Warrington v Wigan World War 3 New Years Day 1988

1st half highlights of the classic battle at Wilderspool which saw 2 brawls, 4 sent off and 1 sin binned, plus a few tries, some big hits and Les Boyd at his best. Look out for Des Drummond's sneaky heads down 'hand off' at 8.45 :)

[@imnotavingthat6813]

I could watch Ellery ALL day, GOAT. The Black Pearl had it all, and was as strong as a bull. Long Live The King

[@popeyedish]

Legend has it that the commentator is still reading out the teams...

[@urbanastro4701]

"This is the unacceptable face of Rugby League" Yeah but its why we are all here

[@nez9751]

Agree, I was there as a teenager, it was brutal, on and off the field. Real passionate rivalry. As regards the unacceptable face of RL, this is what our game is about, it’s not football, or tennis , it’s the hardest physical contact sport on the planet alongside boxing and MMA, and we love it

[@jamesrowe3606]

Same as when tv football commentators say, "This is the sort of thing that nobody wants to see", as a million people shout at their telly, "Shut up you prick! This is EXACTLY what we want to see".

[@dougie1968]

About as professional as a drunken brawl outside a pub.

[@adrianashby1033]

I was in Wigan once watching a fight and a rugby match broke out.

[@tonypate9174]

Yes but who got the last pie ?

[@darthscouser5255]

@@tonypate9174 - ya Ma lad

[@mikefraser4513]

By gum !

[@readmore876]

I was there, took the full Wigan squad out single handed. My fists are classified as lethal weapons...I call my left the widow maker and my right...instant death. I am a hard bastard who you really dont wanna fuck with.

[@3070Gordo]

Shouldn't have read that comment on the train. I got some "oh great, I'm sitting across from a nutter" looks as I guffawed.

[@robcousins231]

Look beyond some of the rough stuff, there was excellent rugby being played. Some fantastic passing with a ball that must have been like a bar of soap in those conditions.

[@blairrobert3438]

When rugby league wasn't the made for tv crap we see today.

[@SuperBlackted]

Grant agreed but the 10% where magnificent. Some of that Wigan team would walk into any team any era.

[@buzzybeepopman2009]

Same with most sports to be honest

[@mrkipling2201]

Great comment. Better back then. I hate the way society is today. Life was better in the 1980’s in many ways, in my opinion.

[@stuartclapham4696]

I agree with Ian Dawe. cannot stand seeing the silly names (we are not the NFL). Glad that my team (Hunslet) have dropped the 'Hawks' suffix from next season

[@homeone4054]

Hear hear

[@paulebrey3449]

some great stuff here. Yes the pitch looks awful but some real hard men playing, some good old fashioned biff and some of the skills wouldnt look out of place in the modern day game, lads who can pass, offload, run at angles etc, and they all play the ball...with their foot!! Wow Les Boyd what a forward

[@stevemcilroy9518]

Rumour has it 'Daz' are still trying to develop a washing power to clean those shirts. Great game, just how it should be played.

[@dasrhinegold]

I was at this match ( been in Mr Smiths for the New Years Eve 87 ). The atmosphere was electric and full of spite and so it should be , it’s a local derby not some Rah Rah match The Rugby League on show was terrific considering the conditions . Some fantastic players on show . Andy Gregory one of my favourite players of all time who also had a great season at Warrington. Hanley , Les Boyd ( Aussie tourist 78 and 82 ) John Woods , Des Drummond , all quality .

[@MarkSmith-er7fe]

went to mr smiths may 87---when did it open ? 87?

[@jamesryder3279]

​@@MarkSmith-er7fe Opened in 1986 did Mr Smiths

[@garygalt4146]

My friend George Thornton died today 4 Dec 2019 ex warrington player and then photographer to the team and warrington council to those that love his game you will always remember his big smile and warm heart

[@patts6153]

Gary Galt Sry for your lost m8

[@Sarah-no7lv]

RIP George Thornton

[@will2brown50]

RIP

[@drfeelgood8702]

Rip

[@anthonyevans9718]

When men were men and did'nt melt like today RIP George Thornton

[@moptopbaku6022]

Les Boyd - the nastiest grub ever to pull on a rugby jersey

[@johnmclaren1756]

Fuckin good player. Tough

[@HairyBosch]

Best recovery since Lazarus at 6:03 - Brilliant!

[@alecworrall455]

Good old Psycho.

[@Jaya365]

Stamped on his hand just to finish off didnt he 😂

[@ricardoroberto100]

And sadly some players had to be sent off for playing rugby during the fight.

