Warrington v Wigan World War 3 New Years Day 1988

[@popeyedish]

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

[@horrortackleharry]

He really knew how to 'add value' as a commentator...

[@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

[@baax]

Loved him when he played for Balmain in 88, gutted that Terry Lamb took him out in the Grand Final, we would have won that with him on the field.

[@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

[@cubecubesson6779]

Used to go to Legends nightclub which was under one of the stands at Warrington

[@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.

[@danielparker6368]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@jamesmiller3139]

Graeme took me home from Wigan Station a few years ago, asked me about my game for Bowdon 2s (union) and didn't talk at all about his own great career until I asked him. Huge hands.

[@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

[@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.

[@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 😂😂😂

[@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.

[@HairyBosch]

Best recovery since Lazarus at 6:03 - Brilliant!

[@alecworrall455]

Good old Psycho.

[@Jaya365]

Stamped on his hand just to finish off didnt he 😂

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!!

[@bob6383]

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

[@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.

[@glenmorgan4597]

This was cool

[@gary1642]

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

[@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.

[@scooters47]

God I miss the good old days

[@mrkipling2201]

Same here. When life was better. Plus simpler.

[@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 ?

[@70banksia]

Remember Les Boyd when he first started at Wests in about 1976. He, together with Donnelly, Gibbs, Raudonikis etc created havoc under the coaching of Roy Masters. Lidcombe Oval was the undoing of many a fancied side in the day. Thanks for the memories Les / a great competitor on the field and a true gent off the park.

[@gordonmonaghan133]

Yes, Les Boyd was an animal, but a very talented player. He was one of those players that, as a supporter of the opposing side, you would give come verbal "stick" but secretly wish he was on your team. (Lifelong Oldham supporter)

[@moptopbaku6022]

@@gordonmonaghan133 Boyd was a complete grub

[@bobbytreetop1701]

70banksia I remember watching Tommy Raudonikis on the 1978 Kangaroo tour to GB . A great player with a ferocious will to win.

[@loneranger5954]

He was good enough to go on two Kangaroo tours@@moptopbaku6022

[@moptopbaku6022]

@@loneranger5954 That doesn’t stop him being a complete grub.

[@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?

[@neilcartwright6299]

Only one Hull that's FC

[@pod9538]

When rugby was rugby. FANTASTIC.

[@RolloZx]

Incredible skills on show there & some tough boys too!

[@DHTCF]

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

[@Metalguitarpete]

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.

[@njd2342]

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

[@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.

[@kenjones6441]

Thanks Micron, priceless footage

[@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.

[@Inquisitor_Vex]

Watching these tackles reminds me of the games we played in school.

[@moptopbaku6022]

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

[@johnmclaren1756]

Fuckin good player. Tough

[@davidharrop3515]

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

[@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

[@rossteasdale7037]

Can't believe we didn't win that, but a major step in the right direction with that performance! Play like that every match from now on

[@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.

[@Darthyoof]

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

[@nicholasdearing6280]

These lads were warriors.

[@johnmurphy1199]

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

[@ajmuss856]

Good to see the players not jumping all over each other when a try is scored👍

[@nellyprice]

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

[@bradl.l5436]

I watched my first game around 10 years old, Bradford northern v Hull Kingston rovers at odsell top, the sound of guys smashing into each other has never left me !!! Fucking proper game for men !!

[@jonathanlegg4308]

Hope HKR got a good beating, always a good day when they do. 👏👍👊

[@ronanrogers4127]

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

[@Metalguitarpete]

Ronan Rogers Celery!!!

[@pedro6531]

should have took is head off common wire

[@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 😜

[@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.

[@curleyteeth]

This was proper rugby league, played in the winter and a real mans game.Ellery Hanley is the greatest player I have ever seen bar none.

[@feolender2938]

jonathan davies? easily the best rugby player the world has ever seen. . . . both codes

[@siwilkinson6909]

curleyteeth I

[@homeone4054]

Fantastic player. One of a handful from here who the Aussies still rate, although I think our forwards have gone up in their estimation in recent years

[@ronanrogers4127]

...bar Brett Kenny, Mal Meninga, Bob Fulton, Andrew Johns, Greg Inglis...I could go on, but suffice it to say you didn’t see the best players play.

[@dleigh9997]

@@ronanrogers4127 what Ellery Hanley could do on a field was greater than any one else mate. King Ellery

[@jonathanlegg4308]

The Hanley try in the corner should be one of the top 5 tries of all time.

[@loneranger5954]

He had massive shoulders and thighs and he ran at the gaps.

[@jonathanlegg4308]

@@loneranger5954 Great IQ on the pitch with a hand off rivalled by few. Lol..I'm waxing lyrical about him but everytime he came to the Boulevard I hoped he was on the injured list.

[@jackwalsh7906]

That’s how good Hanley was, he scored tries which no one else could and despite Johnson being great cover tackler (stopped Eric Grothe a few times in Sydney) still couldn’t prevent the try.

