I think Wigan let Hanley go because they thought he was past his best (he was but still a very good player) and because they wanted Offiah.
I'm not sure about Schofield.
Wakey appeared in four finals in the sixties, 3 wins and the Watersplash lottery. There's bound to be a dominant team in any particular era. Widnes in the early eighties. In fact I reckon the '89 Widnes side would have stopped Wigan's run had they got there. But they had a player sent off in the semi and lost to Saints. The sending off was laughable to say the least but that's RL.
Leeds went four times in the seventies lost two back to back and then won two back to back.
The Hull clubs were also quite dominant in the eighties but true to form FC have still never won it at Wembley - theylost in '80 (Hull KR) won at Elland Road in '82 and lost in'83 (Fev





) and '85 (Wigan one of the best finals ever for neutral)

You can't take comfort in that. The game is about glory and trophy hunting and Wigan are now well back in the hunt, probably stronger than ever.

More recently Saints won it four times in five years, 2004,2006/7/8.

S57

Not ' taking comfort ' , just pointing out the flaw in the history

Might be a consequence not a flaw.

It was the financing of the new stand, which went way over budget that ultimately cost them.


It would have probably happened anyway regardless of the success as the stadium was looking very tired in the mid nineties.

Hull FC groundshare at the KC, without the run of success Wigan had.

I know which recent history I'd rather have.

but Warrington have Bentham so could easily dominate in years to come

bentham is from Oldham and supports leigh!!

he just did his referee training in warrington

No it will change when the Pensioners all retire.

Leeds paid £250k for a 30 year old Hanley in '92, that's circa £500k in today's money

Thats very true but he did score 106 tries in 104 games which is bloody impressive for a forward, just a shame we didnt win anything in his tenure.



I agree with this. Wire are bringing through some good players at the moment but none capable of replacing Hodgson, Morley, M. Monnaghan and Briers who will probably be gone by the end of next year. They cant go and buy top class aussies anymore because of the salary cap over there now.

If any team is to dominate like Leeds have over recent years I think it is more likely to be Wigan than Wire!!

I suspect Wire may fall into the same trap Leeds have by hanging onto players a year too long and have a lot of players leaving at the same time.

Wigan's record of consecutive CC wins will never be beaten. Superleague teams are more evenly matched now.

Wire need to win it next year to be on a par with St Helens winning it 4 times in 5 yrs. 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008.