Before my time, but it's often said in Wigan that, although brilliant attacking talent, Offiah couldn't tackle. Is it true?

Was often said throughout his career but greatly exaggerated IMO. When he first came to Widnes from RU he was (very) suspect defensively and he never really got over that reputation for the rest of his career, despite working hard to improve that aspect of his game over the years. During his peak years he may not have been a great defensive winger but he was by no means shocking either. Plain fact is a lot of fans resented him for his success and celebrations and they wanted a stick to beat him with whenever he tore their team a new one. Also, he knew his own ability, which people always hate and then tend to say is arrogance.

Defence wasn't his strong point but as John Monie said if you beat him once you'd probably have to do it again as he'd catch you from behind. He got criticism because like everything in RL someone has to find a negative and blow it out of proportion. I don't recall his defence ever costing a game.

He wasn't in the side for his defence. It's like criticising a Ferrari because it's no good off road.

Ryan Hall

Quote ="robinrovers10"Martin Offiah is the greatest winger in the history of Rugby League. End of. It will be a very long time for someone to emerge who could even lace his boots.'" Eric Grothe Senior. https://youtu.be/AaopyFY0Sys

Quote ="robinrovers10"Martin Offiah is the greatest winger in the history of Rugby League. End of. It will be a very long time for someone to emerge who could even lace his boots.'" Eric Grothe Senior. https://youtu.be/AaopyFY0Sys

Neither Hall or Grothe have come close to matching Offiah's try scoring stats.

Pretty much true, not a great defender but as you say worked hard on it and improved. But for every try he conceeded he scored 3-4 it which is an acceptable balance sheet

Quote ="Buggo"Eric Grothe Senior. https://youtu.be/AaopyFY0Sys'" Another great but un a differnt way. Hall and grothe more similar.

Quote ="Buggo"Eric Grothe Senior. https://youtu.be/AaopyFY0Sys'" Another great but un a differnt way. Hall and grothe more similar.

He looked great in that YouTube video. Shame that injury hampered his career (according to wikipedia anyway).

Edited. This is your second warning for resorting to personal abuse.
Durham Giant

Brian Bevan - 740 tries in 620 games for Warrington at a time when British RL had much greater strength in depth than Offiah's era. Also Martin spent most of his career in totally dominant teams at Widnes and Warrington who were ripping teams apart before giving him the ball in space.

Offiah played against semi-pro teams

Regards

King James

20 tries in 27 games in Australia - none of which came against semi-pro teams or playing for totally dominant teams.

When did professional rugby league start?

1996 if you ask Saints fans.

Offiah.

Wigan were the first full time truly pro club.

He didn't ask what the first full time club was! He asked when did RL turn professional!

When Wigan went full time....same thing.

No its not.. Once players started receiving win/lose payments they were classed as professional, even though they where part time.

Receiving money could only be done if they were professional.

I always thought when the breakaway happened the NU was semi-pro. Players still had employment. Oh well the definition can be interpreted in different ways.

1895 in the UK
1908 in Australia

Semi was the part timers.. Pro was the imports. The fact both recieved money set them as professional. If they didn't recieve money they were either trialists or amateur.

Offiah in his prime was truly awesome. Sadly the game has changed to such an extent that neither he or Robinson would stand out quite as much IMO - I agree with an earlier poster that I'm not even sure Robinson would be a winger nowadays. Offiah had superb game awareness as well as speed, and an innate knowledge of what he was going to do before he got the ball which IMO was unmatched. That was summed up for me by his try for London against Leeds at Wembley 1999. He was past his best and yet he got the ball with half a gap and everyone in the stadium knew he'd score. See about 1 minute or so into the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5wUf3rGLbY

Offiah in his prime was truly awesome. Sadly the game has changed to such an extent that neither he or Robinson would stand out quite as much IMO - I agree with an earlier poster that I'm not even sure Robinson would be a winger nowadays. Offiah had superb game awareness as well as speed, and an innate knowledge of what he was going to do before he got the ball which IMO was unmatched. That was summed up for me by his try for London against Leeds at Wembley 1999. He was past his best and yet he got the ball with half a gap and everyone in the stadium knew he'd score. See about 1 minute or so into the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5wUf3rGLbY

This clip of Offiah scoring a hattrick for St George is a good example. The Aussie commentator at the end mentions his ability to put himself in the right place at the right time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_8lqkIz1_8

This clip of Offiah scoring a hattrick for St George is a good example. The Aussie commentator at the end mentions his ability to put himself in the right place at the right time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_8lqkIz1_8

Couldn't find a clip but I always loved his try against the Kiwis in 89. Deep in his own half, he practically shoved Andy Greg out of dummy half, took the ball, beat five defenders and went about 80 metres to score. Even from that far out, he'd seen the gap he needed and knew exactly what he was going to do.