Right,

I started watching Wigan RL on a regular basis when we were down in the dumps. I remember when we here bottom of the league, fighting for survival. I remember when I had to trudge through the cemetery to get to Wakefield's ground where we lost and it looked like it was all over. I was even on holiday when we were deducted 2/4 points (?). I remember that day, the dejection, the humiliation, the feeling of utter helplessness.

But you know what else I remember, one man being there. Through the hard times, a man who most people called useless through his first season with the club. A man who was transformed, with the club, into one of the best players in the league. He's been with us through the utter depths of despair to the ultimate highs. He's won the Challenge Cup, twice!...the Super League and he's been the Man Of Steel. Not to mention the numerous records he's broken at this club which Bilko could recite one after the other!

I for one think he's the greatest Aussie signings since Brett Dallas (and probably IMO ever), he deserves to hang his boots up in the middle of our stadium. Alas he wants to give it another go in the NRL, and for that I respect him even more. For this I feel he deserves a great send off. I think he deserves to have his own flag, one that would truly justify our appreciation of what he has done for our club.

I'm positive someone else, who has the relevant experience (as I have none and wouldnt know where to start), could take up the mantle of designing and manufacturing such a flag for Paddy, to which I feel he deserves for his years of loyal and just service to our great club. I also would be honoured to donate some money to fund such a flag.

Sorry if I've ranted on abit, I just feel people who have served this club like Paddy has deserve to be recognised, and to be given all the support we can muster

we have had so many good players its always difficult when it comes to rating them. eg when Inga was playing for us, he was sensational. One of the outstanding players of his time, yet now he appears to have been forgotten.
I am sure that I could find similar players who are as good as pat but because they are slightly older they are easily forgotten.

Pat is good player, but not a legend. he's just been a very good player in a decade of mediocrity for the Club as a whole.

Blimey, like other teams believe, seems that RL only started in 1996!!!!

Every generation has its memorable players, My kids don't remember Wigan without Pat Richards, they will remember him as superman & he deserves it.

thats harder to do that be a good player in a good team.

I remember the Ganley sidestep, he could read Billy like a book. Billy went one way Ganley went the other.

But the best example of Billy being one on one with a fullback was in a cup match at Hunslet when he faced Langton.

In the first half Billy trundled down the middle after receiving one of the Ashton back passes , he came up to Langton and Billy sidestepped to the right and Langton guessed right and brought Billy down. Much backslapping and rejoicing from the Hunslet players.

Ten min after the same thing happened, Billy off down the middle again with Langton waiting with a confidant look on his face.
Billy must have said "sod the sidestep" and he ran right over the top of Langton to put the ball down under the sticks..

Hunslet in those days where a force to be reckoned with.