Arthur “Chick” Johnson
Born back in 1890, Johnson made his Widnes debut in 1909 and played for the town until 1923. During his time at Widnes he racked up 239 appearances for the club scoring 43 tries.
Between 1912-1913 he earned appearances for Lancashire, his impressive performances took his representative career to another level earning a call up to the 1914 tour of Australasia.
Johnson was known as the first player to represent Widnes for Great Britain when he was selected for the third Ashes test match of the 1914 tour.
It was only the second tour ever of the southern hemisphere for Great Britain. The test is known as the Rorke’s Drift test due to a backs against the wall British victory against all odds.
The test series was drew level going into the final game where Arthur made his debut. He was selected in his familiar position of Loose Forward, however was moved to the Wing following an early injury to Winger Frank Williams.
Johnson playing out of position with 20 minutes remaining used an unorthodox method of dribbling the ball ahead of him with his feet. From his own half he dribbled around the Full-back to clinch a vital try, which meant Great Britain won the match 14-6 and claimed the Ashes series.
He remained the only test match player the town could boast about until the selection of Nat Silcock in 1932.
Following his crucial influence on the deciding game, Arthur went on to earn a cap for England against Wales with the game played in his home town Widnes. He also went on and was selected for the 1920 Lions tour of Australasia where he was selected twice to play against Australia.
Arthur inherited his nickname “Chick” from his father James “Chick” Johnson who represented Widnes and Lancashire in the 1890’s.
A career for Widnes that spread across three decades come to a close in 1923 when he signed for local rivals Warrington. Arthur played 58 matches for Warrington scoring 10 tries before calling an end to his playing career.
Sadly according to records Arthur past away June 10th 1946 at the age of 56.
Arthur “Chick” Johnson will forever be remembered as the first capped Widnes player and perhaps the first great player the town ever produced.
Ernie Swinton
Ernie made his debut for Widnes in 1910 at home against Ebbw Vale on new years eve. He managed to score on his debut and went on to score on 9 occasions that season including a hat-trick against Dewsbury.
In 1911 he managed to equal the clubs record amount of tries scored in a season crossing the whitewash on 18 occasions.
Between 1910-1914 Ernie made 84 appearances for Widnes, scoring 42 tries for the club.
Tragically in 1915 whilst serving his country he lost his life during the first World War. It was believed his military funeral was held June 4th 1915 and 10,000 people was in attendance to send off what can only be described as a local hero on and off the field.
Exactly to the year, a century on from the first World War coming to an end, Widnes took the opportunity to induct Ernie into the exclusive club.
A man who maybe hasn’t made as many appearances as some, or scored as many points as others, definitely is one of the most courageous men to pull on the famous Widnes jersey. His Rugby career was cut short far too quickly, however his services to the town and his country will forever be remembered in the history books.
Jimmy Hoey
Born back in 1901, Jimmy made his debut for Widnes against Barrow in 1922. Hoey could play Centre or Back-row equally as well and was not shy of taking a kick at goal.
His early career he spent time playing Centre, but as his game developed he transitioned into a strong, speedy Back-row forward. He had the ability to read the direction of play often positioning himself to receive the final pass to score many tries.
He also had quite the reputation of selling opponents the most outrageous of dummy’s to exploit defensive lines.
As records show, Jimmy spent his entire career playing for Widnes earning 308 appearances, 101 tries and 395 goals. He finished his Widnes points tally with a staggering 1093 points next to his name.
Jimmy nails himself down as the 4th highest points scorer from goal kicks and in the elite club of players who have scored above 100 tries for Widnes.
In 1929-1930 Widnes was victorious in their first ever Challenge Cup final and of course Hoey played in the 10-3 victory over St Helens. He is one of three players to have played in the game to have been inducted into the Hall Of Fame.
The year previous he also appeared for Widnes in a 5-4 loss to Wigan in a Lancashire Cup final where he kicked a goal on the day.
The year Widnes triumphed against St Helens in the Challenge Cup Final he earned caps for both England and Lancashire.
Arguably his most notable achievement came in the 1932-1933 season as he become the first player on record to play and score in every game in a whole season, a remarkable achievement for a player in any era. It took until 1958-1959 for the record to be equalled by Hunslet’s William Langton
A career that spread over 12 years finally come to a close in 1935 where he played his last game against Hull.
Sadly in May 1988, age 86 Jimmy lost his life. He will forever be remembered for playing in the first Widnes team that brought the famous Challenge Cup trophy home to Widnes.
He will also be remembered for breaking records very few players have in the history of Widnes. His record of scoring in every game of a season few can only dream of in the entire games history.
Nat Silcock
Born in 1903, Silcock made his debut for Widnes in March 1923 against St Helens. The Prop or Back-row went on to make an impressive 434 appearances for the club, scoring 44 tries. He was a giant of a man who had pace and power in abundance
The feared forward appeared in three Challenge Cup finals for Widnes managing to be victorious in two of them. He featured in the clubs first ever Challenge Cup win against St Helens in the 1929-1930 season alongside fellow Hall of Fame men Jimmy Hoey and Harry Millington.
He returned to Wembley with the club to play in the 1933-1934 Challenge Cup Final against Hunslet, however Widnes on the day couldn’t repeat their success of the previous visit falling to a 11-5 defeat.
Nat’s Challenge Cup Final appearances for the club did not stop here as he returned for a third time, on this occasion as captain for the 1936-1937 final. Widnes on the day defeated Keighley in a dominant 18-5 victory, which saw Nat cross the line for the fourth try of the game cementing himself as a two time Challenge Cup winner.
His consistent performances throughout the 1930’s was rewarded with regular caps for Great Britain. He was a regular feature for the Lions gathering 12 appearances, scoring 1 try. He was also rewarded with 3 England appearances and several selections for Lancashire.
Nat was selected for the Lions 1936 tour of Australia alongside fellow Hall Of Fame man Tommy McCue, whilst away both players missed out on a Championship play-off final appearance against Hull. Widnes lost the game but many believe if both players was available Widnes would of won their first league title on the day.
Silcock finally hung up the boots in 1938 with a performance against Hull being his last for the club. He was a one club man who dedicated his entire career playing for Widnes. He was regarded as the clubs greatest forward before the second World War.
Sadly in 1964 Nat lost his life. His son Nat Silcock Junior followed in his fathers foot steps having an impressive career of his own making 458 appearances across the world, however never managed to play for Widnes.
Nat will forever be remembered for being a Challenge Cup winning captain and an overall two time winner of the trophy for the town, an achievement few have managed since. He is no doubt one of the best forwards to pull on the famous Black and White jersey.
