Jeff Clare's RL playing career peaked as a junior. As a teenager he had a monumental size advantage. He was also a superb junior athlete, discus IIRC. He later became an outstanding PE teacher particularly coaching/teaching RL.
Played in the same Wigan schoolboys team as Shaun Wane, all the way through from under 11's to under 16's. Followed that team a lot as one of my younger brothers played in the same team also. Shaun Wane was the standout player in that team.
Some terrific school matches, as half the team played for St john Fisher, and the other half for St Thomas More.
Jordan James scored the same amount of tries in 3 games as Stuart Fielden did in 4 seasons and cost us a fraction, JJ was way better value and doesn't deserve to be on this list
medlocke wrote:Jordan James scored the same amount of tries in 3 games as Stuart Fielden did in 4 seasons and cost us a fraction, JJ was way better value and doesn't deserve to be on this list
Can't argue with that reasoning. Fielden was a very expensive mistake!
I always thought Whitfield wasn't quite as bad as a lot of fans thought he was - a bit like Matty Smith.
However he stands out as the only time I ever saw a penalty awarded for a voluntary tackle. It was at Burnden Park, I've weirdly got the idea we were playing Batley???
Why has this thread resurfaced after almost 2 years ????????????
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
I always thought Whitfield wasn't quite as bad as a lot of fans thought he was - a bit like Matty Smith.
However he stands out as the only time I ever saw a penalty awarded for a voluntary tackle. It was at Burnden Park, I've weirdly got the idea we were playing Batley???
Found it - Feb 1985 in 1st round of cup.
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God yea i remember the match but not the voluntary tackle...
I didnt rate him at all and was disgusted when he went to halifax and they beat us.as i remember he kicked a few goals and was labelled colin the destroyer, on the front of rugby leaguer
IF YOU STRIKE ME DOWN I WILL BECOME MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE
Jimmy Birts single handled beating Wigan when he played full back for Halifax in a Challenge Cup match, way back when! Scoring all the points for them. Wigan signed him for the season afterwards, he could not do a thing right playing for us.
Only player who comes close "full back wise" to being as bad was Mathers! We went watching him, his first match for Wigan at London Bronco's the Stoop, out of position, letting "up and under's" bounce, you could tell then he was not up to it. Always good at boosting his opinion of himself though
Mick
