Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 12:56 pm  

Having Hanley as a statue would be good on a number of levels. For one he is one of the greatest players who have played the game and secondly it would be making a statement about RL's proud history of multi racial inclusivity.

I would not however in a million years pick Shaun Edwards, not against him as a person, just didnt rate him that highly as a player, though I appreciate that he is loved by Wiganers.
For me though he was the classic case of someone who "stood on the shoulders of Giants". A strong hearted passionate player who always gave 100% for the cherry and whites, but whose skills were somewhat limited compared to those around him.
The very fact he has been associated with RU for longer than RL would also rule him out.

We need to look through the photo archives and search for a photo that sums up the spirit and soul of RL. The aussies did it when they chose this for their grand final trophy



Some people have suggested Offiah on his knees



However to me this could be misinterpreted as someone crying in despair.

Instead we need something like this. There must be thousands of really positive emotional pics taken through the years.

Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:05 pm  

If Crompton had been at Wigan instead of Edwards and played in the proffesional team instead of Edwards would he be a great of the game? Edwards was fortunate enough to be in a side that had more money than anyone else and bought anyone they fancied, Murphy on the other hand took 3 sides there and was probably the most naturally gifted player of his generation, If Murphy and Edwards had played at the same time Murphy would be twice the player Edwards was and i'm sure Wigan would have bankrolled his signing too.

Don't forget international rugby there's not just domestic, Edwards biggest moment was ripping off Bradley Clydes head.

Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 3:25 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote:

We need to look through the photo archives and search for a photo that sums up the spirit and soul of RL. The aussies did it when they chose this for their grand final trophy

Some people have suggested Offiah on his knees

Both good points there bud. I like the idea of using a pose which is iconic and has an emotional connection with the spirit of the game. The Offiah one works and the more I think about it the more I like it even though I don't think we should be putting a ex-union guy on a plinth to celebrate league. It should be something like that. Just look at the emotion in the picture. It doesn't matter if somebody questions whether it's anguish because it's a picture of extreme euphoria tied in with physical exertion and as such is a wonderful juxtaposition of our incredible sport.

Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 3:30 pm  

Horatio Yed wrote:

If Crompton had been at Wigan instead of Edwards and played in the proffesional team instead of Edwards would he be a great of the game? Edwards was fortunate enough to be in a side that had more money than anyone else and bought anyone they fancied, Murphy on the other hand took 3 sides there and was probably the most naturally gifted player of his generation, If Murphy and Edwards had played at the same time Murphy would be twice the player Edwards was and i'm sure Wigan would have bankrolled his signing too.

Don't forget international rugby there's not just domestic, Edwards biggest moment was ripping off Bradley Clydes head.

Totally agree. If Alex Murphy was the same age as Edwards Wigan would have maxed the credit cards even more than they already did to get him in cherry and white.

Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 4:46 pm  

French Ray wrote:

Gotta be the statuesque Ellery Hanley.

I totally agree. He's got connections at Wembley as a player and also was the first black coach of a national team in Britain. Not only did he play at Wembley but coached great Britain there.

He's highly respected rugby league player all over the world and is one of the greatest players this country has ever produced and played for bulls, Wigan and leeds so he's not just one connection with a single club.

He was a true pro.

I can just picture the statue now of him with that tin tin hairstyle.

Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:04 pm  

No1 Saint wrote:

Totally agree. If Alex Murphy was the same age as Edwards Wigan would have maxed the credit cards even more than they already did to get him in cherry and white.

lolz

Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 6:16 pm  

Here's the argument ender which has come from the VT.

Have a statue of both the Offiah and Fox poses. I think that's utterly brilliant especially with Offiah's pose. What do you think?

Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 6:26 pm  

Horatio Yed wrote: If Crompton had been at Wigan instead of Edwards and played in the proffesional team instead of Edwards would he be a great of the game? Edwards was fortunate enough to be in a side that had more money than anyone else and bought anyone they fancied, Murphy on the other hand took 3 sides there and was probably the most naturally gifted player of his generation, If Murphy and Edwards had played at the same time Murphy would be twice the player Edwards was and i'm sure Wigan would have bankrolled his signing too. Don't forget international rugby there's not just domestic, Edwards biggest moment was ripping off Bradley Clydes head. Some posters on here are saying that Wigan bought anyone they wanted. They certainly replaced very good/ great players (the likes of Hanley, Gregory, Goodway etc) but Edwards is sixth on the all time Wigans appearance list so obviously they thought he was one of their most influential players EVER. particularly when you look at the players above him are also five of the all time greats of Rugby League. http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/in ... age_id=481

Horatio Yed wrote: If Crompton had been at Wigan instead of Edwards and played in the proffesional team instead of Edwards would he be a great of the game? Edwards was fortunate enough to be in a side that had more money than anyone else and bought anyone they fancied, Murphy on the other hand took 3 sides there and was probably the most naturally gifted player of his generation, If Murphy and Edwards had played at the same time Murphy would be twice the player Edwards was and i'm sure Wigan would have bankrolled his signing too. Don't forget international rugby there's not just domestic, Edwards biggest moment was ripping off Bradley Clydes head. Some posters on here are saying that Wigan bought anyone they wanted. They certainly replaced very good/ great players (the likes of Hanley, Gregory, Goodway etc) but Edwards is sixth on the all time Wigans appearance list so obviously they thought he was one of their most influential players EVER. particularly when you look at the players above him are also five of the all time greats of Rugby League. http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/in ... age_id=481

Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 6:32 pm  

McClennan wrote:

Here's the argument ender which has come from the VT.