Harry Millington
Born in 1908, Harry was a Loose-forward who played for Widnes in the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s. His career spread across three decades for Widnes earning 460 appearances for the club scoring 65 tries.
He made his debut back in January 1928 against Leigh. He was only 5ft9 in height and 13 stone in weight, yet he was known as fearless and perhaps pound for pound one of the toughest players to represent Widnes.
As match reports suggest he was no slouch and quite often his breaks from the middle of the field would lead to vital tries for the club across his career.
Alongside Nat Silcock and Jimmy Hoey, Millington just 21 years old was victorious in the 10-3 Challenge Cup Final victory over St Helens in the 1929-1930 season. He played a key role in a try on the day scooping up a loose ball, passing it to team mate Ratcliffe, who put Dennett over in the corner.
Four years later he returned to Wembley in the 1933-1934 season against Hunslet but Widnes lost that final on the day 11-5.
He returned to Wembley for a third time in the 1936-1937 season, this time demolishing Keighley 18-5. On the day in typical Millington style he made a break and passed to Tommy McCue who touched down making the score 8-0.
Through his outstanding displays for Widnes he earned representative honours for England and Lancashire. In 1937-1938 Harry played Loose-forward in the Lancashire team that defeated a touring Australian team 7-5 at Wilderspool.
Millington was desperately unlucky to never be selected for Great Britain and is a strong case for being the best player to never pull on a Lions jersey.
His honours didn’t stop for Widnes in the Challenge Cup, he was also part of the Widnes team that won the 1945-1946 Lancashire Cup against Wigan 7-3.
Millington in 1946 finally brought the curtain down on a long, glittering career for Widnes against Belle Vue. Out of all the players to play previous to this date only George Aspey could claim more appearances for the club with only 16 more than Millington.
Harry will forever be remembered for being a two time Challenge Cup winner for the club in an era where his career was spread over a World War. His appearance tally is outstanding and rightly is included in the Hall Of Fame at Widnes.
Tommy McCue
Born in 1913, Tommy McCue was a dynamic and influential player for Widnes during the 1930’s and 1940’s. He made his debut for the club against Broughton in 1931.
He was a product of the Rugby academy at St Bedes school, at such a young age he gathered a reputation of a player who was rather special, so it was no surprise when he signed for Widnes in 1930.
McCue featured in the 1933-1934 Challenge Cup Final defeat to Hunslet.
Despite the loss to Hunslet Tommy returned to Wembley with Widnes in the 1936-1937 where they defeated Keighley 18-5 to claim their second ever Challenge Cup victory. Tommy took centre stage in the game scoring a try. The final was dubbed “McCue’s match” after an influential display by the captain.
McCue helped himself to a try in the match and also created tries for Half-back partner Tommy Shannon and skipper Nat Silcock on the day.
He quickly gained a reputation in Rugby League for controlling games and being an illusive runner which made him a try scoring threat. He had pace to burn to exploit the tightest of defences.
Despite McCue’s career spreading across the war, he managed to play 339 games for the club scoring 106 tries, placing himself alongside a small group of players who have scored more than 100 tries for the club.
His reputation grew as his career progressed, and as a result he earned himself representative honours. In 1935 he was selected for England to play Wales and France. His international career would spread across more than 10 years with the Scrum-half still earning caps in 1946.
Alongside his 11 caps for England, Tommy was also a regular feature for Great Britain earning 6 caps for the Lions against New Zealand and Australia. He also got the honour to play for Great Britain against Australia in his home town of Widnes back in 1936.
In 1946 at the back end of his representative career his reputation of being a leader on the field was rewarded earning himself the vice captaincy on the Lions tour that year.
McCue was also a Lancashire Cup winning captain in the 7-3 victory over Wigan back in the 1945-1946 season. McCue as always was influential in the game producing moments of magic helping Widnes seal their first Lancashire Cup Final victory.
He also guided Widnes to the 1939-1940 Lancashire Cup Final, however on that occasion Swinton overcome Widnes to claim the trophy.
Perhaps one of McCue’s greatest ever achievement was playing Scrum-half for Lancashire against a touring Australia in 1937-1938, where Lancashire claimed a 7-5 victory over the Kangaroo’s. Tommy played alongside fellow Hall Of Fame member Harry Millington on the day.
In 1948 his career would come to a close after playing Halifax. His leadership and services to the town cement his place in the Hall Of Fame and he will go down as one of the most naturally gifted players to play for the town.
Sadly in April 1994, aged 80 it was recorded that Tommy passed away. He will be remembered as one of the most influential captains and gifted players to represent the club. Many would argue the greatest Scrum-half in the clubs history.
Fred Higgins
The highly regarded Back-row forward made the move from Penketh Tannery, Fred played some war time games for the club before it shutdown due to the war.
He served for 5 years as a Merchant Navy engineer before resuming his Rugby League career. On his return he would earn international honours representing Great Britain.
He was regarded as a stalwart of the club being a king pin within the team throughout war times and post war. He was blessed with incredible strength and had an unorthodox running style lifting his legs high making him hard to stop.
For a forward he was blessed with speed. In days without substitutions Fred would often be moved outside the pack when injuries occurred. In this time period a handy weapon to have.
1945 arrived and Fred would taste Lancashire Cup glory with Widnes defeating Wigan 7-3. Due to his impressive performances for the club he would be rewarded with international honours.
He was selected for the 1950 Lions tour of Australasia, as a result he would miss the Challenge Cup Final that year. He was a great miss for Widnes as the team got whitewashed by local rivals Warrington 19-0.
Despite this, Fred played in all 5 tests against Australia and made a total of 15 appearances on the tour. He managed to score a total of 4 tries in victories against New South Wales, Monaro and Central Queensland (2)
Shortly after his return to the club, Higgins would hang up his boots this time for good, however this was not to be his last contribution to Widnes.
He served on the committee for several years, continuing his loyalty to the club which spread over war times.
His brothers Jack and Alec both played numerous games for Widnes pre war times, it was clear to see the family, not just Fred, was Widnes through and through.
Sadly according to records Fred lost his life June 1995. He will be remembered for being one of the finest Back-row Forwards to represent the club. His commitment and loyalty to Widnes was quite something given his career spread across war times.
Frank Myler
Many would argue Frank was the greatest all round player the town produced. Myler was a player who read a Rugby League game like a book, often spotting opportunities several plays before they unfolded. He was born in December 1938 and made his debut for the club against Liverpool City in 1955 at just 16 years old.
The versatile back could play Stand-off or Centre equally as well and gathered 367 appearances for his hometown club, returning 144 tries, placing him as the clubs sixth all time try scorer to date. Known for his athleticism and tactical awareness, Frank would go on to be one of the greatest names in Rugby League history.
