Ricky Bibey
Scored the winning try in a Grand Final when he was at Newcastle too.
I guess Long would be the obvious one, released by Wigan, ended up at Widnes but went on to become one of best players the country’s produced.
Walmsley as well has been a surprise, signing from Batley. Think I’m right in saying that Wilkin, Gardner and Walmsley all signed from the division below too and have all played for Great Britain.
Been watching a few old games back in lockdown and Leon Pryce was brilliant in 2006 as well. I don’t think he played much rugby in the halves at Bradford but he fitted in at Saints perfectly at the time.
Steve Prescott MBE (1973-2013)
V
Going back a bit, Paul Grimes put a good stint in for us.
Eric Hughes did a good half a season for us.
For me, Long is the one. I seemed to remember in his first few games he wanted a ball of his own and thought we had signed someone who didn't have a clue. I soon learned we should have given him a ball of his own.
St Helens Openwater Swimming Society
Looking out from the top of Table Mountain
Tea Ropati
One of my favourite ever players. He was world class by the time he left us for NZ Warriors. I was gutted when he left.
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Read earlier posts and where did we sign karl hammond from , mention for jason cayliss as well
I think Hammond came from Widnes. Left us for London.
Didn't really know Karle Hammond before he came to us, so can't say whether or not I was surprised by his performances. But, I always thought he was a bit underrated. Can't remember why we let him go, whether or not we brought in someone better or not but he was still young when he left.
https://www.richarddelariviere.co.uk/?p=381
Is an interesting interview with Karle Hammond in it he explains why he left St Helens
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Thanks Banbury I really enjoyed that. In reality quite a short top level career. 28 and called it a draw! Nice to see its turned out well and if that is right and St George/Illawarra is 2 hours from Sydney I never imagined that. We went to Parra and that was a fair trip on the ferry.
He was pretty skillful with the ball and could make the odd great tackle but he was one of those players who could never nail one position, he wasn't really quick enough for a half and not really big enough for LF, that's not to say he wasn't easy on the eye but when Tommy Martyn started to find some form there was only going to be one winner.
I think Hammonde was the type of player who had ability but to fulfill his potential and be great had to work very hard at it. Perhaps it's telling in the interview that he acknowledges he is very laid back so perhaps he didn't have the drive to push on.
Compare him to the likes of Newlove who was probably the most naturally gifted player I've ever seen and, by his own admission, didn't work very hard at it.
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Wiki says Aug 93 we signed Martyn. I remember at the time the press were calling him a centre or stand off, and I know he played some rugby for us at centre. But his first ACL came a year or two after joining us and he lost what bit of pace he'd had. We played around with a lot of different HB combinations round that time. Ropati (left 94), Griffiths (left 95), Cooper (left 95), Goulding (joined 95) were all at the club at the same time as Martyn
It may have just been my impression at the time but prior to Summer Rugby, Martin and Matautia were on the outer edges of the squad and most probably would have been moved on but with Summer Rugby came the 4 subs rule.
We kept hold of them and I think a lot of Saint's success that first year was because we were able to have a strong bench of 4 first team quality players whilst other clubs were dipping into their youngsters