Worth looking at and bookmarking for all those fans who said Wigan were ALL fulltime pro in the 1980's
In the first part of two-part exclusive interview ahead of Saturday's Wembley showdown, prolific ex-Wigan winger Mark Preston, 57, talks about his memorable brace the last - and only - time they and Warrington have faced each other in Challenge Cup final
He was the flying winger nicknamed ‘Bond’ who had a licence to thrill for Wigan - yet still can’t believe his Wembley feat.
Mark Preston scored twice in their famous 1990 Challenge Cup final win over Warrington. But he admits feeling like an imposter in a side littered with some of rugby league’s greatest-ever stars. However, the prolific wideman with pace to burn, was undoubtedly the real deal as the club chalked up the third of an incredible eight successive Cup final victories.
England B rugby union international Preston amassed 57 tries in just 77 games for Wigan after crossing codes from Fylde in 1988. And, as the rivals prepare to meet again at Wembley for only the second time on Saturday, none are more cherished than that brace 34 years ago. Preston, 57, recalledPreston, sold to Halifax for £50,000 in 1991, was dubbed Bond by the legendary Joe Lydon. He explained who said
“I’m on the Wigan past players group with Shaun Wane and all the lads and they all still call me Bond. It’s just stuck. None of my rugby friends from Fylde call me that but when I go to Halifax or speak to Bentos [John Bentley] or Waney, it’s always Bond.”
After racing 75m for a stunning first-half try against Warrington, Preston finished off one of Wembley’s all-time great scores when adding his second in a 36-14 triumph. He admitted Mike Gregory came up with an unbelievable cover tackle after he’d run about 70 metres. But Shaun must have known I was there, flipped it inside and I just fell over the line. It was only when I watched it afterwards I realised how good a team try it was.
It won Eddie Waring’s Try of the Year. I’ve still got the little trophy. And I didn’t really do anything! But what a player Mike Greg’ was. He was another taken too soon. Greg’ was just the sort of player you’d want in your team.”
Preston added: “The one disappointment when I really reflected on Wembley was the fact that I got taken off. John Monie just took me off and put Bobbie Goulding on. I’m not sure why. No one had ever scored three tries at Wembley. I’m not saying I would have. But I might have had a shout and you’d have almost been guaranteed the Lance Todd Trophy, regardless of how well you’d played. It didn’t matter, though: we’d won the Challenge Cup.”
Former All Black Frano Botica arrived ahead of the following season, though, ousting Preston off his left flank and into the reserves. A few months later, he moved onto Halifax - and not long after that another electric union convert by the name of Martin Offiah joined the Wigan machine.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... y-32963549