During his time with Widnes, he was influential in leading the club to silverware. Alongside fellow Hall Of Fame inductee Vince Karalius, Myler led Widnes to Challenge Cup glory in the 1963-1964 season, defeating Hull Kingston Rovers 13-5.
On the day Myler played at Centre and managed to score a crucial try in the game, securing the clubs third Challenge Cup triumph in five final appearances.
His outstanding performances earned him representative honours for Lancashire, England and Great Britain. September 1960 marked his Great Britain debut on home soil against New Zealand with the home side winning 23-8. Myler played at Stand-off and scored a try in the game. The match is famous for being the first World Cup game on UK shores.
The tournament came to a close and Myler was selected in every game resulting in the host nation collecting the World Cup for only a second time.
For a fee of £6,000 Myler departed Naughton Park to local rivals St Helens. The move saw Ray French and Dave Markey move in the opposite direction. The deal was put in place to help Widnes overcome financial struggles at the time.
A loss for Widnes and a gain for St Helens, Franks career would continue to grow as he went onto make 149 appearances for St Helens scoring 46 tries to add to his career tally. In the 1968-1969 season he secured Lancashire Cup glory as St Helens defeated Oldham 30-2, on the day Frank played Centre.
In the 1969-1970 season. Frank would write history in a crucial period. He become a league title winner with St Helens playing Stand-off as they defeated Leeds 24-12. Myler on the day was influential in the victory and claimed the famous Lance Todd Trophy for his man of the match performance.
His impressive form meant that he was appointed captain of the 1970 Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. The tour was the most successful in history seeing the Lions win 22 of 24 matches played, however it is most famously remembered for being the last time Great Britain claimed the Ashes to date.
The series got off to a terrible start with the Lions losing the first test 37-15 to Australia. Lead by Myler, the Lions came back and won the last two test matches 28-7 and 21-17 securing Frank Myler as the last Ashes winning captain for Great Britain to date (2025).
He went onto make a staggering 24 Great Britain appearances. In the 1971-1972 season he departed St Helens to become player coach at Rochdale, kick starting the next chapter of his life. He would coach Rochdale between 1971-1974 before returning to his hometown club Widnes, this time to coach the club.
Frank paved the way for the greatest years for Widnes in terms of silverware, as the club made back-to-back Wembley visits and was crowned League Champions for the first time under his leadership as head coach.
After a stint away from the club coaching Great Britain, Oldham and Swinton, he returned in 1991 to guide Widnes to a Regal Trophy triumph, the last piece of major silverware lifted by the club.
Sadly Frank passed away in March 2020. He will be remembered for being one of the greatest captains the country has seen and a player who was blessed with such skill and ability. His knowledge of the game helped his clubs and country to greatness whilst playing and coaching. Lastly of course he is the last winning ashes captain to date (2026)
Ray Dutton
Dutton remains one of the most prolific players in the club’s history, with a remarkable 398 appearances and a staggering 1,073 goal kicks to his name. He managed a total of 2,195 points for the club, a record that still stands to this day.
Known for his composure under pressure and pinpoint accuracy with the boot, Dutton was instrumental during one of the most successful periods in Widnes’ history.
He played a key role in the team that won three consecutive Lancashire Cup Finals between 1974-1976. In each of the finals Ray’s reliable boot was crucial in all the victories.
Ray’s honours with the club stretched further and in 1975 he helped guide Widnes to Challenge Cup Final glory defeating local rivals Warrington. The game finished 14-7 with Dutton kicking 5 goals and one drop goal.
His influence over the game was rewarded as he was voted man of the match, which saw him claim the Lance Todd Trophy. He sits in an elite group of players who have won the famous award for Widnes.
He returned to Wembley with Widnes the following two seasons, however suffered a 20-5 defeat to St Helens in 1976 and a 16-7 defeat to Leeds in 1977.
He played a key role in the 1977-1978 League Championship winning team and also added a John Player Trophy to his collection in 1976, he kicked 3 crucial goals on the day.
His impeccable form with the boot and his consistent performances, saw Ray awarded with several representative honours. He was selected for Lancashire on 12 occasions, converting 44 goals.
He was also selected for England on 3 occasions and was rewarded with 6 Great Britain caps, including a place on the 1970 tour of Australia where the Lions last claimed an Ashes victory.
His journey for the club came to a close in 1978 when he made the move to Whitehaven. He in total appeared for the Cumbrian club on 82 occasions, kicking 180 goals.
Dutton had a brief spell coaching Whitehaven in the 1978-1979 season, however dropped his duties after a season.
He will be remembered as the all time points scorer for the club, a record that stands to this day. His loyalty and quality will be remembered through the generations. He was a vital member of the the team that transitioned into “The Cup Kings.”
Mal Aspey
One of the greatest Centres to play the game, Mal currently sits as the clubs all time top try scorer with a total of 234 tries. He is the only man to represent Widnes and score over 200 tries for the club. Eric Hughes is the closest other player to do so with 199 tries to his name.
His playing career spread across three decades with the majority of his appearances playing for Widnes. He racked up a staggering 575 appearances, scoring a total of 978 points for the club.
He is also the second highest appearance maker for Widnes, only behind fellow Hall Of Fame member Keith Elwell.
Mal made his debut for Widnes in 1964 and had a glittering career when it come to trophy success, with the majority of his achievements coming between 1970-1980.
Starting with the Lancashire Cup, the explosive Centre featured in a total of 5 Lancashire Cup victories. His first appearance in a Lancashire Cup final came in the 1971-1972 season, however it resulted in a 8-15 defeat against Wigan.
Despite tasting defeat in his first Lancashire Cup Final his further visits would be much more successful. He won the trophy 3 years consecutively between 1974-1976 and scored in the 1975 16-7 victory over Salford. He also lifted the trophy in 1978 and 1979.
One of his finest achievements of his career was becoming a two time Challenge Cup Final winner. He appeared in the 14-7 1975 final victory over Warrington and again in the 1979 14-3 final victory over Wakefield.
He also was a losing finalist in 1977 final against Leeds despite scoring a try on the day.
Perhaps his most impressive individual performance came in the 1980 Premiership final victory over Bradford Northern. Widnes cruised to a 19-5 victory and with that Aspey picked up the Harry Sunderland award having been selected man of the match.
He also played a crucial role in the 1977-1978 League Championship winning team. He boosted his trophy cabinet with a further 2 John Player Trophies and a BBC Floodlit trophy.
His most historical achievement in a Widnes jersey arguably came in 1978 where he played his role in the Widnes team that become the last club to defeat Australia 11-10 whilst touring. He played Centre on the day alongside several other fellow Hall Of Fame Inductees.
