Super League Team of the Decade: Left Wing

We continue to look at the best players in each position, as we look to name our team of the decade. This time, it is the left wing.

This is in no particular order.

SIDENOTE: A few out there have notified that we have put some players on the wrong side. They will also be considered for their more natural positions  (for example, Pat Richards is also considered for the left wing).

Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos)

Ryan Hall came into the Leeds side in 2007, and didn’t look back.

He gradually got more game time, and by the time 2009 came, at the age of 23, he became the Rhino’s first choice winger on the left.

Hall instantly repaid the faith shown in him, as he finished top try scorer in the Super League with 31 tries to his name. He was also named Young Player of the Year.

Moving into this decade, he carried on his fine form with another 31 efforts to his name. He also got some big game experience as Leeds played in the World Club Challenge and the Challenge Cup Finals, though they lost both games.

2011 would see Hall get his shot at glory as he played and scored as Leeds claimed their fourth Super League title in five seasons with victory against St Helens.

With that title came another chance at a World Club Challenge, this time they faced Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. This time however, they won 26-12.

Hall was fast earning a reputation, and he was named as the best winger of the year by the RLIF.

He helped Leeds to another Super League Grand Final win, as they came back to beat Warrington Wolves, the perfect revenge for their Challenge Cup Final defeat earlier in the season.

In 2014, he added the one trophy that was missing from his collection, as he helped his side lift the Challenge Cup with victory over West Yorkshire rivals Castleford Tigers. He also won the Lance Todd Trophy for his performance.

His crowning moment came a year later when he scored one of the most memorable tries in the history of the Super League to win his side the League Leaders Shield.

With the game poised at 16-16 and heading for a draw with 10 seconds left, Danny McGuire put a hopeful kick over the top, and Hall collected the kick on the halfway line and ran all the way to score. The Rhinos went on to complete the treble.

He won one more trophy with the Rhinos, as he lifted the Super League once more, as they beat Castleford in the final in 2017. A year later, he joined Sydney Roosters.

Whilst his time in the Super League might be over for now, he will certainly go down as one of the best wingers to have played in the league. He ended with 231 tries in 328 matches.

Joel Monaghan (Warrington Wolves and Castleford Tigers)

Joel Monaghan came over to Warrington after a 10 year career in the NRL, and he proved he was still a prolific winger.

He helped Warrington to the League Leaders Shield in 2011 and the Challenge Cup in 2012.

He also played in two Super League Grand Finals, but lost them both. Though the Australian did score in the 2013 final.

Although Warrington didn’t reach the final in 2014, he still finished as the top try scorer for that season.

Monaghan finished at the Wolves ahead of the 2016 season. He finished with highly impressive figures of 145 tries in 145 matches.

He went to Castleford Tigers after that, where he scored 13 tries across 34 appearances. Two years later, he moved back to Australia and signed for Albury Thunder.

Though his time in England was brief, he is certainly fondly remembered as a try-scorer and was one of the best at plucking the ball out of the air.

Joe Burgess (Wigan Warriors)

Joe Burgess came into the Wigan squad following the departure of Pat Richards, and immediately justified his selection, as he finished with 22 tries.

He scored one of the most memorable tries of that season, as he clinched Wigan’s place in the Grand Final with a try against Warrington, with seconds remaining.

His performances continued to impress and he was named in the Super League Dream Team for 2015. Wigan got to the Super League Grand Final for a third straight year, but lost their second consecutive.

Burgess then got a move to Australia, as he joined Sydney Roosters.

However, he came back to Wigan after one year. He had a turbulent time Down Under, which included him being loaned to South Sydney Rabbitohs.

When he came back, he continued his impressive try scoring record. He had left with 52 tries in 55 games, and since returning, has a further 48 in 59.

He certainly knows where the try line is and his record shows that.

Adam Swift (St Helens and Hull FC)

Swift burst onto the scene in 2013, where his tries helped Saints to qualify for the 2013 playoff series. He scored 13 tries in 12 matches.

A year later, he was given the number five shirt. He also helped Saints to their first Super League Grand Final win for eight years.

Over time, he really developed in the defensive aspects of his game. He became a trusty figure to bring the ball away from the try line.

But injuries and the rise of Regan Grace saw his game time severely limited. Meaning he had to look for opportunities beyond his hometown club.

He will start the new decade with Hull FC, as he looks to restart his career.