i have to say as a wire fan that that 06 side was top draw and better than our current wire side,
especially as we haven't won the gf yet (but hopefully). I think if we win on saturday then i think the
wire side should come away with a lot of credit and be recognized as one of the top forces over
the past 4, especially past 2 years.
Wellens in his pomp, Lyon (terrific centre), and probably the
best half back combination of long and pryce in the sl era, plus kc and graham with sculthorpe
are legendary now as rightful household names in the rl world and i would be laying some bricks
if that side were to be facing us on saturday.
I also think that our big name players deserve a lot of credit and respect. Games and ultimately
honours can go down to decisions made in a milliseconds and there are such fine lines to be
drawn between the top sides throughout the competition throughout history. Wire went
out last year after conceding a last minute penalty to Leeds/Sinfield and lost by one point
in the last minute. I have to say that I thought Wire were by far the best side last year beating
all the top sides home and away and on any other 'normal' day should have gone through and
at this point on the edge of 2 Gfs
That's sport. In fact it surprises me that Saints in those years of world class players didn't
do the double double, or even 3 consecutive doubles. In 20 years time, no doubt we will remember that
particular side, but it won't stick in the memory statwise many years down the line when we
look at number of Leeds GF finals won in such a concentrated period like the pies' record
of cc finals won late 80s early 90s.
Great sides only seem to be truly recognized in the years after their achievements, like music
and everything else that doesn't seem to sit right at the time, and then a few years later,
you sit back and think, "bloody hell, 80's music wasn't as bad ( when I listened
to it in the 90s". We're even signing some of that stuff on the terraces now like that depech
mode thing.
I know Wire fans will never forget this side, notably Hodgson, Atkins, Briers, Morley, Monaghan,
Westwood amongst many others, and I hope in 6 years plus time that they'll be remembered and respected
in the same breath as those great Saints players I've mentioned above.
I've had a few beers and must hit the sack. I still have a red left eye from the hangover on saturday
which looks like I have a constant hangover in work.
Good luck for next season (apart from Wire games!). You'll
be right up there as you always are next season.