Aspey’s career at Widnes would come to a close in 1980 and he would move to a newly established Fulham. He scored 19 tries for the club before he signed for Wigan and then Salford where he had a spell as head coach.
Mal will go down in history as the current all time top try scorer by a considerable distance. He has a remarkable appearance tally and is a valued member of the team branded as “The Cup Kings”. He goes down in history as one of the finest Centres the club has produced.
Vince Karalius
Also known as “The Wild Bull Of Pampas” Vince was born in October 1932. His nickname was chosen by the Australian media due to him being one of the most feared players across the world. Usually selected at Loose-forward, Vince built a fierce reputation as a strong runner of the ball and a devastating tackler. He has an aggressive playing style and plenty of ball skill in his locker.
Unlike most in the Hall Of Fame, he started his career away from Widnes in 1951, signing professionally with St Helens from his local amateur team West Bank. Despite his potential he had to wait till 1952 for his professional debut against Warrington.
By the mid 1950’s Karalius had cemented himself as a regular in the St Helens team and with that went onto win the 1953-1954 Lancashire Cup final against Wigan. The following year he was victorious in the 1955-1956 Challenge Cup Final defeating Halifax 13-2.
The following 1956–57 season was a watershed one for Karalius. He accumulated 18 tries, no mean feat for a forward, and was a member of the St. Helens side which convincingly beat an Australian touring side 44–2.
The year after in the 1958-1959 campaign he achieved a League Championship victory following a 44-22 victory over Hunslet.
His leadership was there for all to see and soon Vince would become captain of the club.
Several years after his first Challenge Cup victory, St Helens met local rivals Wigan in the 1960-1961 Challenge Cup Final. The game finished 12-6 to St Helens securing Karalius a second final victory, this time as captain.
His last game for St Helens was in January 1962 finishing with 252 appearances and 42 tries for the club. He was sold to Widnes his hometown club and made his debut against Barrow. The fierce forward was turning 30 years old, yet had plenty of game time still left in the tank going onto make 128 appearances for Widnes.
Following his move to Widnes, Karalius was quickly appointed club captain. He made an instant impact in his first season helping his hometown team finish third in the Championship, equalling the club’s best league placing. The following season, saw him lift the Challenge Cup trophy for the third time in his career as Widnes defeated Hull Kingston Rovers 13-5 in the 1963-1964 final.
His iconic performances didn’t just stop at club level, as mentioned previously he was a feared man on the international stage. He participated in the famous 1958 tour of Australia dubbed as “The Battle Of Brisbane.” He was absent in the first test loss, yet returned for the second and third gallantly playing through injury, as aggressive as ever, leading the Lions pack to victory.
Vince was also a member of the first Great Britain team to win the World Cup on home soil, capping an incredibly impressive international career.
In 1966 Vince finally made his last appearance against Bradford for Widnes. He waited six years before entering the coaching arena where he took the coaching role at his hometown club Widnes.
Karalius imposed his own values and vision, aiming to turn the club into a strong force of the future. In the 1974 -1975 season Widnes would claim two major trophies in one season for the first time in the clubs history. First they defeated Salford 16-7 in the Lancashire Cup Final then claimed a 14-7 Challenge Cup Final victory over local rivals Warrington. The result goes down as one of the most famous results in the clubs history.
At the peak of his powers off the field, in 1975 Vince stepped away from the head coaching role and was replaced by fellow Hall Of Fame member Frank Myler. Karalius then returned to the club coaching in the 1980’s and led Widnes to another Challenge Cup Final victory over Wigan in the 1983-1984 season. The game finished 19-6 taking his Challenge Cup Final winning tally to 5 as a player and coach.
Sadly in 2008 Vince lost his life age 78 years old. He will be forever remembered as one of the all time great players of the British game.
His selection in the Widnes, St Helens and British Rugby League Hall Of Fame perhaps tells the story. There are very few Rugby players who have been inducted into three different Hall Of Fame’s, yet Vince did being recognised for his playing ability and coaching philosophy.
John Foran
A tough, no-nonsense forward with remarkable consistency and resilience, Foran made 293 appearances for Widnes, crossing for 38 tries and scored a total of 114 points for the club.
Known for his strength in defence and tireless work rate, Foran played a key role in laying the platform for the club’s success during the 1970s, establishing himself as a fan favourite and an integral part of a formidable pack.
He was an unsung hero of the team which evolved into “The Cup Kings.” In 1975 John played in the Back-row alongside fellow Hall Of Fame inductee Mick Adams in the team that led Widnes to Challenge Cup Final glory over local rivals Warrington.
In the same year John also helped Widnes claim a 16-7 Lancashire Cup final victory over Salford once more playing in the Back-row.
His final major honour for Widnes came in the 1975-1976 season, where he was victorious in the John Player Trophy Final over Hull. The game finished 19-13 in the favour of Widnes.
Away from playing, Foran also served as Widnes assistant coach to David Hulme and Neil Kelly.
His induction to the Hall Of Fame is testament in the role he played in the clubs rise to prominence.
Eric Hughes
A name synonymous with consistency, flair, and try-scoring brilliance, Hughes made a remarkable 481 appearances for Widnes, the third most in club history. To add to his impressive appearance tally, Eric scored an outstanding 199 tries, making him second on the all-time try scorers list for the club.
He was a home grown talent and made his debut for the club in 1969. His career for Widnes spread across three decades and finally finish in 1984.
Perhaps Eric’s greatest gift was his ability to play multiple positions equally as well. He could play Centre, Stand-off or fill in on the Wing with ease. It was a crucial weapon to have in the team back when the substitution bench was limited to two players per team.
Despite having an abundance of impressive personal statistics, Eric also had a glittering record when it come to winning trophies with Widnes.
Starting with the Lancashire Cup, Hughes would go on to lift the trophy on 4 occasions for the Black and Whites. His victories would come in 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979. The 1974 final saw Hughes kick a crucial drop goal in a 6-2 victory over Salford playing Stand-off.
He made a further two appearances in Lancashire Cup finals in 1981 and 1983 but both resulted in defeats to Leigh and Barrow.
Hughes also lifted the 1978 BBC Floodlit Trophy playing Centre on the day overcoming St Helens 13-7. He also made a further appearance in a final in 1973, again playing Centre but fell to a 7-15 defeat to Bramley.
The John Player Trophy was added to his collection on two occasions where he featured in the 1976 and 1979 final victories. In 1976 he featured at Stand-off in a 13-9 victory over Hull and in 1979 he played this time at Centre in a 16-4 victory over Warrington.
