The way things go in RL anything can happen between now and GF. Wigan have been the stand out team along with Warrington without a shadow of a doubt but its how they fare in those very high pressure games that will count. Leeds/Saints have players who have been there and done it all before so they are still the ones to beat.

I understand where you are coming from, for a guy who played a lot of his career at centre and stand-off, Hanley had no kicking game and virtually no passing game - a case could be made for a lot of players being better all round than Hanley

On the other hand, what Hanley did well, he did better than any other player I have ever seen and he was easily the best player of his generation... certainly in the UK

Best sideways runner at high pace I have seen. A great and undervalued skill.

Check out his try off Lydon for the evidence - CC Final 1988. Sorry 'fax fans.

No it could'nt,don't get me wrong Scully was a great player,one of the best ever ay my club(saints)but he's not in the same league as Hanley.

I remember it well - I was sat at the end he scored that try

This thread (and the 5 tops Brits thread) has just inspired me to find a montage of Hanley footage on a popular video sharing site

There have been bigger players than Hanley and faster too but with the ball in his hands, I cannot believe there was a better player than Hanley in the history of our sport. If there was, he must have been one hell of a player!

Wigan are looking impressive at the minute, but we'v yet to see what happens when ther struck by injuries, bad form etc. I still fancy Leeds for the crown.

Against saints we had quite a few missing. Two of whic are form our leadership team.

Coley - Our best prop so far this season.
Hansen - Last years top tackler.
Riddell - One of our best players so far this season.
Phelps - Our first choice FB
Carmont - One of the best centres in the league, went off early and didn't return.

Pretty bad injury list if you ask me, half the pack missing and 2 other key players, yet we beat saints away.

Beating Saints is no longer the yardstick it used to be. Hull played us off the park for example. Wigan have won nothing yet.

I agree with you, Odemwingie, beating Saints away was impressive, but i meant a sustained injury list, with your top player's out for 3 or 4 weeks, not just one game.

Saints will still be there come seasons end, it was a good result for Wigan.
I don't think they will be there come seasons end but it was still a great result at Saints.
After Leeds' disastrous start I'd fancy Saints to finish first tbh people are writing them off far far too easily.

How would you know Hull played you off the park? You couldn't see

I don't think even Sculthorpes closest friends, family or Paul himself would say he was better than Ellery! He wasn't.

Roberts, Leuluai and O'Loughlin all spent significant time off the pitch today and Wigan still got over 50.

Suspected broken leg for Roberts though

Have a look at what Dunbar said. I don't think it's as black-and-white as some seem to think, given that Sculthorpe was a very fine kicker, a skill that evaded Hanley completely.