Dave Craven: Overdue rewards finally given to inspirational Wigan players

Having downed Australia’s finest in an epic contest under the Central Park floodlights, fired on by a swollen partisan crowd of almost 37,000 which made the old stadium shake like a rattle, the sense of achievement was all-consuming.

Speaking to Henderson Gill earlier this week, a veteran of that glorious night and someone who a year later would score one of the most memorable Test tries seen on Australian soil, his recollections were as vivid and colourful as if it had happened yesterday.

He remembers how that night saw Graham Lowe, the esteemed Kiwi coach, start the Wigan ‘revolution’ with his inspired coaching and motivational ploys, preparing them better physically than was thought possible for the visit of the Sydney Premiership champions and sparking what would become the great club’s most illustrious period.

He recalls the numerous scuffles that broke out as irritated Manly struggled to come to terms with this unexpected English dominance, gritty hooker Nicky ‘Psycho’ Kiss living up to his nickname by rattling the fabled opponents with his sheer aggression and cussedness.

There was also the relentless Brian Case, trademark headband wrapped tight, taking the battle to Ronnie ‘Rambo’ Gibbs and ‘Fatty’ Vauntin and emerging on top, with the Aussies left picking over the pieces.

For former Bradford Northern star Gill, as a winger in an edgy, tight 8-2 success where not even a single try was scored, there was little in terms of clear-cut running opportunities.

Yet that only reminds him of the resilience, strength and determination shown in his side’s defensive performance, shutting out such performers as Michael O’Connor, Des Hasler, Cliffy Lyons and Dale Shearer.

And then there was that electric atmosphere, something which might never be savoured again given the physics of modern stadia.

After all of that, only as a passing after-thought did the proud Yorkshireman mention that absence of medals.

It seems implausible that given the magnitude of Wigan’s success that evening, their players never received a lasting memento.

It was not done out of spite but simply an oversight given the contest – espoused so vigorously by then Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay who proved the driving force behind the concept taking off – was only in its embryonic stages.

However, it is now fitting that Gill and everyone else from that momentous occasion, such as Ellery Hanley, Andy Gregory, Steve Hampson, Graeme West and man-of-the-match Shaun Wane, will finally be rewarded for their efforts.

When the current Wigan side contest their first World Club Challenge in 17 years on Sunday, facing St George Illawarra at DW Stadium with Central Park sadly being no more, many of that ’87 class will be guests of honour and introduced to the crowd ahead of kick-off before being presented with medals by Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan.

The RFL, the club itself and the Wigan RL Past Players’ Association have combined to ensure they do finally receive their rewards and then it will be up to the present squad to try to emulate those very same feats afterwards.

It will be an arduous task against revered opponents who operate in a style which rarely sees them gift away any possession.

Fans who thought Wigan had an iron-grip on Super League teams will see that control taken to new levels by Wayne Bennett’s side.

It will be a sizeable challenge for the English club but one which, thankfully after that historic 1987 debut, is now rightfully a staple of the rugby league calendar.