Moving to his major honours, Hughes lifted the Challenge Cup trophy on three occasions for his hometown club. His first triumph came in 1975 in the 14-7 victory against local rivals Warrington, he played Stand-off on the day.
He returned to Wembley the following two seasons, yet suffered defeat in both games firstly to a disappointing 20-5 defeat against St Helens and then again in to Leeds with that game finishing 16-7.
Despite back to back defeats in finals, he had unfinished business and returned to Wembley in 1979. This time the result was much different as Eric helped Widnes defeat Wakefield 12-3, he appeared at Stand-off and scored a crucial try in the game.
His Wembley success was still not finished as he claimed another two further Challenge Cup Final victories in 1981 against Hull KR and again in 1984 against Wigan. He was appointed captain for the 19-6 victory over Wigan.
He also played Stand-off in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final replay against Hull but this ended in defeat.
His success on the field stretched further than just knock out competitions and in the 1977-1978 season he would help guide Widnes to League Championship success.
He would help the club build on the league campaign success and become back to back Premiership winners in 1982 and 1983.
Perhaps his most memorable achievement came in 1979 when Widnes became the last club team to defeat a touring Australian international team. On the night Hughes played Stand-off playing a crucial role in the victory.
His scintillating career for Widnes would come to a close in 1984 where he made the move to St Helens. He played a season for the club before moving to Rochdale where he brought the curtain down on a remarkable career.
Throughout his career his impressive performances was rewarded with representative honours. He managed to gain 8 caps for Great Britain and scored 8 tries in 10 appearances for England.
He was also a regular feature in the Lancashire team making 12 appearances, scoring 5 tries for his county of origin.
Once his playing days was over, Eric turned his hand to coaching passing on his wealth of knowledge and experience of the game to the next generation. He coached Widnes between 1984-1985 before departing for St Helens once more.
He also had coaching spells at Wigan, St Helens, Leigh and Rochdale. His final job in the game would come in 1997 before he stepped away from the game having given all he had to offer the sport.
Eric will go down as one of the most naturally gifted players the town has produced. He will be remembered for being a consistent and dynamic presence through multiple title-winning sides and played a key role in many of the club’s most iconic triumphs.
Reg Bowden
A commanding presence and natural leader on the field, Bowden made 374 appearances for the club, scoring 42 tries, adding 2 goals. He finished his Widnes career with a total of 134 points.
Reg made his debut for the club in 1969 and appeared in 16 major cup finals for the club. He often led the team around the field guiding the club to many cup final victories.
Starting with the Lancashire Cup, Reg was a five time winner and part of the team that led Widnes to 3 consecutive Lancashire Cup victories between 1974-1976. He had further success in the competition lifting the trophy in 1978 and in 1979 rounding off his collection.
He added to his trophy collection the 1978 BBC Floodlit Trophy. Reg also played a key role in the 1975-1976 John Player Trophy Final victory, on the day he scored a crucial try in a 19-13 victory over Hull.
Bowden won the trophy for a second time in the 1978-1979 season, this time tasting victory over local rivals Warrington with the game finishing 14-4.
His trophy collection grew in prestige and in typical Bowden fashion, he steered Widnes to victory in the famous 1975 14-7 Challenge Cup Final victory over Warrington.
He would repeat the same success in the 1978-1979 season this time beating Wakefield 12-3. That season he was part of a team that won every major trophy on offer for the club.
It wasn’t just the knockout competitions Reg had success in, he managed to guide Widnes to a 1977-1978 League Championship and secured a Premiership final victory in 1980.
His final major honour came in 1979 when Widnes would become the last club team to defeat a touring Australian international team. On the day Bowden played Scrum-half, partnering fellow Hall Of Fame member Eric Hughes who played Stand-off.
For all his efforts at club level he was selected for Lancashire on 10 occasions scoring 3 tries.
The 1980 season arrived and Reg would depart the club for a fee believed to be around £25,000 paid by newly formed Fulham. He would continue his Rugby in the capital in the capacity of a player coach until 1984, making 120 appearances for the club on the field.
After several years, he returned up north and signed for Warrington again as a player coach in 1984. Now at the back end of his career Bowden would only manage 10 playing appearances on the field.
His time at Warrington as a coach came to an end in 1985. He returned to Widnes shortly after in a directors role, which lasted close to 10 years.
Reg will be remembered as one of the most successful Scrum-half’s to represent Widnes. He is arguably the best uncapped player Great Britain have produced. He was a general on the field, often guiding Widnes around the field finding space for his team mates to exploit.
He again like many in the Hall Of Fame was an integral part of the team branded “The Cup Kings”
Keith Elwell
The Warhorse Hooker is the all time record appearance maker for Widnes securing 591 appearances for the club scoring 87 tries between 1970 and 1986.
His staggering appearance record doesn’t stop there, as he holds a Rugby League world record for most consecutive appearances made by any player with a total of 239 games played back to back between 1976-1982.
Keith made his debut for Widnes in 1970 against Oldham. Little would of thought at the time his career would stretch 16 years to 1986 where he made his final appearance against local rivals Warrington.
His ability to maintain fitness was one thing, but his playing ability was another, securing 16 major trophies with Widnes including four Challenge Cup wins in 1975 against Warrington, 1979 against Wakefield, 1981 against Hull KR and 1984 against Wigan.
His major honours didn’t stop there as he was also a key player in the team that won the Premiership three seasons back to back between 1980-1983. His other honours include 2 League Cups, 5 Lancashire Cups, a BBC Floodlit Trophy and a Championship in 1978.
Due to his dominance with his hometown club, his form was rewarded with 3 caps for Great Britain, with the first being awarded in the 1977 World Cup against Australia. His further caps came in 1980 against New Zealand. He also earned 9 Lancashire call ups and 2 England caps which came against Wales and France in 1978.
His final appearance for Widnes came in 1986 against Warrington, bringing down the curtain on a remarkable career as a one club man.
He will be remembered for being a player with unbelievable durability, who was a king pin in the clubs success throughout the golden era. His appearance stats are likely to never be beaten, certainly his world record.
Despite being small in stature, he holds a strong case of being the clubs toughest player of all time and gave everything he had for his hometown club. Keith was an key component in the team branded as “The Cup Kings”
Mick George
A dynamic and versatile back, Mick made 296 appearances for Widnes, scoring an impressive 108 tries and totalling 325 points across a career packed with silverware and standout performances.
Known for his speed, skill, and eye for the try line, Mick was a vital contributor to the team in attack throughout a golden era. He was a big game player who performed on the biggest of stages for the club.
He made his debut for the club in 1971 after impressive performances for the “A” Team.