[@markmeade2937]

I recon it was the other way , they where sent off for playing rugby instead of kicking the s-t out of one another 🤭

[@edwardowen4488]

It's not rugby league without abit of a scrap and a few heavy tackles

[@antonyhobbs1144]

Absolute mayhem on the field. No trouble in the crowd.

[@MrHowardMoon]

@J G Where did you copy and paste that from? No self respecting Football fan calls it 'soccer' and by the way, shut up, you melt. Penchester Yanited idiot. I bet you're not even from Manchester, are you?

[@emeraldcityslasher3578]

@J G football is a sport for wanna be actors, shut up.

[@blackbob3358]

@JG-bw6lu Ya thinks that's a good thing, scum, err JG ?

[@davidharrop3515]

Shows you how the game has changed...Warrington's Bob Jackson's full time job was a binman !

[@sendaikid1569]

Played against Graeme West once. The only guy I didn't even try to tackle. Don't think I could've got my arms around his stride. No regrets though. It was an honour to be in the same game.

[@bob6383]

Loved this.... and I was there... God, we hated Warrington... Hanley, Edwards, Gregory... what a team we had!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@scooters47]

God I miss the good old days

[@mrkipling2201]

Same here. When life was better. Plus simpler.

[@stephendines1936]

My grandfather had a potato field in better condition than that pitch.

[@onthisrock1970]

Gladiators in the Coloseum, 20th century style. Modern game is v tough but so sanitised and regulated compared to this.

[@gary1642]

"The Warrington player chased the Wigan player from behind and battered him" Brilliant

[@lfcwilli]

6:05 that’s what you call a magic sponge, from out cold to scrapping in a second

[@aberamagold7509]

😄 I like how quickly he went from laying on the pitch like he was dead, to running full blast with fists flying.

[@daves1heed]

The other bloke stood on his hand

[@DHTCF]

Those were the days ... winter season, mud, getting dark y half time, that's how rugby should be played.

[@petewelsh9978]

DHTCF agree!!! Proper rugby league

[@portcullis5622]

I lost interest when Sky, Super League and money took over and I don't want to watch rugby league in summer.

[@chatham43]

.......Rugby League never been the same since they banned mud.......

[@Mikeb1001]

No, but Salford’s first league game at the AJ Bell was played in an inch of snow! Had to come round and scrape the lines out at half time

[@robertroberts2666]

"Unacceptable face of rugby league" my arse! Who doesn't enjoy a good old fashioned punch up?

[@jasonantigua6825]

Robert Roberts Nothing wring in a good old bit of traditional British violence!

[@donovanwray5974]

The commentator enjoyed it too but he's on the telly so he has to say the right thing.

[@markhamer4168]

Here here!!

[@gutworm686]

Robert Roberts yes but it’s ok to watch two boxers beat seven shades of sh*t out of each other. This is what’s missing from modern sport.

[@thozz]

I agree..these guys are playing Professional Rugby League not Morris Dancing..... 🏉league forever.!!

[@kevinwilliams1421]

Now this is rugby we fell in love with. Shit conditions, shit pitch so let’s have a bit of a slap

[@nkindon]

Classic. Went to this match. Remember like it was yesterday. A "proper" game! Recall that Warrington blew it and ended up a draw. Great post thanks.

[@kianmacca3274]

@J G football*

[@tomsully9160]

@J G for the record uve missed alot of countries. Australia, Canada, England, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea Wales, Canada, Malta, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji. Get your facts straight before you start badmouthing our amazing sport

[@josephyearwood1179]

@J G it’s you!

[@dasrhinegold]

@J G obsessed 😂😂😂

[@leemolyneux3452]

This was my childhood. Watching full guts and glory battles, fought for pride not a pay packet. No fancy hairstyles, no tattoos, no under-soil heating. And I used to relive it all years later in the back of Graeme West's taxi on the way home from King Street. I once remember someone trying to run off without paying their fair. Graeme was in his 50s by then and had the fella in under 25 yards. The lad never walked the same again after that!

[@gumdeo]

Tattoos, ugh.

[@MrAMYJACK]

Brian Johnson passed away this year here in the town of his birth Dapto. R.I.P mate

[@generic4563]

Alzheimer's Disease at age 59.

[@scooters47]

Great footballer great bloke.

[@waynehigham6504]

@@scooters47 in worked with him top man

[@dangerouzdave1172]

"Brian johnsons barmy army" The first wire coach I remember and chanted for. Gutted when he died. And the guy I modeled my youth rugby on as a no7, the one and only Greg Mackay.

