I'm not old enough to have seen a lot of the guys mentioned just what i've heard in stories off people.

A guy i work with was in the Leeds Colts (academy) side when Shaun Wane was playing for Wigan, he played against him a couple of times at academy level and said he was the hardest player he'd ever seen/played against, one story he told me really made me chuckle

The teams were warming up before the game (at Wigan i think) Leeds in one half and Wigan in the other, after a few drills the Leeds lads huddled for a chat and the hooker for Leeds was being rather mouthy and loud about how what he was going to do, smash players etc, etc trying to get there lads up for the game.

My pal said out of the corner of his eye he spotted this lone, Wigan player making his way over to the Leeds huddle, next thing Shaun Wane is stood there infront of them all and as the Leeds lads went quiet he basically said, "I'm gonna smash you" and repeated it about 5 times while pointing at various Leeds players then turned and walked back to the Wigan players warming up.

My pal said, he wasn't lying and Wane totally smashed them to bits that day and it was the hardest game he ever played in.

Kevin Ward had the Aussies respect for being able to look after himself and them for that matter but my all time hero is

Mal Reilly- not only a REAL hard man - a fabulous footballer as well-

And I believe, still is !!!

Even though I have gone for Brian McTigue, my Dad remembers another one from way back, who he reckons was one hard case who Wigan signed that came from Cumbria, his name was/is, Bill Hudson. There is a [i'caveat'[/i though, as my Dad reckons he was just plain mad ! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hudson_(rugby_league)

Even though I have gone for Brian McTigue, my Dad remembers another one from way back, who he reckons was one hard case who Wigan signed that came from Cumbria, his name was/is, Bill Hudson. There is a [i'caveat'[/i though, as my Dad reckons he was just plain mad ! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hudson_(rugby_league)

My mam says exactly the same thing about Hudson, but she still reckons Mac was "the man"