These players were before time as I only moved to Warrington in 1999.

Over the years I've often heard these names mentioned and get the impression that this was our most revered front row of all time?

What was special about this front row? Were they partiuclalrly talented individuals or did they all bring something different to work well as a unit?

Thanks

They were all hard men and nutters side story on tamati - I got stabbed in warrington and ran into a taxi rank and who was stood there yes Kevin tamati he rushed outside and kicked the chap out of the 2 people that did it got my bag back plus one of their caps then drove me to hospital an amazing guy

Like a bumble bee...Les Boyd defied physics and did things that his size and stature shouldn't really allow. He had a great step and could make a clean break as good as any centre. He was the type of player every opposing fan hates....hard, skilful and not afraid to dish it out. He rescued his reputation by moving to the UK. In Australia he probably should have gone to jail for some of the things he did on the pitch.

Jackson was a work-horse type of a player...run all day..into were it hurts most without a backward step. Not as skilful as Boyd...but his heart was as big.

Tamati was a gent off the pitch...gently spoken etc etc. Get him on the pitch and like Boyd and jackson, he'd run into brick walls all day long and dish it out big style if any tried it on. More skilful than Jackson...but not as mobile.

Les Boyd was one of the best footballing forwards I ever saw. It is a pity in some ways that he is best remembered for his penchant to mix it with anyone who would oblige.

Bob Jackson has got to be one of the best pound for pound signings we ever made. An eighty minute grafter week in and week out with en excellent and effective defensive game. One of the first names on the team sheet for me.

Kevin Tamati was a tough, dogged character who had good distribution but lacked pace, He too was an eighty minute player who would be in your face all the time. A bit like playing a pit bull who wouldn't let go.

They certainly blended into a formidable front row and are deservedly the stuff of Wire legend but it would be unfair to many other past players to say they were the best of all time.

Yes, some good summaries there. Boyd caused havoc down under before he came to us. He was over the top in an era when players could get away with most things - unless they actually killed someone. But he was a wonderfully gifted player as well - go back and have a look at some of his footage when he was in his prime in Oz. By the time we got him he was already running to seed, and looked almost as wide as he was tall. He had a great step and dummy, together with sticky hands. My abiding memory is watching him running deceptively fast through centre field, his huge jersey billowing out behind him, looking like an escaped frame tent in a gale. Well, that and his fighting of course - put Shelford and Boyd together and there would only be one outcome.

better than Morley, Monaghan, Carvell ?

....easily

....oh yes...sir les was m.o.m in the 86 premiership final against a halifax team that won the league...kt worked as a butcher and a taxi driver who was as previousley stated a gentleman off the pitch..big bob gave our crowd a bottle of whisky which he won at wigan for the lancs player of the year award...what wonderful days

Kevin Tamati coached me at U15/16s at Woolston Rovers circa 1986-87, really great guy too.

I need a lay down in a darkened room.

Could you imagine just how good these 3 would have been, if

a) They trained/ate/exercised as the players of today do
b) we got all 3 of them, five years earlier

Boyd was an animal, yet with a fantastic rugby brain. A proper shortbottom for a prop/second row (he was a secondrower for his GB Ashes tours), but mixed it with people much bigger. Showed decent pace.

Tamati was a class act as a dirty Wid

Jackson. 100% every week. Just a pity he played at Wembley when he clearly wasn't up to it, healthwise.


I LOVE NOSTALGIA THREADS.

Now, who was the dashing secondrower who packed down behind them......MANLOVE

Didn't Morley, Monaghan and Carvell win three Challenge Cups, a heck of a lot more than Boyd, Tamati and Jackson.

They were also playing in a league where everyone was full time professional.

Back in Boyd, Tamati and Jackson's day it was largely a semi professional competition hence one team won everything, and it wasn't us.

Boyd, Tamati and Jackson also played in an era when front rowers played 80 minutes, and didn't go running off for a rest after half a dozen runs with the ball and a short spell of tackling....

Personally, if you are ranking those six, then Boyd is undoubtedly the best - A fantastic player, he could do most things bar kicking.... Run in with the ball, beat a man with a step, pass a slick short ball, throw a top class long ball out wide, tackle and, best of all, he could intimidate about as much as any RL player I've ever witnessed.