He had an impressive record for Widnes in the Lancashire Cup claiming final victories on 5 occasions in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978 and 1979 final. Mick managed to score in each of the finals between 1974-1976, highlighting his presence in big games.
His success for the club didn’t stop here. Mick helped the club claim the 1977-78 League Championship title. Mick also went on to claim a Premiership victory in the 1979-1980 season.
He was also a regular at Wembley claiming 3 Challenge Cup victories for the club. The first came in the 1974-1975 season, where Widnes defeated rivals Warrington. His second Wembley victory came in a 12-3 victory against Wakefield.
His last Challenge Cup victory came in an 18-9 win over Hull KR in the 1980-1981 season where the dynamic Centre helped himself to a try to cap off a sublime performance.
He finished off his trophy haul for Widnes with two John Player Trophy Final victories in the 1975-1976 season and the 1978-1979 season.
He also played Centre in the famous team that defeated Australia 11-10, making Widnes the last club team to claim victory over a touring Australian international team.
Mick will go down in history no doubt as one of the greatest Centres to represent the club. His habit of producing his finest performances on the biggest of stages was an art. He was an integral part of “The Cup Kings”
Mick Adams
Another former captain of Widnes, Mick made his debut for the club against Oldham back in September 1971. He could operate at Loose-forward or Back-row equally as well. Born and bread in Widnes, Mick racked up 415 appearances for the club crossing the try line 68 times between 1971-1984.
Mick was recognised as one of the countries finest Back-row forwards earning 13 Great Britain appearances and 12 Lancashire appearances, demonstrating his class went further than club level. Adams was an integral part of the team that was branded “The Cup Kings” due to the dominance of Widnes at the time.
He went on to make over 25 finals for Widnes, a staggering amount for any sportsman. He managed to appear in 7 Challenge Cup finals for the club, winning 4 of them. The victories came in 1974-1975 against Warrington, 1978-1979 against Wakefield, 1980-1981 against Hull KR and 1983-1984 against Wigan.
As if his record wasn’t impressive enough, he also played his part in the team that won three back to back Premierships between 1980 and 1983, he also won the Championship back in the 1977-1978 season. His other major honours include being a five time Lancashire Cup winner, a two time League Cup winner and a BBC Floodlit Trophy winner.
In 1978 he would play his role in Widnes defeating Australia 11-10. He took to the field with fellow Hall Of Fame members Mick Burke, Mal Aspey, Mick George, Eric Hughes, Reg Bowden, Keith Elwell, Jim Mills and Doug Laughton to claim the victory.
Whilst a Widnes player, Mick also spent a season with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 1975-1976. Whilst in Australia he made 23 appearances for the club and showed his class that he had demonstrated for Widnes and Great Britain.
Mick played his part in the 1984 Lions tour of Australia and shortly after his return he announced his retirement from Rugby League. His final appearance for his home town club came in May 1984 against bitter rivals Wigan.
He left a legacy behind and is one of the clubs most decolorated players in history. It is believed Mick emigrated to Australia and in 2017 passed away 65 years old.
Mick will be remembered for being one of the towns most successful players of all time with his trophy and final appearance tallies. He was a captain of “The Cup Kings” and his inclusion in the Widnes Hall Of Fame in 1992 was testament to his commitment and contribution to the heritage Widnes carries to the present day.
Jim Mills
The next “Cup King” in the Hall Of Fame is Welshman “Big” Jim Mills. Alongside Vince Karalius, Jim goes down as one of the most feared Lions to pull on the famous shirt.
Jim began his Rugby career in the other code playing Rugby Union for Cardiff. Due to his no nonsense style of play, the towering Front-rower was snapped up by Halifax to begin his Rugby League life in 1965.
He made over 40 appearances for Halifax before moving to Salford in 1968. He then represented Bradford Northern between 1968-1970 securing 50 appearances before he decided to sign for North Sydney Bears.
In order to sign with the Bears, Jim turned down the opportunity to play in the 1970 Ashes series, famously this was the last Ashes test the Lions was victorious in.
During his time with the Bears he managed 37 appearances between 1970-1972. On his return to the UK, Jim signed for Widnes where he would become a fans favourite and imbed himself into the towns environment for life. His debut for the club came in 1972 against Warrington.
During his time with Widnes, Jim would go on and cement himself in the history books at the club winning numerous honours. Arguably his proudest achievement for the club was scoring the only Widnes try in the 14-7 1975 Challenge Cup Final victory against local rivals Warrington.
Jim also claimed a 6-2 Lancashire Cup victory over Salford in 1974 and repeated the same in 1975 beating Salford again 14-7. Due to his form, Mills went onto represent Great Britain from 1974-1979 securing over 16 appearances for the Lions.
He was of course a proud Welshman too and Jim racked up 17 appearances for his country, scoring 3 tries. He represented Wales in the 1975 World Cup and was part of the team that famously defeated England. At the same tournament in a brutal contest against New Zealand, Jim was involved in a controversial incident, which saw him receive a lengthy ban.
As a consequence of the incident in the 1976-1977 season Jim decided to spend a season at Workington Town in the division below to take himself out of the public eye. During his time with the Cumbrian team he made 23 appearances, scoring 3 tries.
After a successful season with Workington, Jim returned to his beloved Widnes and this time was here to stay. His first season back saw him lift the Lancashire Cup trophy in a victory over his former team Workington.
In the 1979 season, Jim was a Challenge Cup winner once more staring in the team that defeated Wakefield in 12-3. That season Widnes did a clean sweep of trophies, solidifying their nickname “The Cup Kings.”
His other remarkable achievement for the club came in 1978 where Widnes would become the last club team to beat Australia 11-10 to date. Jim took the field with fellow Hall Of Fame members Mick Burke, Mal Aspey, Mick George, Eric Hughes, Reg Bowden, Keith Elwell, Mick Adams and Doug Laughton to claim the win.
The final game of Jim’s glittering club and country career came against Bradford in 1980.
He was a key component in the Vince Karalius team that dominated English Rugby League for many years.
Alongside the Widnes Hall Of Fame, he was also inducted into the Welsh sports Hall Of Fame an indication of the stature of his achievements in Rugby League for both club and country.
He will be remembered for being one of the most fierce players to pull on the black and white jersey of Widnes. He led from the front, never took a backwards step and will always be remembered as one of the greatest Front-rowers to represent the club.
Doug Laughton
He is no doubt one of the finest players and coaches, alongside Vince Karalius and Frank Myler to represent the club. Starting with his playing career, Laughton was a player with ball skill in abundance and had the ability to read a game like no other.
Despite being from Widnes, he began his career with St Helens making 79 appearances for the club scoring 14 tries. He signed for the club for an initial fee of £500 playing alongside the likes of Alex Murphy.
