment to the game as a whole and our club in particular is unfaltering.

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As a player, I remember many times we saw him pull us out of the fire with blistering tries and selfless defence, but it is how much he gives to his job every day which underlines what kind of person our game attracts.

That kind of dedication cannot be bought, it is just within you and Kris makes me proud to support this game and our club. A dedicated family man and an amazing, caring person. Kris is probably the reason that I love this game so much.

Jeanette Lusher: Billy Boston was the first player responsible for my love of rugby league.

At the tender age of three I had heard my dad sing his plaudits and Billy certainly didn’t disappoint.

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He beat opponents any way and every way – pace, hand off, body swerve and side step! Awesome!

George Fairbairn was my shining light during the sad days of relegation. George was one of the best full-backs I have ever seen.

He was a very tough and solid competitor and an absolute points scoring machine! How credible that he actually won the Man of Steel award in the year that Wigan were relegated to Division Two! Moving on, my third player has to be Mick Cassidy. Mick was such a tough, hardworking second rower who played well above his weight.

He gave no quarter on the field and always protected the backs and youngsters in the team as I am sure Adrian Morley would testify to!

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John Bateman has ensured that my love of rugby league remains strong. He is unquestionably a really strong and rugged player with a tough mentality!

His never-say-die attitude throughout his life has ensured success in every aspect and it is little wonder he is so well respected in the NRL.

The really awesome thing about my four chosen players is that regardless of all the success, plaudits and recognition during their careers each one of them have nevertheless remained very humble and unassuming.

The Magic Weekend has been postponed – should it just be scrapped instead?

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Alex Graham: Until we have a better idea of when the season will resume it’s difficult to say. Although I’m not a fan of the concept, the Magic Weekend does create decent revenue and any revenue opportunities after the current climate should be taken advantage of.

There’s also the consideration that tickets have already been sold which will have to be refunded.

However, time and player welfare may dictate that out of the remaining events this year at least one of major events out of Magic Weekend, Challenge Cup Final and Grand Final will have to be sacrificed, and unfortunately the Magic Weekend is an obvious no-brainer.

Sean Lawless: For this season, I worry about what the Magic Weekend will look like – and that is the issue of whether it should be scrapped or not.

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I don’t think we will have time in the calendar to fit it in, but if it is squeezed in and it turns out to be a weekend at Headlingley or another rugby league stadium, is it worth it? There is a danger that the event is diminished and the value lowered, if it is decided that we play a smaller version this year.

Jon Lyon: Ideally yes, we’re going to have a hard time fitting the matches in as it is, and this is one more we can do without.

I wasn’t blown away with the fixtures anyway, it’s becoming tedious playing Warrington every year. Obviously having to refund all those tickets bought is an issue, but we can’t have players playing three games a week so we need to compromise somewhere.

Darren Wrudd: Magic Weekend and several other loop fixtures should just be scrapped this year.

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I don’t go with all these calls to play three games a week to catch up and this is an easy one for me. Finance will no doubt govern decisions, but in hindsight would you look back and say that by going ahead the decision put a single person’s health at risk on the field or in the crowd.

Jeanette Lusher: I really wouldn’t like the horrendous headache of rescheduling the 2020 season!

Owners and supporters will want to salvage every match they can, but players’ welfare must be considered as well as the health and safety of the general public.

The Magic Weekend would see the biggest league crowds with supporters travelling a good distance to attend so would it be safest, I think not? Personally it saddens me to say it but I feel it should be scrapped.

What was the worst rugby league fad?

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Alex Graham: I detested the grip-mits – fingerless gloves with a rubber grip which some professionals used for a season or so.

Thankfully the fad didn’t stick and juniors were soon back to learning the and early skills naturally. Honorable mention is the eight-panel ball in the early 2000s!

Sean Lawless: Although it didn’t take off too much in rugby league, as it did it rugby union – but the biggest fad has to be the gloves that came in! I think I remember Mark Calderwood at Leeds being one of the players who wore them. They didn’t last long at all but perhaps it’s time for a comeback...

Jon Lyon: The most pointless was probably Phil Clarke’s score predictor which told us what the score should have been at any point in the match based on numerous statistics, and which rarely matched what the score actually was.

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I’m not sure what any of us were supposed to do with that information, if anything knowing our team should be winning when they were in fact losing just made matters worse.

The idea that backfired most was the ClubCall. I don’t know who thought it was a reward for a team to be able to pick their next opponents. All you are basically doing is saying out of three teams, we think you are the worst - a sure fire way to fire up the other team. I’m very glad to see the back of that one, but I fear there will be more to follow!

Darren Wrudd: Let’s be honest, there have been many. The RFL and Sky have a history of trying to gimmick their way into the press and call it progress and innovative forward thinking.

I call it short-sighted and to some extent a work-shy approach to promoting the game. Yes there have been a few fads that stuck – a French team, video refs – but the one I simply cannot believe got beyond the brainstorming meeting was our very own Mr Phil Clarke’s ‘Margin Meter’. Now don’t get me wrong, statistics play a massively important part of professional sport and planning, but it seems that beyond Mr Clarke, who simply adores his stats, they just don’t make an entertaining watch, except perhaps sometimes for the wrong reasons.

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Imagine back in 2012, half-time in a critical game, teams locked at 10 points each and up pops the margin meter with a ground-breaking prediction that if this carries on, we predict it will be 20-all at full time, even the fellow presenters were crying laughing at times. Nearly as reliable as opportunity knocks clapometer (look it up), it was thankfully added to the list of nearly-but-not-quite additions to our lovely game.

Jeanette Lusher: It has to be Phil Clarke and his margin meter.

I’m not sure if I ever did really grasp its purpose, but my best description of it would be as an ‘in game’ handicapper for the bookmakers!

The stats understandably changed throughout the game and allegedly determined at any given time which team was on top and had the momentum, and therefore the margin meter should have been able to predict who would win the match!

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It very rarely did! Very complicated and somewhat useless but the good thing was that it got everybody talking about rugby league!

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