Utter nonsense.

Your opinion is noted.
If he wasn't a kicker would Botica walk in to the Wigan team?...I think he might have a chance at Widnes or Huddersfield.

Carried? Botica scored 11 tries in his 1st season. Hesford scored 17 tries in his 6 years at Warrington.

Stats can be made to look many things.
Hesford was a semi pro with semi pro team mates up against teams that were a match and better than Warrington.
Botica was a pro, within a team of pros with pro opportunity to score against semi pro teams in a league where only Wigan were pro and there was no equals or better.

From what I remember Hesford was in the team primarily as a superb goal kicker. He was tried on the wing and fullback but his skill alone in either position didn't justify his selection.

Yes, correct Hesford played wing. Botica played #6. If you going to carry a player put him in a position where he is not going to get involved in play.

I remember Hesford as chiefly a full back. As I remember it Botica developed his kicking skills to get into the team but once in was there for more than just his goal kicking. But I’m sure Wigan fans will have more authority on these points.
I suppose from our point of view the question should be who would you be prepared to drop to bring in a specialist goal kicker, then who is available who can kick and play in that position without losing too much in general play?

I do like Lefty’s fantasy football approach though. It’s like contracts, salary cap and availability don’t matter...he is Uncle Mo and I claim my fiver.

I can't name any current player in Union or League who is not really good enough to be in the team but is picked as a specialist kicker. Also ... even the best kickers have bad days ... especially when the pressure is on.

BTW Frano Botica was a hell of a player. Wigan virtually had the pick of the rugby world at the time.

Hesford initially was on the wing and from what I remember may have played centre as well, but at full back totally justified his position. He was superb under the high ball and a dropped ball was extremely rare and he was a good tackler.
As a goal kicker, I haven't seen his equal in over 55 years of watching. He would kick from inside our own half on many occasion and the pitches were often mud baths. Not forgetting also that he didn't kick off a tee, but just a raised divot.

Great post.

Cheers RD

Now that he’s been inducted into the wire hall of fame maybe it’s time for Steve to do some work in a coaching capacity with some of the present day kickers ....

He wasn't signed as a kicker so the answer would have to be yes (although using the phrase 'walked into the team' is a bit disingenuous as very few players, including great ones, would have 'walked into that team such was the competition).

He played chiefly at 6. Do you 'hide' an incapable player in the halves? He had great hands, a fabulous rugby brain and a determination to succeed second to none. That he turned himself into a world class kicker, one who is still spoken about today, should be enough to tell you that!

I saw pretty much all of his games for Wigan and I can tell you he rarely, if ever, had a bad game. In fact I'm struggling to remember any at all! That level of consistency is rare, even amongst, great players. He was a superstar in a team of superstars. To suggest he'd be anything less today is, as I said, utter nonsense.

The only way the phrase 'he'd be a championship player if he was around today' (sic) would be right would be if you meant he was still playing now... aged 54! In that case you might just be right!