During his time with St Helens he managed to win the Lancashire Cup against Swinton and played a key role in the 1964-1965 season where St Helens went on to lift 4 major trophies.
Following a serious Knee injury he agreed to switch to bitter rivals Wigan in 1967, a move which would see him earn 183 appearances for the club, scoring 38 tries.
From here on his career continued to blossom as he was selected as captain of Wigan. After many eye catching performances, he earned a place on the 1970 Ashes tour. The tour saw Great Britain defeat Australia to claim the Ashes series an achievement that hasn’t been repeated since to date.
Laughton managed to score in the 37-10 first test defeat. In the second test he managed to grab two tries helping the Lions onto a 28-7 victory. He played on the tour alongside fellow Hall Of Fame members Ray Dutton and Frank Myler.
During his time at Wigan he managed to win the BBC Floodlit Trophy, the 1971 Lancashire Cup, a Country Lancashire Championship and the 1970-1971 league leaders trophy.
Once the 1972-1973 season drew to a close, Doug would go on to sign for his hometown club Widnes for a fee of £6,000. His stint as a player for Widnes couldn’t of been much more successful as he won nearly every trophy on offer.
He featured in the famous 1975 14-7 Challenge Cup Final victory over local rivals Warrington. He made Wembley with Widnes in the following two seasons, however suffered heart ache losing in both of the finals.
1979 came and Widnes returned to Wembley once more and Laughton was victorious for a second time in a Challenge Cup Final as he played a key role in the 12-3 victory over Wakefield, but this time as a player coach.
His honours for Widnes didn’t just stop with the Challenge Cup, Doug secured Lancashire Cup Final victories in 1974,1976 and 1978. The 1976 final against Workington saw him grab two tries on the day.
Laughton also won the 1973 and 1978 BBC Floodlit Trophy. In 1978 he led his side to victory against an Australian touring team an achievement that hasn’t been repeated since by a club team.
Perhaps his proudest individual achievement came in 1979 when he was awarded the Man Of Steel, placing himself in an elite group of players who have won the award whilst playing for Widnes.
Throughout his playing career Laughton represented Great Britain on 15 occasions and made 11 appearances for Lancashire. 1979 would mark the end of a glittering playing career but his legacy at Widnes had only just began.
During his last season as a player Doug took up the head coaching role at Widnes replacing fellow Hall Of Fame member Frank Myler. He all together had three coaching spells at the club. His first coaching spell spread from 1978-1983.
His first signing for Widnes was another Hall Of Fame inductee Mick Burke. As a player coach he led the club to victory against Wakefield in the 1979 Challenge Cup Final as mentioned above in his first season of coaching. He repeated the same success in 1981 this time beating Hull KR 18-9 with his playing days now behind him.
Widnes would return to the Challenge Cup Final in 1982 under Laughton’s stewardship drawing the game 14-14, however fell to a 9-18 defeat in the replay. He eventually left the club in 1983 having coached a total of 217 games.
He re-joined the club as head coach in 1986 and it didn’t take Widnes long to get back to winning ways. He led Widnes to consecutive Championship wins in the 1987-1988 and 1988-1989 seasons. He also led Widnes to three consecutive Premiership wins.
Perhaps his finest achievement of them all came in 1989 when Laughton coached Widnes to victory against Canberra Raiders, the game finished 30-18 confirming Widnes as World Club Champions.
At the height of his success in 1991, Laughton was identified by Leeds to become their head coach in hope he would bring the glory days to the Yorkshire club.
He managed to get Leeds to back to back Challenge Cup Finals, however fell to defeat on both occasions to a dominant Wigan team.
He departed Leeds in 1995 and returned to coach Widnes for a third spell but not even the abilities of the great Doug Laughton could overcome the club’s financial difficulties at the time.
He eventually stepped aside from the club in 1997 with nothing left to prove in the game as a player or coach and retired from the sport.
Sadly in March 2025 the Rugby League world learned the passing of the legendary Doug Laughton.
His trophy collection as a player and coach is remarkable. He had an eye for talent transferring his playing ability into coaching. He brought exceptional talent to the club like the great Martin Offiah, Mick Burke and Jonathan Davies to name a few.
His achievements speak for themselves leading Widnes to a World Club Challenge victory as a coach and being a part of the last club team to defeat the Australians as a player. Add being a part of the last Lions team to claim the Ashes to date (2026) his achievements are up there with the very best the game has produced.
He will be remembered by many in the town of Widnes as arguably the greatest of all the greats to represent the club.
Mick Burke
A former Rugby Union player, Mick Burke was signed by the great Doug Laughton in 1978 from Waterloo. During his first season with the club he featured mainly on the Wing learning the game before making the move to Full-back where he spent the majority of his career.
His first season in Rugby League couldn’t of been much more successful as he helped Widnes lift the 1978-1979 Challenge Cup, Lancashire Cup, John Player Trophy and BBC Floodlit Trophy.
Mick had quite a gift at goal kicking and that season finished with the third most successful conversions in the league. The same season he broke Harry Dawsons long standing record for most points scored in a season a remarkable achievement given it was his debut season.
The 1978-1979 season was quite a season for Widnes and Mick as he also kicked the winning penalty goal in a game against a touring Australia cementing Widnes as the last club team to defeat the Kangaroo’s.
The 1980 season began and his impressive start to Rugby League life continued with a call up to Great Britain against New Zealand. He would go onto represent the Lions on 15 occasions, kicking 10 goals.
During the 1980-1981 season he lifted the Challenge Cup for a second time helping Widnes defeat Hull KR 18-9. On the day Mick scored a try and kicked 4 goals dominating the headlines and with that was awarded the prestigious Lance Todd Trophy, becoming only the third Widnes player to be awarded the trophy after Frank Collier and Ray Dutton.
He returned to Wembley the following year for yet another Challenge Cup Final appearance against Hull, however this time following a 14-14 draw, Widnes lost the replay 9-18.
His impressive performances in the big games continued and in 1982 he was awarded man of the match in the Premiership Final victory against Hull with the game finishing 23-8.
The following season saw Widnes play Hull again in a Premiership Final and once again Burke helped his side to a 22-10 victory, adding yet another major trophy to his collection.
His impressive record at Wembley continued in 1984 as he yet again he lifted the Challenge Cup for a third time with Widnes. This time defeating Wigan 19-6 in a dominant display. Yet again Micks kicking was instrumental in the victory converting three goals.
December 1986 marked Burkes final appearance for Widnes in a game against Warrington. He departed having made 307 appearances, kicked 695 goals and scored 1611 points for the club.
