Wigan Warriors' Liam Marshall reveals dad's special message ahead of Sir Billy Boston tribute - 'One of my heroes'

Liam Marshall has revealed the special message his dad David sent him before Wigan Warriors’ emotional tribute to Sir Billy Boston on Thursday night.

Marshall’s dad, who played for Wigan in the late 1980s and early 1990s, usually sends his son a simple good-luck message before matches.

But ahead of Thursday’s 46-0 victory over a youthful Hull KR side, which saw Marshall score a hat-trick, David added a personal message about Boston.

“He usually texts me pre-game, a pretty standard text, just wishing me good luck, but he added a bit extra on with it being Billy’s tribute,” Marshall told Wigan Today.

“He said ‘give Billy a good send-off’, and then he said something along the lines of ‘I don’t have many heroes, but he was one of them’. He probably hasn’t said anything like that to me before, so it sort of hit home a little bit.

“My grandma, my dad’s mum, would have watched him and told him all the tales, and obviously my dad played and watched at Central Park, so he’s heard all the stories about Billy.

“Billy is a special figure. He is iconic in Wigan and in rugby league, so when my dad sent me that text, I was a bit taken aback thinking ‘this is a big occasion for him’.

“I think, barring the weather, everything went well for him tonight, so I hope we gave him and his family the send-off that he deserves.”

Boston sadly passed away aged 92 earlier in the week, with Wigan dedicating Thursday’s fixture to the club legend.

The Warriors held a series of tributes before kick-off before delivering a dominant performance on the field, with Marshall’s three tries helping them to a 46-0 victory.

Marshall has now scored 181 tries in 231 appearances for his hometown club, although he knows he has little chance of getting anywhere near Boston’s remarkable Wigan record.

Boston scored 478 tries in 488 appearances for the Cherry and Whites between 1953 and 1968.

“Yeah there is absolutely no chance of me catching that!” Marshall smiled.

“I think I’d have to play until I was about 60, and I don’t think my body can do that! But yeah, what a legend.”