warriordp wrote:I'm sure it was Gary freeman playing for kiwis who Hampson tupped,and he got 7 matches ban I think.
I think that is right. Seven matches sounds a lot these days but they played so many games back then it didn't mean nearly 1/3 of a season was gone.
Joe Lydon got 8 matches for a tackle John Monie described as one of the best he had ever seen (or something like that) when the RFL had introduced automatic 8 match bans for high tackles.
Ron Doran wrote:So what about the trampoline, would it work for the current players?
No idea. Part of what made Hampson so good was his strength which he got originally from being a dray man lugging beer barrels about. Maybe he just hit on a happy combination of work and a training regime that fitted very well with his job on the pitch.
Best full back ever under a high ball. The opposition stopped putting bombs up in the end.
Unlucky to miss 3 cup finals with broken bones.
Think the two sendings off were a head but in the test on the Saturday (at Wembley???) when an opposition player delayed him taking a quick tap on the 20 after he defused a bomb, followed by a sending off for Wigan on the Sunday.
I remember watching Wigan v stains at Wembley in the CC final in '91, that Wigan won 13-8.
Towards the end of the game Bishop was through and looking like he was going to run the length of the field until Hampson took him out with a slide-tackle that he got away with. A definite try-saver and match-winner
doc wrote:Best full back ever under a high ball. The opposition stopped putting bombs up in the end.
Unlucky to miss 3 cup finals with broken bones.
Think the two sendings off were a head but in the test on the Saturday (at Wembley???) when an opposition player delayed him taking a quick tap on the 20 after he defused a bomb, followed by a sending off for Wigan on the Sunday.
Indeed re High balls. Broken bones were self inflicted owing to poor tackling technique. Every broken arm was caused by hitting the oncoming player across the head with his forearm.
Monie et al made him a far better player before that bar fielding kicks he was an average 'Wellens type' player who lacked great speed. Trampolining? He liked doing that whether it was significant who knows. He also perfected a way of timing fielding grubber kicks and acrobatic like rolling / throwing himself away from a chaser before trying to make ground.
An example of how far a player can progress with the right attitude and dedication. He also had a good stint Down Under with Andy Greg at the Steelers.
Think he went into fitness and conditioning training for a while. Before he signed for Wigan he was playing Union for Vulcan RUFC, and working as a drayman, which I think in part gave him the exceptional upper body strength he was famous for
He now lives in Orrell, and I see him about quite often. Seeing him up close and on the pitch during matches, he looks fit enough to be playing today..
He got sent off for butting Gary Freeman at Old Trafford while playing for GB v NZ on the Saturday, then got sent off the day after playing against Castleford at CP. He was a Class FB under the high ball and was brave and committed player.
The headbutt was at elland road I think we still won Andy Goodway was mom I think and he scored?
I would say Hampson was a good full back from the off his first few games was a joy to see. He ran the ball well his, defending was solid and of coarse he could field a ball better than most but when he broke his leg against Hull kr he never was the same, even though he went on to have a good career. Think Robinson stitched him up when he left.
