Sam Panapa or more recently Craig Smith who had a bit of a reputation in the NRL but came and put his heart and soul into every game I saw him in. Met them both and both top blokes.

was a shame we couldn't get him for the following season, he was better than one or two that where knocking around at the same time

matin hall . came from rochdale as cover for dermott, but ended up a first team regular

Ian Gildart. I had pee next to him at Central Park when I was a kid and nearly crapped meself at how tall he was!

he couldnt burst out of a wet paper bag though

For me it's got to be Frano Botica. I think it must be a reflection on my lack of knowledge of Union but when I was told we'd signed him i thought "who?" as I'd never heard of him. I soon realised that he was an ex All Black but I still wasn't too impressed but he proved me wrong in spades. One of our better players in that era (and there were loads of really good players as well). He made the game, and goalkicking, look effortless.

As well as him I would also throw Bill Francis, Peter Rowe, and Jimmy Nulty into the hat, which I'm afraid sort of gives my age away.

Yeah fair point but I must only have been 7 or 8 at the time

Peter Endy Rowe , what about David Willicombe, he was class.

we gave 30k for a little known winger playing for rochdale hornets, henderson gill, the rest is history, great player and a great character, no wigan fan will ever forget the smile at wembley after going the length of the pitch.

the other one for me is billy mcginty, wasn't really regarded as a top player when we bought him, but proved to be a great signing.

My lad plays rugby with his grandson.

Signed by Maurice L etc behind the back of Maurice Bamford, that's what lead to Lindsey + Robinson etc making the signings from then on. Hard to imagine the same magic touch for signings produced some of the turkeys we had later on.

andre stoop

Is that something to do with the after effect of sleeping with Jordan?