That makes sense.

The part that still doesn't add up though, is why he didn't score more tries for us. It may be more of a reflection on the team rather than him. Even in those last couple of seasons of his career, Drummond was still very quick. He might have knocked on a bit but it wasn't like watching an ageing pro whose legs had gone. In these days before the full-time era, the best athletes stood out from the rest. I remember seeing Des standing on the wing close to the terraces, and thinking you could tell he was going to be fast, just by looking at him. He was very quick to get into full speed as well which is why he could get away from players.

Back then, you used to see some ridiculous try tallies from some players. Offiah would get 40 or 50 tries a season, then even some guys at lesser teams like Greg Austin or a young Anthony Sullivan were getting 30 odd, and Des would get about 10. Felt like we didn't do a good job of finding space for him to exploit.

Also, is this my memory playing tricks, or did Des do a lot out of work out of dummy half taking the ball up, in the days before wingers doing that became a thing?

Yes, Drummond and Forster (and Thackray, too) did a lot of that dummy half work.
I too can't explain him getting more tries for us, though. Maybe he was "over marked" by the opposition, plus he had Joe Ropati (another fave of mine) inside him, and Joe could be a little greedy with the ball.

Well I've had time to think and see other people's choices.
I decided the 'rules' that I am going to apply.

1. Must have played from the 83/84 season onwards (when I started regularly watching them).
[Although I went to some games from 1973, I only stared regularly following from 83/84 - so that means the likes of Ashcroft, Chisnall, Gordon, Murphy, Nicholas, Whitehead, Martyn and Kelly can't feature - some of them would have).

2. They must have played for us for at least a season
[Sorry Hiku, Johns]

3. Must be based on what I saw, and include a certain level of consistency (difficult to define accurately - but affected Ben Murdoch-Masila and Ben Curries inclusion)

Here goes -
1. Brett Hodgson
2. Chris Hicks
3. Allan Bateman ('The Clamp')
4. Jonathan Davies (simply impossible to miss him out - a true genius)
5. Joel Monaghan
6. Lee Briers
7. Alfie Langer
8. Adrian Morley
9. Michael Monaghan
10. Les Boyd
11. Mark Roberts
12. Ben Westwood
13. Mike Gregory
Subs
14. Daryl Clark
15. Bob Jackson
16. Chris Hill
17. Gareth Carvell

Notable mentions ie didn't quite make the cut.
1. Steve Hesford (unfortunately only saw the end of his career), David Lyon, Stefan Ratchford, Kurt Ridley, Iestyn Harris, Brian Johnson
2/5. Des Drummond, John Bevan, Richard Henare
3/4. Phil Blake, Gary Mercer, Toa Kohe-Love, Chris Bridge, Martin Gleeson, Matt King, Ryan Atkins, Bryson Goodwin
6. John Woods, Andy Gregory, Kevin Ellis
7. Greg Mackey, Chris Sandow, Nat Wood
8/10. Danny Nutley, Ben Harrison, Mike Cooper, Paul Wood
9. Duane Mann
11/12. Alan Rathbone, Logan Swann, Simon Grix, Louis Anderson, Trent Waterhouse, David Solomona
13. Paul Sculthorpe, Vinnie Anderson

Could almost make another 2 teams with the 'notable mentions'.

It would be interesting to see if 'my' team could gel especially when you have so many real rugby brains in that team (Hodgson, Davies, Briers, Langer, M.Monaghan, M.Gregory - not to mention Clark on the bench!).

Cheers

www.eraofthebiff.com/announcemen ... warrington

www.eraofthebiff.com/announcemen ... warrington

You've not done yours, yet, LTS.

Had a look at that site for Les Boyd, in a lot of the videos he seemed to be playing with a number 9 on his shirt. Did he play hooker over there? (Sorry in advance for drifting).

