I think the conditioning regimes at the two clubs were quite different. Can't quite figure it out but all Widnes's players seemed a stone heavier and a yard quicker than when they moved elsewhere. Perhaps something from all those chemical works had got into the water supply.

Widnesdid seem to have an imposing presence when they ran out onto the field

They did have a monster pack back in the late 80's with Grima, Morriarty, Sorrensen, Koloto etc..Add to that 2 centres in Andy Currier and Darren Wright (both 6"4/6"5 tall) they were huge across the park.That 87-89 team which had Offiah,Davies and Tait in too was the most complete team as iv'e seen watching RL. it just gets overlooked a bit because it didn't have the longevity of the all conquering Wigan side that succeeded it.

I agree. That Widnes side of 89 was probably toughest and most entertaining I’ve ever seen

Tait, Davies, Currier, Wright, Offiah, Myler, D,Hulme, Sorensen, McKenzie, Grima, O’Neill, Koloto, Holliday as a starting 13 takes some beating.

Add too the likes of Faimalo, Paul Hulme, Derek Pyke, Moriarty etc.

Roy Powell was a great player but he was an even better person
R.I.P Big Man

The reason was that we bought individuals and assumed that would make a great team. We had no idea what it was that made those individuals good at their previous club, never mind making any attempt to replicate that to get the best out of them.

You see this type of recruitment so often in teams desperately trying to make up ground. Salford are the obvious recent example but there are many examples throughout team sports.

As for players signing for the cash. Yeah I agree they did but that's not really their fault. It's up to the club what players get offered. More fool the club.

To be fair to the Leeds board, they understandably assumed Doug Laughton would be able to replicaqte the success he had with Widnes with a bunch of the same players. It was probably more that Douggie had no idea how he'd done it.

Medley was a specimen in the days of fat, beer belly forwards - his yellow spine would still have been an issue in this day and age, but those around him would be equally as fit and fast, so he'd have struggled more nowadays I reckon.

But then the same argument could be put towards Powell - I have to be careful here as I have fond memories of Big Roy, and could get lynched for even posing this question - but in an environment where all forwards are big, strong and athletic nowadays - is it possible Powell would have been more Ian Kirke than Sonny Bill Williams?

Uncle Dougie was a great talent spotter and motivator but don't think there was a lot of what is expected today in terms of technical coaching. Back in late 90's went to see a manly v cronulla game. Et and cliff Lyons were playing. Craig innes was out injured but In programme was an interview with him. Innes said had leant more in 3 months under bob Fulton at manly than 3 years with dougie at Leeds. The main problem Laughton had at Leeds despite spending was Wigan were still better.

Dougie used to leave the coaching to Hanley and Mercer by all accounts.

Before my time is all this but we do have one massive thing to be thankful to Doug Laughton for with regards to Kevin Sinfield.


''I was quite keen on Wigan but Warrington badgered me so much that I really felt they wanted me,'' he added.
''Their chief scout was on the phone to my dad five or six times a week. I came very close to signing for them. Then Leeds came in and their coach, Doug Laughton, sold the club to me. My dad took me over to Headingley and Doug wanted me to sign there and then.
But I said I wanted my mum to be in on it, so Doug drove over to our house in Oldham the next day and I signed for Leeds. I've never regretted it. I love this club. Leeds have been very loyal to me and it has been easy to return their loyalty.''

And with that one effort from Laughton the clubs future changed forever.

'A simple twist of fate'

Bit of a common thread with Laughton signings - he turned up at Jonathan Davies's house and basically just refused to leave until he'd signed for Widnes. Heard a number of players tell the same story.

Yeah I've heard the same - he used the old double glazing salesman tactic of sitting it out in the front room until people feel obliged to sign up just to get rid of him so they could go to bed.