1996 Wigan RLFC season

The 1996 Wigan season was the 101st season in the club's rugby league history and the first season in the newly formed Super League. Coached by Graeme West and captained by Shaun Edwards, Wigan competed in Super League I and finished in 2nd place, but went on to win the Premiership Final at Old Trafford against St. Helens. The club also competed in the 1996 Challenge Cup, but were knocked out in the fifth round by First Division side Salford Reds, and was the first time the club had failed to win the trophy since 1987.

1996 Wigan RLFC season
Super League I Rank2nd
Play-off resultWon Premiership Final
Challenge Cup5th round
1996 recordWins: 19; draws: 1; losses: 2
Points scoredFor: 902; against: 326
Team information
ChairmanJack Robinson
Head CoachGraeme West
Captain
StadiumCentral Park
< 1995–96 List of seasons 1997 >

In July 1996 Farrell was appointed Wigan's captain.

Background
See also: 1995–96 Rugby Football League season and List of Wigan Warriors seasons

The 1995–96 season was a shortened transitional season ahead of the switch to the Super League, which would see the league become a summer competition. Wigan won the league championship for the seventh consecutive season, and also won the final staging of the League Cup, defeating St Helens 25–16. Wigan's dominance was expected to continue in the summer era, and the club were odds-on favourites to win the inaugural Super League.[1]

Table
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 St. Helens 222002950455+49540
2 Wigan 221912902326+57639
3 Bradford Bulls 221705767409+35834
4 London Broncos 221219611462+14925
5 Warrington Wolves 2212010569565+424
6 Halifax Blue Sox 2210111667576+9121
7 Sheffield Eagles 2210012599730-13120
8 Oldham Bears 229112473681-20819
9 Castleford Tigers 229013548599-5118
10 Leeds 226016555745-19012
11 Paris Saint-Germain 223118398795-3977
12 Workington Town 2221193251021-6965
Champions Relegated

Match results
Win Draw Loss

Super League
DateOpponentVenueScoreTriesGoalsAttendance
30 March 1996Oldham BearsAway56–16Connolly (3), Edwards (2), Offiah (2), Radlinski (2), Hall, PaulFarrell (8)7,709
5 April 1996St. HelensAway26–41Hall (2), O'Connor, Smyth, TuigamalaPaul (3)15,883
8 April 1996WarringtonHome42–12Edwards (2), Haughton, A. Johnson, Paul, Radlinski, Smyth,Farrell (6), Paul14,620
14 April 1996Castleford TigersAway28–10Connolly, Farrell, Paul, Robinson, SmythFarrell (4)7,985
19 April 1996Bradford BullsHome22–6Craig, Haughton, Murdock, PaulFarrell (3)9,872
5 May 1996Paris Saint-GermainHome76–8Paul (3), Smyth (3), Connolly (2), Haughton (2), Cassidy, Farrell, Murdock, RadlinskiPaul (6), Farrell (4)10,675
14 May 1996Halifax Blue SoxAway50–4Robinson (2), Smyth (2), Cassidy, Connolly, Edwards, Haughton, MurdockFarrell (5), Hall (2)5,269
18 May 1996Workington TownAway64–16Farrell (2), Robinson (2), Tuigamala (2), Craig, Edwards, Hall, Murdock, OffiahFarrell (8), Paul, Tuigamala3,176
29 May 1996Sheffield EaglesHome50–6Offiah (3), Cassidy, Connolly, Hall, A.Johnson, Paul, SmythFarrell (7)9,158
1 June 1996LeedsAway40–20Smyth (2), Murdock, Offiah, Paul, RobinsonFarrell (8)9,508
9 June 1996London BroncosHome18–18Murdock, Robinson, TuigamalaFarrell (3)9,189
16 June 1996Oldham BearsHome44–16Robinson (3), Smyth (2), Connolly, Ellison, Haughton, QuinnellFarrell (2), Edwards, Hall7,226
21 June 1996St. HelensHome35–19Robinson (2), Haughton, Murdock, Smyth, TuigamalaPaul (3), Hall (2), Robinson (DG)20,429
30 June 1996WarringtonAway21–0Paul (2), Smyth (2)Connolly (2), Wright (DG)8,103
5 July 1996Castleford TigersHome26–25Robinson (2), A. Johnson, TuigamalaFarrell (5)8,180
12 July 1996Bradford BullsAway12–20Ellison, PaulFarrell (2)17,360
20 July 1996Paris Saint-GermainAway24–20A. Johnson, Radlinski, Robinson, TuigamalaFarrell (4)5,428
26 July 1996Halifax Blue SoxHome34–26Connolly, Ellison, Murdock, Paul, Radlinski, TuigamalaFarrell (5)8,221
3 August 1996Sheffield EaglesAway54–12Paul (2), Connolly, Edwards, Ellison, Hall, Haughton, Murdock, RobinsonFarrell (9)5,103
9 August 1996LeedsHome68–14Robinson (5), Connolly (2), Edwards (2), Cowie, Murdock, Radlinski, TuigamalaFarrell (8)7,814
17 August 1996London BroncosAway34–13Paul (2), Edwards, A. Johnson, Robinson, TuigamalaFarrell (5)10,014
24 August 1996Workington TownHome78–4Barrow (3), Paul (3), Edwards (2), Haughton (2), Robinson (2), Ellison, FarrellFarrell (9), Tuigamala (2)6,466