1. Brett Hodgson
2. Joel Monaghan
3. Matt King
4. Toa Kohe-Love
5. Chris Hicks
6. Lee Briers
7. Alan Langer
8. Adrian Morley
9. Michael Monaghan
10. Gareth Carvell
11. Ben Westwood
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Paul Sculthorpe

14. Daryl Clark
15. Tawera Nikau
16. David Solomona
17. Brent Grose

In the old NSW comp they numbered the pack in a (to us) unusual manner with the back row wearing 8,9 and 10, the props 11 and 13 and hooker at 12. Can't remember when they changed it to concur with the rest of the RL world. It may have been the advent of Super League.

You must be a similar age to myself, with a much better memory.

I remember dessie, and also have the same memories of him being error prone. I seem to remember a few passes being fumbled into touch with space ahead of him. Then there was the pace that couldn't really be matched. One thing that I don't think is in doubt, is how how tough he was.

On the subject of Dessie, he acquired the nickname of 'Teflon' for his latter years with us. 'Dessie with the non stick hands' one jolly chap used to shout from the scoreboard corner.
Yes he was error prone but was still a great finisher even when the blinding pace had gone and his defence was always fierce despite his technique being his own.
As another poster mentioned we should have tried to get Des and John Woods 3 or 4 years earlier than we did. Woods and Andy Gregory would have been a hell of a half combination.

I enjoyed Mike Forshaw's story about making his debut (for Wigan) against Warrington, and being on the receiving end of Des tackling him with his head, and lying on the ground winded thinking "is rugby league really the game for me...?"

The other thing I remember about watching Dessie run, was how natural his running form was. His head and body were virtually still, carried along by a blur of legs. He looked like a track sprinter with a ball under his arm. Other players who were breaking clear would look like they were straining to stay ahead of the chasers, Des just looked like speed came easy. I don't remember him doing many sidesteps or jinking round people, he just hugged the touchline and backed himself to beat people for speed.

Joel monaghan scored a try per game. Chris hicks scored the best hat trick Wembley has ever seen. Yet every person who has seen dessie play in 87/88 has to choose which one of those 2 to leave out. That tells you all you need to know about Des!

Roughly started watching in 2002/03.

1. Brett Hodgson
2. Joel Monaghan
3. Martin Gleeson
4. Matt King
5. Chris Hicks
6. Lee Briers
7. Chris Sandow
8. Adrian Morley
9. Michael Monaghan
10. Gareth Carvell
11. LAnderson
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Ben Westwood

14. Daryl Clark
15. Stefan Ratchford
16. Chris Hill
17. Paul Wood

Notable mentions to: Simon Grix, Ben Harrison, Ben Currie pushing at back row/loose forward. At fullback Grose scored some impressive tries but Hodgson really made us tick when he joined along with Monas & Briers. Atkins, Bridge and Hiku all had impressive stints but for raw athleticism I went for King and in terms of pure skill & being able to find your winger I went for Gleeson, regardless of the reputation off the field. Again, same reasons for Sandow based on talent - just so creative and could spark a try out of thin air, although I did love Nat Woods grittiness and never say die attitude. Austin has the potential to displace Sandow if he can continue his good form from last year and stay injury free with us for a couple more years. No wingers other than Charnley really come into my head, in terms of who can win you a game in the final seconds or score a freakish try like them. Hicks’ & Mona’s try scoring records speak for themselves and come the big games they never shied way.

I think our most formidable pack in the last twenty years was when we had the likes Morley, Carvell, Hill, Wood, Harrison and Cooper all rotating off one and other from 2009-2012. It’s a shame and really disappointing we’ve been unable to have a big aggressive intimating pack since that period.. it’s definitely an area we’ve struggled in recruitment wise since the other four above retired/moved on.

Dezzie was exciting to watch, but I do remember the 'error prone' bit and that's really why I put him being Hicks and Monaghan.

I also remember the infamous Boxing Day match at Naughton Park when all hell let loose and Dezzie punched a spectator. That made the national news! (And we lost I think)