I thought, given we've had the "hated players" thread, it might be fun to be a bit more positive and have a look at players you couldn't help but like even though they played for Saints. We all tend to get carried away slating their players, but it might be interesting to see who, if any, have managed to transcend that divide.
Personally, I know this will be controversial but I'll go for Keiron Cunningham. He comes in for a lot of stick from opposition fans, but I think that's just a measure of how good he is. His will to win and consistency of performance are outstanding and I've lost count of the amount of matches that he has single-handedly turned for Saints over the years, dragging them back into a game just at the point they were mentally giving it up. Plus he's a one-club, hometown player which is something I can always respect.
I'd also be interested in the opposite perspective from Saints fans.

Interesting post

I'd also agree with Cunningham, an outstanding professional who is class through and through.

Saints will really miss him when he retires.

Kurt Sorensen - I know he didn't play for Saints (and had a brief spell with us), but Widnes were our big rivals back then

I remember watching him leave the field after being substituted towards the end of a game at CP.

I was standing on the Douglas side near the dug-outs and Kurt - who had had what could best be described as a typically "uncompromising" game for Widnes in which he was involved in more than a few "incidents" - received an appropriately hostile reception from the Wigan fans as he made his way to the bench.

When the noise had finally died down - and it was quite a while before the abuse ceased - a bloke standing near me could be heard quite clearly in the now quiet stand saying to his mate "What a dirty b^&!"q!*". His mate considered this for a moment and said "Yeah, but I wished he played for us though". There were then murmurings of agreement from other people who had heard what the first Wigan fan said.

That's the kind of prop we need at the moment. Unfortunately they don't seem to make them like Kurt, Skez etc anymore.

I always respected Paul Sculthorpe.

However, he nearly spoiled himself towards the back end of his career when he had numerous dummy spits.

James Graham for being a freak and actually turning up when playing for GB/England unlike Pryce and Long

Does Gary Connolly count?

Bryn Hargreaves.
Has shown real potential since signing for us

John Wilkin would love to see him playing with Hock for Wigan

No point just restricting this to Saints players...

Laurie Daley - amazing player, and had a face you would never get tired of smacking.

I don't think Wilkin is thateay inclined

I don't think Wilkin is that way inclined




Typo error fixed

Jamie Jones-Buchanan is annoying, only because he seems to have good games against us. He's a work horse and has that nuts streak I think we miss in our team.

David Solomona again, annoys the heck out of you when he's on the opposition team. Maybe a bit too injury prone now, but always seemed to cause big time damage playing for Wakey.

Jamie Peacock.

Wears his heart on his sleeve imo. Never takes a backwards step and you wouldn't hear me complaining should he sign for us

Sorensen is a good call.

Tough as they come, not a backward step.



Imagine if SF had his attitude.