[@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'.

[@petercraig6802]

Nice to see the great Ellery Hanley scoring !

[@stephensinclair8127]

One of the giants of that era.

[@paladin313]

I like how you slipped in, "Oh, and a few tries as well." That's the equivalent of, "There was a fight that night, and a hockey game broke out."

[@garywiffen4950]

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

[@pickledaardvark1532]

When did they lift the spuds from the field?

[@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

[@royaliste3844]

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

[@aaronclair4301]

I was sitting with my Dad in New Zealand, days after turning 13, both rooting for Wigan.

[@mickharrison9004]

And look at the snow and ice outside the stadium ,real hard men giving and willing to give no quarter 👊

[@paulwalsh548]

how forward was that pass ffs

[@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 😂

[@michaelsnyder6922]

Hopefully someone who knows rugby can answer this question for me. At 3:30 a kick is made that goes out of bounds(if that’s how it’s said). What is the purpose of that kick? What rules of rugby were broken that lead to that kick being necessary? Was the kick made by the team being penalized? I’ve never understood what that play is a result of and it’s general purpose.

[@robboxify]

it's the result of a penalty, the kicker gets a 'free' punt downfield. the play restarts where the ball crosses the touchline. It's done to gain ground, though if preferred the player can also take a quick tap and start play from the point of the infingement or if in range can attempt a place kick for goal which would bring 2 points.

[@MarkUKInsects]

these old clips highlight just how good today's groundsmen are. I those days, regardless of the sport, mid to late season most of the paying field would be earth or mud. even in the top flight.

[@grantmcinnes1176]

Man, in the unlikely event we had some sun and the mud dried out it was like playing on concrete.

[@waggafletcher]

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

[@sakabula1285]

What a way to start your year..classic

[@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.

[@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.........

[@wohltemper]

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

[@TheDriller-Killer]

"Uvavu!!!" 😂😂😂

[@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.

[@kevinwilliams1421]

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

[@williamropata6258]

wow!, The Black Pearl @ 7 mins. What an absolute legend.

[@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.

[@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.!!

[@stillages1]

I sat next to Graham West at a rugby function once, I couldn’t understand a word he said all night!!

[@joelmonkley6177]

Why is that he's a kiwi 🥝 speaks better English than a pommie

[@stillages1]

@@joelmonkley6177because his accent is so strong

[@joelmonkley6177]

@stillages1 what the lad he's a kiwi our language is English he was coach and captain of Wigan I'm sure they understood him were in the UK are you from pal ❓

[@duxberry1958]

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

[@johnoneill8818]

"Bitter" Championships...well named!

[@DrCrabfingers]

10:13 forward pass??

[@martinpye549]

Boyd and Shelford at it ....what a surprise.

[@PCgonemad-ih9pr]

Such glorious days! Can someone tell me what other club's shelford played for? Just curious

[@steveenoka7454]

hornby panthers canterbury nz

[@zztop6460]

Trinity over here in the early 90s

[@EldeLDorELLEN]

2 reserves? Hard men those fullas, what do they have now 6? 8?

[@garyheaton3983]

This is the RL I remember all blood and guts

[@markaddison5333]

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

[@johnreynolds6369]

I don’t know much about rugby league but was the head-butt at 8.52 legal…?

[@jackwalsh7906]

Of course it was…like everything else that went on. That was footy back then and the fans loved it!

[@laytondrjones]

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

[@givingbirthiseasy]

Ellery's try, wow!

[@MoanaMariner]

Jeez, some good Aussie players here. Brian Johnson and a very fit Locomotive Les in there.

[@joelmonkley6177]

Better kiwi players hereb

[@terrytaylor4099]

I am a Wigan fan but loved watching Les Boyd

[@shakin2009]

Imagine how dirty their tops would be

[@grahammuckalt483]

The good old days!

[@GazzaJAnimal]

Proper Rugby League

[@barrybeazley2940]

Gaz Pursell

[@kingsrd1]

Some good rugby being played there

[@cliveuuking4602]

Didn’t they call forward passes in 1988?

[@douggief1367]

Does the mud make them grumpy ???

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

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

[@Ironsmiler]

Christ. There must surely have been some previous / scores to settle before this match. The packs were straight in to each other.

[@davooberger5790]

Why is football more popular than Rugby ? this is way more fun watching than any footballgame!!

[@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 🤭

[@barrymcintosh8458]

New Years day - imagine being in those scrums after a New Years eve lol.

[@paulwhite2533]

where's the 2nd half?

[@BrianMaiden-o9c]

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

[@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.

[@andyheald5823]

Why are Warrington playing in white(when they started the game at least) ?

[@d17mop]

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

[@bkkbound]

Reminds me of those cold winter nights watching the BBC floodlight cup matches at Knowsley Rd.. Awful conditions but enjoyed by all..

[@gazgaffa8437]

Joint, west, bobby, kieron, Sullivan they were the days big vila