[@bradl.l5436]

Cracking game ... no problem for me 😂😂😂

[@dudushe]

That 1 half is better than 90% of the football displayed over the past 5 years.

[@DBuckyBoy]

Which is funny cos it's Rugby

[@gazza1858]

@@DBuckyBoyit’s footy

[@jimmaloney1121]

I've only been following League for about 10 years but these older matches seem more physical and creative than what I see today. Perhaps it's the corporate environment of today that makes the game different than it was. Just a dumb Yank's observation 😉

[@paulbyron8231]

You're right on the money! I'm in my 50's, played reps in my teens and today's game doesn't resemble the game back in the 70's and 80's one little bit. To be honest, it's boring and predictable now. The running, inventive game of those days was brilliant to watch.

[@GivemetheGravy]

@@paulbyron8231 League has changed so much over the years because of how professional and organised it is now. Teams have had to adapt to the new rules.

[@simondickinson5111]

Try he best days of rugby league

[@idenhlm]

Both league and union have suffered from corporate nonsense.

[@number8962]

No interchange back then, only allowed 4 subs. Once you came off you stayed off. As the heavier players became tired it opened the field up for the little generals to shine. Most players had to be solid 80min players. So miss the "softening up period" where both sets of forwards would pummel the shit out of each other for the first 10-20 minutes. Today's game is to sanitised. Get rid of the interchange and bring back players who play with heart when the going gets tough and the players get tired.

[@PeacockRhino]

More exciting than Super League. The new rules and endless cards for every little thing have destroyed the sport.

[@ronnierhino100]

Ellery Hanley, what a player he was GOAT 🐐

[@Will-nb8qk]

He was great in Australia until he was taken out by Terry Lamb in the 88 grand final. It was a dog shot that got him.

[@michaelofsydney6128]

@@Will-nb8qk Yes. Most disgusting piece of thuggery I have seen on a football field.

[@williamjohnson4117]

@@Will-nb8qk So, a goat taken out by a lamb?

[@Will-nb8qk]

@@williamjohnson4117 A wolf 🐺 in sheeps 🐑 clothing 😜

[@GazzaJAnimal]

Proper Rugby League

[@barrybeazley2940]

Gaz Pursell

[@l-jshaw7349]

Is it just me or are these old rugby league grounds like wilderspool, central park etc.. far better than the newer ones

[@kiethrubery1198]

+L-J Shaw its called atmosphere

[@ThePs3GAMEr2001]

Watersheddings

[@iandawe948]

L-J Shaw certainly a much better atmosphere than you get in these new half empty grounds.

[@gavinhawdon193]

Depends whether you enjoy getting warm piss down the back of you jeans?

[@zapbrannigan000]

the old grounds look great on tv but when you go there its a different story.

[@petercraig6802]

Nice to see the great Ellery Hanley scoring !

[@stephensinclair8127]

One of the giants of that era.

[@royaliste3844]

Une boucherie à l'époque, incroyable ❤❤❤❤❤ Je vous adore les anglais

[@d17mop]

Good old days. Proper game of rugby and all prob still pissed from the night before.

[@njd2342]

What a grounds-man to produce such a lovely surface. Eddy Waring must have been eating his turkey leftovers?

[@Cantabinexile]

Oh crap any game the involves the name Tamati there is a fair chance that it is going to kick off. Just as Greg Dowling ;)

[@thefreshprinceofdapto1668]

I'm an Aussie but Les Boyd had a fcuking screw loose

[@dropbear6740]

He's a complete f*cking idiot, he was that way at West and Manly

[@kathcordingley215]

Certifiable ! ! !..

[@markwhibley9787]

Saw him having a piss in mr Smiths, on the Dance floor.

[@nnoddy8161]

Les did suffer from 'white line fever' from all accounts a great fella off the field.

[@daveo2882]

oink ooink says the pig.

[@johnmurphy1199]

Now that's the rugby league at it's best.

[@Jaaskelainen1993]

Bet the kit lady went through some vanish.

[@garywiffen4950]

The pitch was waterlogged even before they started, proper proper old school game

[@shakin2009]

Imagine how dirty their tops would be

[@PudWud1]

6:10 the original injury fake?

[@andybibby765]

No...Cullen got injured but watch Goodway step on his hand on his way to the the tunnel after being sent off. That's why Cullen got to his feet and 'battered him'.

[@caeserromero3013]

A fairly well tempered rugby match between the Chelsea headhunters and the Millwall firm 🤣

[@ianparr2237]

Briliant. Those were the days. Wiganer now living in Dorset. TV just doesn't appeal. Bring back the scrums, not the pathetic ones they have now. Favourite 13:- Griffiths, Boston, Ashton, Davies, Sullivan, Bolton, Entwistle, Barton, Sayer, McTigue, Collier, Lyon/Cherrington, Evans.