Have a statue of both the Offiah and Fox poses. I think that's utterly brilliant especially with Offiah's pose. What do you think?

I personally don't think either are ideal for various reasons. I'd much rather see something that commemorates the sport and all of its players that have entertained at Wembley rather than going down the route of the Bobby Moore statue that commemorates just one (or two) individuals.

The Bobby Moore statue represents England's greatest and most successful (in terms of trophies won) captain as well as the man as a person, who whilst was certainly no angel, epitomised the gentlemanly spirit in which football was (and should still be) played.

To put a statue of say... Martin Offiah outside Wembley would for me send out the wrong message, and the greatest thing it would achieve would be to over-inflate said player's ego (and give the pies one more thing to brag about).

I honestly believe the best thing would be an anonymous player with 13 on his back either in an action pose or lifting a replica of the Challenge Cup.

Re: Wembley Statue, who should it be? : Sun Oct 16, 2011 6:34 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote: Some posters on here are saying that Wigan bought anyone they wanted. They certainly replaced very good/ great players (the likes of Hanley, Gregory, Goodway etc) but Edwards is sixth on the all time Wigans appearance list so obviously they thought he was one of their most influential players EVER. particularly when you look at the players above him are also five of the all time greats of Rugby League. http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/in ... age_id=481 Listen bud. We're not interested in some self-serving campaign to project a Wigoon legend into some kind of RL legend when he clearly isn't. We want something bigger than Edwards because it's our sport. If the best you can come up with for our sport is a guy who trotted off with a load of silver without once actually winning the man of the match award then you need to set those standards higher. It's all besides the point now anyway because the juxtaposition of Offiah (who coincidentally played for Wigoon) with Fox on the same statue is genius. And before anybody suggests that Fox shouldn't be part of the statue because "He's a loser", I posted this in response on another thread. You are missing the point altogether. We are talking of a statue, which is by definition a work of art, here to commemorate the sport and its relationship to Wembley. Art does not always have to just acknowledge who won so it stands to reason that one of the most incredible sporting moments in the history of world sport should be a contender for the statue (how many people see the event does not make this claim any less credible). If Fox's pose was commissioned (and I may have talked myself into saying it is now my first choice) then what better moment to capture exactly what rugby league is about and I don't just mean with Wembley either. Rugby league is about heroes, magic, flair, and physical/mental commitment of the highest order. However, most of all rugby league is about drama. Drama on the pitch every week unlike any other professional team sport in the world. Our sport creates so much drama that we call it entertainment because it is both. When Fox missed that kick it was dramatic but it was also the exact entertainment that gets me, you and everybody else going back for more week after week after week. If it wasn't we'd have stopped watching long ago. Vote Fox!

Rogues Gallery wrote: Some posters on here are saying that Wigan bought anyone they wanted. They certainly replaced very good/ great players (the likes of Hanley, Gregory, Goodway etc) but Edwards is sixth on the all time Wigans appearance list so obviously they thought he was one of their most influential players EVER. particularly when you look at the players above him are also five of the all time greats of Rugby League. http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/in ... age_id=481 Listen bud. We're not interested in some self-serving campaign to project a Wigoon legend into some kind of RL legend when he clearly isn't. We want something bigger than Edwards because it's our sport. If the best you can come up with for our sport is a guy who trotted off with a load of silver without once actually winning the man of the match award then you need to set those standards higher. It's all besides the point now anyway because the juxtaposition of Offiah (who coincidentally played for Wigoon) with Fox on the same statue is genius. And before anybody suggests that Fox shouldn't be part of the statue because "He's a loser", I posted this in response on another thread. You are missing the point altogether. We are talking of a statue, which is by definition a work of art, here to commemorate the sport and its relationship to Wembley. Art does not always have to just acknowledge who won so it stands to reason that one of the most incredible sporting moments in the history of world sport should be a contender for the statue (how many people see the event does not make this claim any less credible). If Fox's pose was commissioned (and I may have talked myself into saying it is now my first choice) then what better moment to capture exactly what rugby league is about and I don't just mean with Wembley either. Rugby league is about heroes, magic, flair, and physical/mental commitment of the highest order. However, most of all rugby league is about drama. Drama on the pitch every week unlike any other professional team sport in the world. Our sport creates so much drama that we call it entertainment because it is both. When Fox missed that kick it was dramatic but it was also the exact entertainment that gets me, you and everybody else going back for more week after week after week. If it wasn't we'd have stopped watching long ago. Vote Fox!