| FORUMS > Wigan Warriors > Opposition Greats. |
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| Quote: stillinthepast "A couple of weeks ago a poster who goes by the user name of Singing Warrior introduced himself with some very interesting comments about the players he had seen since he began watching Wigan, greats like Sullivan, Mountford, Bradshaw, Blan, Cunliffe and Boston etc. Some of these players who where still playing in the 50s I saw myself.
It was by reading this that made me think about great players I had seen myself since I first watched Wigan in 1953, being a Billy Boston mad teenager I could not believe that there could have been a better winger than Billy.
When I went with a few mates on away trips to Yorkshire we always said to the Yorkshire fans that Billy was the greatest, one name was always thrown back at us, that Lionell Cooper of Huddersfield was better.
Even the older Wigan Fans used to say that he was a very good winger (he scored 10 trys in a match against Kieghley in one match in the 50s)
So I have had look at the stats of 4 wingers playing in the days when I first began supporting R/L.
Brian Bevan of Warrington
Pld 695 club matches and scored 740 trys which equates to 1.064 trys per match.
Billy Boston of Wigan
Pld 488 club matches and scored 478 trys ...".........".......to .979 trys per match.
Tom Van Vollenhoven of St Helens.
Pld 409 club matches and scored 392 trys...."........."........to .958 trys per match.
Lionell Cooper of Huddersfield.
Pld 332 club matches and scored 432 trys ..."........."........to 1.3 trys per match
Even though I cant remember seeing Cooper, (but I more than likely did at the back end of his career) he must have been some player, he came over from Australia in 1946 and played until 1955.
It would be interesting to see the comments of other posters who remember Cooper, probably Singing Warrior or Fleabag and his dad.
I know stats can sometimes mislead, but they can also open ones eyes. But I still say Billy was the best.
It would of interest also to see which OPPOSISTION players fans have seen who stand out in there memories without naming players from their own teams.'"
I started watching in 1946 so saw all these great wingers. Brian Bevan tops the list by a country mile and is one of the best rugby league players I have ever seen. Next would come Van Vollenhoven and I could not separate Boston and Cooper. |
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| Quote: fleabag "I'd put Wally Lewis's name in there rather than Meninga.
I thought Meninga when he played for Saints was a bit of a bully due to his size.
Took 'Westie' to bring him back to Earth.'"
I am too young to have seen Lewis at his peak but did see Meninga at his. I know Wally is regarded by many as the greatest ever. I just count myself lucky (and unlucky) to have seen big Mal play. A complete rugby player - quick, powerful, strong in defence and great hands. I was trying to explain how good he was to someone too young to have seen him play and I described him a more powerful version of Inglis with even better hands. Which to me says it all as Inglis is himself one of the game's modern greats. |
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If I can not choose Murphy (he did play a while for us ), I would go for doggie greenall ,when he played for saints ,and not for you men.
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| Quote: Father Ted "Brian Bevan was incredible.
He looked like everyone's grandad with no teeth, bald head (no shaved heads then) more bandages than at Wigan infirmary yet one of the fastest wingmen I've ever seen. He could be going at top speed then side step at 90 degree angle.
His try scoring record is just awesome.
The way he looked and the way he played were just so opposite.
A great player IMO.'"
He is the best winger I have seen play. He was absolute magic to watch!!! |
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Always thought phil mckenzie, paul groves and paul medley when he was at leeds were great players.
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| Quote: Freddie Miller. "I started watching in 1946 so saw all these great wingers. Brian Bevan tops the list by a country mile and is one of the best rugby league players I have ever seen. Next would come Van Vollenhoven and I could not separate Boston and Cooper.'"
There's more to being a winger than scoring tries. Billy Boston probably saved as many as he scored. His timing of the destructive crash tackling of the opposing centres was legendary. Brian Bevan was never noted for his defensive qualities. No I would rather have had Boston in my team above any other player I have ever seen. |
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| Quote: Singing Warrior "There's more to being a winger than scoring tries. Billy Boston probably saved as many as he scored. His timing of the destructive crash tackling of the opposing centres was legendary. Brian Bevan was never noted for his defensive qualities. No I would rather have had Boston in my team above any other player I have ever seen.'"
I repect your opinion so am fine with that. As others have commented I have never seen anyone with the different skills Bevan used to beat an opponent, often leaving them grasping thin air and shaking their heads in frustration. He rarely used a hand-off relying on pace change,swerve either way and sidestep off either foot.
He played less than 10 games in Aus. before coming to England. He never played for Australia but when the Australian team of the century was announced in 2008 selected from a list of their 100 best rugby league players in the games 100-years history he was selected on the wing. He is also the only player ever inducted into both the British and Australian RL Hall of Fame. Known as"Wing Wizard" he was truly that.
Having said that I loved watching Boston play too, most memorably when he helped demolish my team at Wembley in 1959. |
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| Quote: Singing Warrior "There's more to being a winger than scoring tries. Billy Boston probably saved as many as he scored. His timing of the destructive crash tackling of the opposing centres was legendary. Brian Bevan was never noted for his defensive qualities. No I would rather have had Boston in my team above any other player I have ever seen.'"
Yep Billy Boston was as good in defence as he was in attack.... which says alot !!!
Billy Boston = Legend ! |
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Bevan and Vollenhoven were both great wingers (as was Offiah) BUT Boston was far better all round Rugby player.
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| International Star | 1934 | No
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| May 2011 | 14 years | |
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| Quote: Finfin "Ellery Hanley in the cup against us in 85. Every Wigan fan was scared to death whenever he got the ball. We sneaked home 7-6, still don't know how.'"
I was there. Bobby Ball walked past me wearing a gold a bracelet you could have towed an 8 wheeler with. |
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