Not sure about straight line speed - I remember Offiah lost a race with Lee Onduryn (sp?) in Aus years ago. But ball in hand and adding a bit of a swerve, Offiah is the fastest I've seen. Add to that the fact that he was reasonably big and supremely confident at taking on and beating the man on the outside and I don't think I've seen a better 'classic' winger.

It's funny how the memory works though - some people have suggested Drummond wasn't that quick - and he probably wasn't by the time he retired, but if you watch clips of him in his pomp over 30m he was darned fast. I saw a bit of him against NZ on TV a few weeks ago and off the mark he was very quick.

I was signed for Wigan at the tender age of 16. I went to school with Rob and got into a training session with them.

I used to run there or there abouts that, and while i was probably the fastest Academy player in the division at the time i do not think i would have been anywhere near as fast as Offiah.

I have seen different figures quoted for Offiah over a 100 meters, some as low as 10.2 some as claiming he struggled to break 11 seconds which for me is simply unrealistic.

Truth is we can only speculate but my money would be on Offiah.

Had my hair combed over like his in primary school.

I'll tell you about the fastest spectator I have ever seen.

In the early 1960's at Station Road Swinton, a Swinton "speccie" was abusing Billy Boston, "black b*st*rd, black c*n* etc"

At half time Billy jumped over the wall to "have a gentle word" with the man.

Offiah wouldn't have caught that speccie, it's just a pity that Billy didn't.

Des Drummond once did though

Didn't Des have the 100m record on Superstars after Keith Fielding? Not sure if Lydon came close to breaking it later on.

Preston could catch pigeons. Offiah was no slouch either.

But as some have mentioned 'off the mark', I have seen none quicker than John Ferguson.

The guy was a freak.

One step and he was at top speed.

Just look at his first try at Wembley in 1985, he took the ball stood still, and beat the full back on the outside.

He in modern day terms is very much like Jennings the NSW centre. That lad is a freak when it comes to getting to and them maintaining top speed.

Just for interest's sake here are times for 100m I've compiled over the years (I was an athletics fan as well as RL!). Most are unconfirmed as you can see. By unconfirmed I mean I found it in some documentation or other, but not in a proper athletics timed event. Rumours on forums I ignored completely!

People who are quoting low 10s generally are bullting. By 2002, the 168th fastest man in [ihistory [/i had only done 10.19!


Doug Walker Union 10.31 11-Jun-97
Sebastien Carrat Union 10.34 1995
Nigel Walker Union 10.47 28-Jul-90
Paul Sampson Both 10.48 13-Jul-96
Joven Clarke League 10.49 06-Jan-02
Brett Stapleton Union 10.51 29-Oct-02
Misili Manu League 10.52 2000
Berwyn Jones League 10.54 02-Oct-63
Nathan Palmer Union 10.8 18-Jul-00
Leon Bott League 10.89 14-Oct-01
Brett Stapleton Union 10.69 05-Nov-02
Tonderai Chavangha Union 10.27 (unconfirmed)
Brett Stapleton Union 10.27 (unconfirmed - probably false)
Bryan Habana Union 10.4 (unconfirmed)
Keith Fielding League 10.4 (unconfirmed)
Nicky Royle League 10.4 (unconfirmed)
Martin Giraud Union 10.4 (unconfirmed)
Keri Jones Union/League 10.47 Estimated
Takudzwa Ngwenya Union 10.5 (unconfirmed)
Brent Russell Union 10.5 (unconfirmed)
David Trick Union 10.5 (unconfirmed)
Thibault Giroud Union 10.53 (unconfirmed)
Rhys Wesser League 10.53 (unconfirmed)
Lesley Vainikolo Both 10.6 (unconfirmed)
Sosene Anesi Union 10.6 (unconfirmed)
Joe Rokocoko Union 10.66 (unconfirmed)
J J Williams Union 10.67 (unconfirmed)
Paul Sackey Union 10.7 (unconfirmed)
Gary Henley-Smith League <=10.70 1982
Chavhanga Union 10.74 (unconfirmed)
Doug Howlett Union 10.76 (unconfirmed)
Darren Albert League 10.8 (unconfirmed)
Jonah Lomu Union 10.8 (unconfirmed)
Ieuan Evans Union 10.8 (unconfirmed)
Martin Offiah League 10.8 (unconfirmed)
Ben Tune Union 10.8 (unconfirmed)
Tom Varndell Union 10.82 (unconfirmed)
Doug Howlett Union 10.84 (unconfirmed)
Marimba Odundo-Mendez Union 10.9 (unconfirmed)
Rupeni Caucaunibuca Union 10.9 (unconfirmed)
Solly Tyibilika Union 10.91 (unconfirmed)
Ashwin Willemse Union 10.96 (unconfirmed)
Jonathon Davies Both 11 (unconfirmed)
Ugo Monye Union 11.1 (unconfirmed)

Oh, I've also got some 40m times. These times are very dubious though, since Carl Lewis's 100m world record in 1988 (9.86s) had a 40m split time of 4.77s! These times are probably from a rolling start which effectively invalidates them.

Note the presence of a certain Amos Roberts!!!

Jongi Nokwe Union 4.4 (unconfirmed)
Sosene Anesi Union 4.53 (unconfirmed)
Tonderai Chavangha Union 4.63 (unconfirmed)
Dan Parkinson Union 4.63 (unconfirmed)
Brent Russell Union 4.65 (unconfirmed)
Bryan Habana Union 4.66 (unconfirmed)
Joe Rokocoko Union 4.66 (unconfirmed)
Rhys Wesser League 4.68 (unconfirmed)
Brad Watts Union 4.72 (unconfirmed)
Ryan Cross Union 4.74 (unconfirmed)
Amos Roberts Union/League 4.78 (unconfirmed)

Paul Medley ex Leeds forward clocked 10.9 something while trainign out with GB. It was reported in Open rugby at time

Les Quirk of St.helens reputedly had also run 10.9
Barrie Ledger of St.helens was 10.7 (when chasing ale)

There is a section in book by alex service talking about Saints team having
Jan Prinsloo on one wing 9.6 100 yards
Vollenhoven other wing 9.8 100 yards
Ken large centre 10.1 100yards

all in same team

Also in squad was an olympic semi finalist or finalist.

Volenhoven could also cover 40 yards in 4.2 seconds

quickest player youve ever had is fielden .
never seen someone run as fast
especially when morleys running at him to get out of the way.