Premiership
GameDateOpponentVenueScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceRef
Semi Final31 August 1996Bradford BullsHome42–36Edwards (4), Ellison (2), Paul, RadlinskiFarrell (5)9,878MR
Final8 September 1996St. HelensNeutral44–14Ellison (3), Connolly, Edwards, Haughton, Murdock, Paul, RobinsonFarrell (4)35,013MR

Challenge Cup

Wigan's fourth round Challenge Cup tie against Second Division side Bramley took place a week after the end of the previous season. Wigan progressed to the next round with a comfortable 74–12 win, and drew Salford Reds in the next round. Wigan lost 16–26 against their First Division opponents, ending the club's unbeaten run of 43 games in the competition, and was the first time they had been knocked out of the Challenge Cup since being defeated by Oldham in February 1987.[2] The result is considered one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition.[3]

RoundDateOpponentVenueScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceRef
Fourth28 January 1996BramleyHome74–12Offiah (4), Farrell (2), Quinnell (2), Radlinski (2), Connolly, Cowie, Robinson, TuigamalaHall (5), Paul (4)4,627MR
Fifth11 February 1996Salford RedsAway16–26Tuigamala (2), OffiahFarrell, Paul10,048MR

Clash of the Codes
Main article: Clash of the Codes (rugby)

In addition to their league and cup exploits, Wigan took part in a special two-game series against Bath, the reigning champions of rugby union's Courage League, with one game being played under the rules of each code. Wigan won the game played under league rules at Maine Road 82-6,[4] but lost the union game at Twickenham by 44-19.[5]

GameDateOpponentVenueScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceRef
League8 May 1996BathNeutral82–6Offiah (6), Robinson (2), O'Connor (2), Johnson (2), Paul, Cassidy, Quinnell, MurdockHall (5), Farrell (4)20,148MR Archived 2016-03-13 at the Wayback Machine
Union25 May 1996BathNeutral19–44Murdock (2), TuigamalaFarrell (2)42,000MR Archived 2016-03-13 at the Wayback Machine

Squad

[6]

No Player Apps Tries Goals DGs Points
1Kris Radlinski21100040
2Jason Robinson252601105
3Va'aiga Tuigamala25133058
4Gary Connolly25152064
5Martin Offiah10120048
6Henry Paul2322190126
7Shaun Edwards24171070
8Kelvin Skerrett120000
9Martin Hall26610044
10Terry O'Connor261004
11Simon Haughton26110044
12Mick Cassidy2530012
13Andy Farrell2671130254
14Rob Smyth17160064
15Danny Ellison11100040
16Scott Quinnell1130012
17Andy Johnson2150020
18Craig Murdock21110044
19Martin Dermott00000
20Daryl Cardiss10000
21Nigel Wright20011
21Andy Craig112008
22Steve Barrow1030012
22Paul Johnson10000
23Matt Knowles30000
24Shem Tatupu30000
25Neil Cowie212008
26Sean Long30000
27Neil Baynes30000
28Gaël Tallec10000

In
Player Pos From Fee Date Ref
Stuart LesterFullbackAuckland WarriorsAugust 1996
Stephen HolgateSecond-rowWorkington Town£100,000December 1996
Ian SherrattProp forwardOldham Bears£30,000December 1996
Doc MurrayFullbackAuckland WarriorsDecember 1996

Out
Player Pos To Fee Date Ref
Scott QuinnellSecond-rowRichmond (RU)£250,000June 1996[7]
Shem TatupuProp forwardNorthampton Saints (RU)£80,000July 1996[8]
Martin OffiahWingerLondon Broncos£300,000August 1996[9]
Martin DermottHookerWarrington WolvesSeptember 1996
Andy CraigCentreSwinton LionsDecember 1996[10]

References
  1. Irvine, Christopher (29 March 1996). "Stones Super League - Rugby League". The Times. London. p. 46.
  2. Hadfield, Dave (12 February 1996). "Wigan wilt at The Willows". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  3. Mordey, Tom (14 May 2015). "Challenge Cup: We look back at some of the biggest upsets". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  4. Dave Hadfield (1996-05-09). "Bath feel full force of Wigan might". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  5. Chris Hewett (1996-05-26). "The union empire strikes back". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  6. Fletcher, Raymond (1997). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1997. Headline Book Publishing. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-7472-7764-4.
  7. Huxley, John (26 May 1996). "Wigan's Strife of Bryan". Sunday Mirror. London. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  8. "Warrington pin pounds 1.35m price tag on Harris". The Independent. 24 July 1996. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  9. Richards, Martin (3 August 1996). "Bronco Offiah". The Mirror. London. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  10. Hadfield, Dave (28 December 1996). "Rugby League: Winter games' success". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
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