Morley was/is class, but, compared to Boyd, was/is a massive one-trick pony... Carvell is the same, just not as good as Morley.... Bob Jackson was the traditional workhorse prop - Pretty average compared to Boyd, but was an excellent foil to him. He was a quiet assassin, he never did a lot that would get a mention in the pub after the game, but I imagine he was one of those that opposition players fully respected and quietly dreaded coming up against.

As for the 2 hookers, its impossible to compare, because if one position as changed the most in the SL era, then its the number 9 one - Monaghan is head and shoulders over Tamati skill-wise, but if I got into a bit of trouble with an opposing player, or a side needed to put a bit of Wigan-style intimidation on an opposition, then I'd be more than happy knowing that Tamati was on my team.

Les Boyd was charisma personified when players actually had some charisma, and were not afraid to show it. He was also the toughest and most skillful forward I've watched and the finest and most inspirational captain I've seen. Neither Carvell or Monaghan would have got remotely near two successive Kangaroo tours, Morley ......... maybe.

I beleive Sir Les once called Kevin Tamati the toughest player he had ever encountered, and that's enough for me.

And Bob Jackson was just a Ben Westwood style machine, and a great clubman and character.

Collectively they were awesome, and no-one took many liberties with them (particularly with Sanderson, Roberts & Greg behind them) on the field. Off the field, all three were real gentlemen and very proud to serve the club.

Not for the first time I do not see what point you are trying to make.

Without detracting from the excellent contributions Morley, Monaghan and Carvell made, they did indeed play in a league of full time professionals which means they played on a more even playing field. Furthermore they did not win three challenge cups on their own. They were an important part of a good side.

The reason Boyd, Tamati and Jackson are lionised was that, although they did play in a part time side when the only full time side was the Wigan all stars, home and away, this front row, though underdogs, really took it to Wigan good style. Andy Goodway told me that he hated playing against Warrington at that time because they knew they would have to earn their corn and have a torrid time in the bargain. One of the Warrington/Wigan fixtures at that time was described as World War Three and was Rugby League theatre par excellence. On their way to winning the 1986 Premiership Final the Wire team, with this front row, beat Wigan at Wigan which, at that time was the stuff of folk lore. I personally think that this pack would have led us to more glory but for the defection of Andy Gregory to Wigan as he was undoubtedly world class and a vital member of the side.

I do not like to compare heroes from different generations as the context in which the game is played changes and the game is much more sanitised today but, without detracting from the many great front rowers we have had over the years, Boyd, Tamati, and Jackson were indeed a fiercely formidable front row.

No surprises that Sally turns all "Rogues" on us and brings out the "what did they win?" line. Rickey Bibey has two challenge cup winners medals from his time at Saints and wigan.... he was still an average plodder with limited talent.... I dont understand Sals disdain for the phrase "Boyd Tamati Jackson"...its like a red rag to a bull......

Apparently when it suits Sals arguments, the full time professional league is an indication of how better this current Wire side is than anything that has gone before. But when a criticism of the game in general is to be made the standards of the game are lower than in the late 80's when we were "closest to beating the Aussies" etc.. when we "had players like hanley gregory and Edwards"...etc etc. Make your mind up. which is the weakest period for rugby League I cant tell.

To put everyone in the picture had that wigan side not been So great, and it was season after season choc full of talent, Wires would have had a pretty impressive honours record. More than any other club we suffered at their hands in finals, semi finals, and pipped to league titles.

as New year rolls around remember this onen and looked odds on again when taking the lead in the 30th Minute with a try from Paul Cullen that was converted by Paul Bishop for 6-0. David Stephenson had missed an early penalty goal attempt but managed to kick on to bring that lead down to 6-2 before half time. However, he missed another on 47 minutes that proved costly in the end because the only other scoring came from a Joe Lydon penalty later in the half. Warrington were hanging on at the end, but did so to complete a league double over Wigan and also put themselves right in the title race. Consolation for Wigan was that leaders Saints didn't take advantage of this slip up, losing 16-10 at Widnes.

Attendance:17,106
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New years day at a bursting Central park, beating Wigan, being the only side to beat them in the league all season
I know how good that was, I know how good Boyd Tamati and Jackson Were...........I was there