Massive compliment for you Marty with Rob asking you to contribute to his new book
Without giving too much away or spoiling your contribution to the book Marty How far back do you go with Rob and in what capacity?

Purely as a fan who goes to most of the academy/scholarship games home and away and obviously with small crowds you get to see and meet family members and players coming thru the system and also people at the club. I was very lucky to watch all the golden generation come thru and built some fantastic relationships that still stand now. The way i was treated at that time was truly incredible.

With Rob in particular i was there when he made his academy debut at St Helens, stood with his parents at many a game and watched him come thru.

When he became Academy coach i started to chat with him weekly, we would message each other on twitter about games and players and built a nice relationship in a way which led to swapping numbers.

Apparantly players have terrible memories about games and years so the writer asked if there was anyone who he knew that could help and maybe give a fans perspective so Rob text me a few weeks back asking if i would like to get involved which was an absolute honour and very humbling to be asked.

Lovely that Marty cheers, I Can't wait for the book

can't be many that watch all levels like that, did jason robinson ever try out

No mate. He was Wigan bound long before Academy days.

was there no truth that gary stephens turned him away in favour of gareth

That was Bob Pickles if I remember correctly - we were looking at both as half-backs, we went with Stephens, the rest is painful history....

Nah it was before Bob joined Leeds. If Bob and Laughton had been there at that time we wouldve signed both. But we are talking when the lads was very young before academy age. I remember watching Billy Whizz when he was at Parkside and it was already known he was joining Wigan then.

Leeds had a chance to sign him but it wasnt like he was at Leeds and we told him he wasnt good enough. We just didnt sign him from Parkside and Wigan did.

It was the Wigan scout Eric Hawley that took him to Wigan.

This is probably the best thing to happen this year with the challenge
Cup win second. I can’t imagine how proud we all feel when Rob gets the award and it’s fully deserved for services to RL, let alone MND.

I think Rob and his family are amazing

Did Sinfield not get knighted then?

Doesn’t need a letter from Her Madge to be Sir Kev. Doubt he’d accept it anyway.

Surely if he wouldn't accept knighthood then he wouldn't accept an MBE.

It’s Sir Kev not Sir Rob, although if the cap fits...