Paddy Lannon was the best hooker for winning the ball that I ever saw but probably the worst in open play.

In the 74 final of the first eleven scrums we won one and got two free kicks, Featherstone won five and got three free kicks so, in effect they won the scrums eight to three. Bridges then instigated a fight in the course of which either Bobby Wanbon or Billy Pickup flattened him and we won the next four scrums three to one.

Before he went off with a cut head Brian Brady handed off Jimmy Thompson and put him on his arris. Some feat to do that to a world class forward.

If the scrums had been uncontested, IMO, we would have murdered Featherstone.

Personally I would have given the Lance Todd to Mike Nicholas

I've heard interviews from both Ashcroft and Murphy both saying in that in the 71 and 74 CC finals Murphy told Ashcroft not to win a scrum.

Murphy wanted leeds and Fev to know they were in a battle.

Resulting in wins for leigh and wire, each were against the odds.

He obviously got it wrong then because he won several scrums, particularly when Bridges was on another planet.

Ashcroft was a tough guy who would mix it with anybody but he was extremely average at winning the ball.

I would not say our win against Featherstone was against the odds. We were far the better team and given a fair share of possession there was only going to be one winner.

We were slight underdogs that day.

Fev were the holders and I think finished top of the league regular.

I cannot remember Featherstone ever winning the league. They were cup specialists with a big heavy hard pack which suited the heavy grounds of Winter rugby and they did enjoy great success in getting to Wembley but did not break many pots in the league.

In actual fact, that year, they finished eighth in the league and won nothing. Warrington won The John Player Trophy, The Captain Morgan Trophy, The Club Championship and the Challenge Cup. Not bad for underdogs

We was slight under dogs according to the interview with Murphy.

I was too young to know any better in 74.

what about john dalgreen @tony miller

thread on Joel Monaghan turns into 4 pages about his brother haha

Ikr poor fella

Back to Joel then...



Would you rather have Joel Monaghan...



or Chris Hicks....?

Hicks for me.

They are level on all counts apart from speed and kicking.

Joel simply isn't fast - not that you need to be in 90% of plays but for the 10%....

Spider was fast and could kick too.



Don't get me wrong - Joel is very very good and is proving to be a great centre also, but Chris is my preference.



To be fair, both rarely had a bad game.



Best wingers in the country this year - Hall plus one from Carney, Joel,

Escare, Makison, Charnley (although he's been out for a while)

Imagine if we had both - owh the tries we'd score