Can't disagree with a word of that.



On the whole, I've never had a single favourite Wire player, just lots of em, for varying reasons.



Bar Boyd and Blake, mentions to, for



Mike Greg... commitment

Dessie excitement

Kelly Shelford entertainment

Johnny Davies....everything

Henare...excitement

John Bevan power, my first Wire hero

Penny excitement

Duanne Mann.... Tireless



and not forgetting my man crush...Mark Roberts... those runs of his



There's a few more

Some great memories! Parry Gordon going quietly but skilfully about his business, Ken Kelly, John Wood who managed to carry the ball in one hand and not drop it... Bateman who would tackle a truck...Jiffy for conjuring something out of nothing...Les Boyd for terrorising Sironen...

John Bevan brought real excitement to the side, but I have to agree that the classiest player was John Woods. What would GB give now to have a half-back of his quality? He could run, swerve, sidestep, pass both ways, make a gap out of nothing, accelerate like Speedy Gonzales, kick in general play, kick fifty yard conversions and generally outclass any other half-back on the field with him. The pity was that we only had him for two seasons.



Bobby Fulton was a genius, but could not play for the club for long enough to qualify, in my view. Sadly I'm too young to have seen Brian Bevan play ( though he went out with my mum back in the day ).

I remember a game at Wilderspool when we were playing Leeds. I recall watching from the railway end (God only knows why i was up there when were attacking the Fletcher Street end), anyhow the Leeds pack was trying to rough Les up all day. I think Les was getting a bit cheesed off and decided to start dishing it back. I recall Warrington were given a penalty on the 20m line roughly 5-10m in from the nightclub touch line. The Leeds defence was set when Sir Les came crashing onto a ball like nothing I had ever seen from a prop before. The startled Leeds defence went flying in all directions as the big man hit the defensive line. There was no stopping him as he crashed over the whitwash. This man was everything i wanted in a Wire. Class act on and off the field, a true gentleman.

Great memory of a true Wire great. I will counter the "true gentleman" label however as anyone who is found guilty of gouging would struggle to qualify.

Jack Steel was a name I remember. Reporter and more?? Are you that man?

I was taken to my first ever Wire game on a Wednesday night for a cup match against Widnes because my Dad was working nights and my Nan was at Bingo so as my Mum and Grandad were season ticket holders i had to go.....From memory i think it was the 83/84 season and at 6 years old i had no idea what to expect......



30 odd years later im still going to watch the Wire.... my favourite player from that game....Phil Blake! What a legend my first ever Wire man crush! The way he glided through the defence or his mastery of that 'chip over the top' then touching down with the trademark puffed out cheeks! Sheer genius!



He's always remained my favourite to this day...all because of that first match/season.....



I know it wont get many in agreement but i have to say after the first 7 games last season i was beginning to see some of that similar magic in the way Sandow wore the P&B .....unfortunately it didnt last any further than 7 days and the rest is history

Amen to your last sentence, brother.



Woods never ran.......he glided. Superb, and such a pity that he decided to drop a division, when he left us. He'd've still done more than a job in the early 90's.



People who only started watching RL in the early 90's don't realise how lucky they are. Nowadays, with advent of 2 live games per.week, you get to see great players, several times a season. Previously, you'd get to see some the nations best players when they were on Grandstand, or the times you'd play that team home and away. Woods, and the idolised Myler at the Smellies (now there was a player who liked the physio's table, think Vincent Kompany).



I await morrisseyisawire's opinions of Woods with baited breath.

Friend of mine idolises "that" Myler, I struggle to remember him...but I was living darn Sarf at the time and there was next to no coverage on telly and none at all in the press!

On the basis of the question "WHY is X.....? John Bevan for me every time as he had the X factor before it was invented. I suppose it all depends on your Wire memories, mine goes back to the early 70's but some great names on this thread, a much better read than the "worst" thread.

i agree wholeheartedly about les boyd,he was a magnificent world class player,we were lucky to have him in the team,he was a legend in oz before he came,perhaps for the wrong reasons,but for us,it was for the right reason.i had the invitation one wigan game,to visit the players lounge after the game,les boyd played(mid week game)and we stuffed em.it was a packed room,the room was half lit,the locals were enjoying the food and drink,it was a lovely ambience chatting to the players of both teams.the wigan fans were downish but very decent in defeat.in the left corner was the door down to the dressing rooms.it opened slowly,a shaft of white light lit the edge of the room,first the shadow appeared,the room hushed as the great man slowly walked in.the room which was full,parted,like in biblical times,a passage through the throng straight to the bar opened.and as he landed at the bar,the barman handed les.a pint he took without breaking stride(without paying too)and sat at one of tables. the chatter of nervous people started again.they knew that here was a true legend.my companion a former wigan capt.said"bloody hell,if he wants two pies he can have 'em."such things add to the legend that was les boyd.

JP his professional manner throughout his RL career...a model sportsman and a great player. John Woods could have been a contender had he has not lied to me in the Pepperhill pub in Moss Side and said he was staying at Wire another season, following our exit at Main Road...sorry to bring that day back up.



PB his ability to do the impossible...and make it look a piece of cake! The most skillful player I've ever seen with my own eyes.