He would transfer to Oldham for the 1987 season. He managed 50 appearances for Oldham between 1987-1989 before pulling the curtain down on a glittering career.
Mick will forever be remembered as one of the clubs most prolific goal and points scorers. It wasn’t just the points he accumulated, it was his ability to score them on the biggest of stages under pressure in major finals.
Kurt Sorensen
The New Zealand international began his career in the Auckland Rugby League competition where he earned his first cap for his country.
After eye catching performances he made the move to Wigan for the 1976-1977 season for his first taste of the British game.
The season came to a close and he returned to the southern hemisphere signing for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks where he went onto make 124 appearances for the club between 1979-1983 scoring 31 tries.
He departed the club for the 1984 season signing for Eastern Suburbs before returning for the 1985 season. His return would only last a further season before he decided to head overseas to the British game and sign for Widnes.
The move would prove to be a huge success as Kurt quickly become a cult hero and a firm fans favourite. Between 1985-1993, he would go on to make 252 appearances for Widnes, scoring 40 tries.
During his time with Widnes he proved to be a real pack leader and captained the team to Championship victories in the 1987-1988 and the 1988-1989 season.
He also led his team to three back to back Premiership victories between 1988-1990. He was instrumental in a team playing a style of Rugby League ahead of its time.
The forward had devastating aggression in attack and defence, but also was blessed with speed not many Front-rowers had.
His finest achievement came in 1989 when he would become a Champion of the world helping Widnes defeat Canberra Raiders 30-18 in the World Club Challenge. He led from the front throughout, playing an instrumental role in the historical victory.
He lifted the 1990-1991 Lancashire Cup with Widnes in a 24-18 victory over Salford and in the 1991-1992 season he played in a 24-0 victory over Leeds in the Regal Trophy Final.
Before leaving Widnes he also managed to score a try in the 20-14 1992-1993 Challenge Cup Final defeat to Wigan. Throughout a well respected playing career he manged to represent New Zealand on 24 occasions, scoring 4 tries.
He eventually departed Widnes in 1993 joining Cumbrian club Whitehaven as a player coach. Controversially for the 1995 season he agreed to join bitter rivals Workington as a coach.
He departed Workington after a season and agreed to return playing for Chorley for the 1996 season. His spell at Chorley came to a close and he retired from playing in the British game.
Kurt will be remembered throughout the town of Widnes as one of the greatest forwards to pull on the Widnes jersey. He was the pack leader of the team that claimed multiple Premierships and the World Club Challenge.
His achievements for the club will live forever in history. He was a forward that was feared by opponents and had the playing ability of an outside back.
Martin Offiah
Arguably the greatest try scorer of the British game, Offiah was first scouted playing Rugby Union in the Middlesex Sevens by fellow Hall Of Fame man Doug Laughton, who was coach of Widnes at the time.
Known for his lightening speed, Offiah linked up with Widnes for the 1987-1988 season. He made his debut against Halifax in August 1987.
His first season was remarkable finishing the year with an eye watering 42 tries, topping the try scoring charts. As a reward for the speedsters eye for the try line, he was awarded the Man Of Steel and broke Frank Myler’s record for most try’s scored in one season for Widnes.
His debut season saw Widnes lift both the Premiership and be crowned the League Champions.
Due to his scintillating first season at Widnes, he was immediately rewarded with a place on the 1988 Lions tour of Australia. The Winger played in all three test matches, but the Lions fell to a tour defeat.
During the tour at Wentworth Park, Offiah was challenged to a 100m sprint race by John Ferguson and Dale Shearer. The contest was won by Martin relatively convincingly.
The 1988-1989 season come around and his red hot form continued. He again played a key role in Widnes retaining the League Championship and the Premiership, however this time managed to score an eye watering 58 tries in just 41 appearances.
After another scorching season, Martin spent the summer in Australia signing a short term deal to play for Eastern Suburbs. He scored on his debut against Western Suburbs and went on to score 9 tries in 12 appearances.
On his return to Widnes for the 1989-1990 season, he featured on the Wing in the 30-18 World Club Challenge victory over Camberra Raiders. In classic Offiah style he helped himself to a try playing a key role in one of the most famous games in Widnes club history.
Offiah would also claim victory in the 1990 Lancashire Cup final over Salford with the game finishing 24-18, again he scored a try in classic style. The same season would see Offiah and Widnes claim the Premiership for the third season in succession.
During his time with Widnes he also managed to win two back to back Charity shields to add to his trophy haul.
Before departing Widnes, Offiah opted for another summer overseas, this time with St George Dragons now known as St George Illawarra Dragons. During his second spell in Australia Martin scored 11 tries in 14 games.
All in all for Widnes the try scoring machine scored 181 tries for the club in just 145 appearances, arguably one of the most impressive strike rates the game has witnessed.
The 1992 season approached and Wigan would pay a world record transfer fee of £44,000 to secure the signature of Offiah.
Martin began life at Wigan just like he did at Widnes, in his first season he would score 30 tries in just 15 games including setting a new club record of ten tries in a single match against Leeds in the Premiership semi-final in May.
During the season he appeared in the 1992 Lancashire Cup Final victory over local rivals St Helens.
He would continue to dominate the headlines with his try scoring ability managing to score 186 tries in 151 appearances for Wigan.
During his time with Wigan, he was equally as dominant when it come to winning trophies as he secured a further 3 League Championships in the 1992-1993, 1993-1994 and 1994-1995 season.
Offiah also added the 1993-1994, 1994-1995 Premierships and the 1994 World Club Challenge to his trophy collection. He also won 3 consecutive Challenge Cups between 1993-1995.
Finally he added 2 League Cup victories in 1993, 1995 to his honours list whilst wearing the Cherry and White jersey.
In 1995 Offiah left Wigan having stints with London Broncos and Salford before he retired from the game.
Martin finished his Rugby League career with 33 caps for Great Britain scoring 26 tries at the highest level. His club career finished even more impressively making 424 appearances, scoring 446 tries a staggering amount. Leaving him in an elite group of players scoring more tries than appearances made.
He retired from the game with a packed trophy cabinet securing 5 League Championships, 5 Premierships, 3 Challenge Cups, 2 Lancashire Cups, 2 League Cup and 2 World Club Challenge victories.
On an individual level he won a Man Of Steel award and was a two time Lance Todd Trophy Winner in 1992 and 1994. He is also a member of the Widnes, Wigan and RFL Hall Of Fame.
Offiah will be remembered as one of the greatest athletes the British game has produced. He replicated his performances at the highest level both for club and country.
He is no doubt the finest try scorer to represent Widnes and arguably Great Britain. His try scoring ratio is one that will likely never be repeated.