[@Mikeb1001]

Don’t have scrums at all anymore, they were pointless anyway the way they were

[@nicholasdearing6280]

These lads were warriors.

[@BrianMaiden-o9c]

That Boyd pass was a mile forward, Mcginty run 3 yard to catch it......

[@brawler651]

Anyone who thinks this isn’t better than the Moderna day game is wrong

[@ronanrogers4127]

Classy try by Hanley. Running like it was dry weather.

[@petewelsh9978]

Ronan Rogers Celery!!!

[@pedro6531]

should have took is head off common wire

[@jacko717]

Ropati could certainly run the ball in👌🏻

[@RolloZx]

Incredible skills on show there & some tough boys too!

[@user-wv4xc1us6u]

Tough football for tough players, 2 subs, no tattoos.

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

ahhaa, these guys were semi-professionals. In 1989, Wigan turned full time professional.

[@shauncorless8965]

Get sent of now just for back chat ,or a miss timed tackle ,

[@johnoneill8818]

"Bitter" Championships...well named!

[@freemindthinkerezrapound5071]

Some of the players did not fight at all the ref should have given them a straight red card

[@MultiAmbivalent]

"The unacceptable face of rugby league..." But the crowd was loving it. Great to see Les Boyd still running around in '88.

[@bremnersghost948]

Bring back the Biff!!

[@TazRingo]

Wigan, St Helens, Widnes and Warrington. Leeds, Bradford, Hull and Wakefield. Proper rivalries, great days out with proper folk.

[@josephyearwood1179]

Which one of the Hulls?

[@paulwalsh548]

how forward was that pass ffs

[@kevfulchester]

1988... 33 years after Warrington's last title. Almost 60 years now....... :)

[@Nottalot1]

If it's winning the league you're referring to, which I assume you are by 'Title', then we've actually won in twice in the last 60 years 1974 when won about 6 trophies including Challenge Cup, League, Lancashire Cup, Premiership and also more recently in 2011. Don't know where you've got your figures from.

[@desplatt842]

+Nottalot1 Salford won the League in 74. Warrington did win 4 trophies that season Cup, John Player Trophy , Captain Morgan Trophy which was only ever played once and the play off which that season had the bizarre name of Club Championship Merit Trophy

[@sharonwillis3957]

wow your Kevin brown

[@0000crusader]

Still waiting.........

[@laytondrjones]

Rumour has it that some of the crowd are still there waiting for a game of rugby league to start.

[@kingsrd1]

Some good rugby being played there

[@eamonryan8738]

It is a shame that these days rugby league is played in plastic stadiums with plastic jerseys adorning twelve sponsors. new names for the market and slightly better weather. Judging by this game it used to be a proper sport

[@GivemetheGravy]

@@SocialistView Union is doing pretty well since it became commercialised. According to you, it sounds like league has failed to adapt.

[@johnbuggy9121]

@@GivemetheGravy RU has become a "progressive" snore fest.

[@duxberry1958]

if i remember right goodway stood on cullans hand as he was sent/off or sin binned

[@simon09231956]

Magic! In the late seventies I started playing RL at Manchester University…. After quitting RU in my last years at grammar school…Absolutely loved RL plus listening to Eddie Waring(up and under) on Tuesday nights!

[@growrugbyleague6353]

@Matthew Burton what are you on about matt burton u literally play in the NRL

[@portcullis5622]

@Matthew Burton You must be a disciple from the Church of Forward Pass and Kick. A lost cause, I fear.

[@garyheaton3983]

This is the RL I remember all blood and guts

[@johnmclaren1756]

Good player boyd Bit magic from. Hanley. Best British player ever.

[@givingbirthiseasy]

Ellery's try, wow!

[@gandigoop52]

im a 12 year old and had a picture with Shaun Edwards, I was buzzing

[@powdapow1295]

Fucking sky has ruined us, rugby league should never have sold itself to them.... never

[@terencejay8845]

Good to see Ellery Hanley in action after all this time.. 'Soccer is a gentleman's game played by hooligans. Rugby Union is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen, and Rugby League is a hooligan's game played by hooligans.'

[@JustHazardous]

League sux Take the greatest game in the world and turn it into shat.

[@dw-yl3ln]

@@JustHazardous ok boomer

[@portcullis5622]

@@JustHazardous Rugby (forward pass, quick kick it before you get tackled) Union "the greatest game in the world"?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@alanmacdonald4975]

Rugby a game played by people who can't play football

[@portcullis5622]

@@alanmacdonald4975 Football. A game mostly played by people who lack the skill and subtlety to play cricket.

[@waggafletcher]

Where there was trouble there was Les Boyd. Where there was Les Boyd there was trouble. Cootamundra's finest product.

[@paulvalmadre5493]

That was great ,a very high level of football played there, that Worington and Wigan team were world class even by todays standards, I was only 11 but I remember players from both teams here, a few Kiwis, and everyone remembers Little Andy Gregory he was very unpopular when he toured for the Lions, Always starting fights and continually in trouble for dirty play,what we call grub today, well Little Andy was a little maggot. But even though he was a little jerk, he was a tough little bugga.

[@powerbite92]

Great passer of the ball was Gregory.

[@horrortackleharry]

LOL he's now bankrupt and has just been given a suspended prison sentence for having an uncontrolled dangerous dog badly maul & injure a guy in a park.

[@damiencook3423]

I must say, considering this match was pre pansy era, to be calling it WW3 was a stretch. Seen biggest punch ups in golf. Look up Battle of Brookvale in the aussie NRL...... Oh and the 1st scrum of game 1 NSW vS QLD at the MSG 1995. kzbin.info/www/bejne/goSoq6aDr813mpI

[@matthewjones9565]

Even when a "fight" breaks out the commentator sounds bored as shit. Chasing a big egg around a field is the most boring shit I've ever seen.

[@m88ttc]

Some great players on show there. Some legends of the game as well but crikey, Wire had some proper hooligans in that side. Boyd, Tamati were proper hard men and Des Drummond wasn't someone you messed with and he just stayed out of it all. Great video. Seems like yesterday but look positively post war 😂

[@phil-zz5hk]

ellery hanley . what a legend . tuigamala and charriots offiah as well over the years .

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

He would of helped the Tigers win the 1988 Grand Final if it wasnt for that pig Lamb. Dirty ass hole.

[@williamfisher5749]

Hanley great player

[@liamwhitcombe1237]

If there was EVER a game invented for thugs & bullies, this was it. "Im bigger & more violent than you(pushing punching & biting). "Now give me the ball" WHAT A STUPID FUCKING GAME

[@cliffclavin3865]

Wigan were the best side back then, but f##k me Warrington were the hardest. Their pack was full of people like boyd, tamati, Jackson, rathbone and Roberts. And even their backs like dessie(RIP)and Cullen could mix it with other teams forwards! I think it was the Castleford prop Dean Sampson who said the worst thing about rugby league was playing Warrington away!🤣🤣

[@williambentley2802]

Les Boyd total legend.

[@waynecarrol3415]

10.23 Boyd says get that up ya ya black c:;nt this is the person kicked out of Australia rugby league ( he broke Broughmans jaw & also unknown to most blinded Michael Cronin in one eye ( he kept quiet for obvious reasons) Boyd was a thing !!

[@markaddison5333]

Got to love les Boyd he just hated any opposition. And he could play footy

[@infrasleep]

Now that's what I call entertainment XD

[@kenjones6441]

Thanks Micron, priceless footage

[@mikeacton2203]

a hard game played by hard men

[@danielparker6368]

First time seeing this, what a treat! What a game!

[@blackbob3358]

Remember these times very well. They'd knock seven bells out of on and other, but there was no aggro on the terraces. ( odd times with Hull fans, i think) Wonder what a psychiatrist makes of it !

[@Lloyd1885]

Great game, so much better than union, which I find slow and boring, stop start stop start 😔...and like cricket, still a toff sport at the senior level in England...sport for all, not just the old school tie mob

[@nellyprice]

Best recovery ever at 6'15 Mark. Not even reversed the penalty😮

[@pickledaardvark1532]

When did they lift the spuds from the field?

[@wohltemper]

Good to hear Vic Reeves at the mic again. Uranu!

[@paddy.7784]

Great Stuff ... Before big business took over ' Sport ' .. Thanks for the passion you played the game .. That's what I loved to watch .. not a logo covered field, and endless replays .. was more real then for me.

[@gookazade1]

Sky saved super league. Stupidest comment I’ve read. Correct me if I’m wrong but Rupert n sky created super league. No saving it. They took winter rugby n killed it off. No they dint save it. Just created another form which profited them quite nicely n now is out pricing working class from going. I can go to watch football for less than rugby now.

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

Rugby league need to go back to winter in the UK and France so it can attract more crowds and compete with union. The NRL players like Slater and Thurston would be stars while playing on loan for clubs like Wigan and St. Helens.