The five best Wigan Warriors players of the Super League era

With the exception of a few rocky seasons in the mid-2000s, Wigan have been stalwarts of the Super League competition.

The Warriors have won five titles in the summer game, their first coming in the inaugural Grand Final year of 1998 and their last in 2018. During the 26-year period of the Super League, Wigan have had some incredible players pull on the famous cherry-and-white, including five on this list.

Kris Radlinski
Having signed for the club as a junior in 1993, Kris Radlinski wrote his name in Wigan folklore over a 12-year period. Before the onset of the Grand Final, the flying fullback won two Premierships – being awarded the Harry Sunderland trophy for a man-of-the-match performance in 1995 – and was on hand to lift the title at Old Trafford in 1998. Winning the Lance Todd trophy in the 2002 Challenge Cup Final too, Radlinski did, however, have to sit through three Grand Final losses. 183 tries in over 300 appearances later and Wiganer Radlinski retired – though he did make an additional six appearances in 2006 to help the Warriors avoid relegation.

Andrew Farrell
Few players have had an impact that rivals that of Andy Farrell during his time at Wigan. A Wigan academy product, by the time Super League came into fruition, Farrell was already captain and Man of Steel. That stellar form continued in the summer game with the loose-forward breaking the record for most points in a season with 429 in 2001. Being named Man of Steel for a second time in 2004, Farrell also scooped up the Golden Boot and Forward of the Year by the RLIF. All in all, the incredible number 13 scored over 3,000 points in all competitions for the Warriors and is second on England’s all-time top points scorers list.

Sean O’Loughlin
The number 13 role has been in safe hands for Wigan from before the turn of the millennium with Sean O’Loughlin taking over from Farrell with the latter’s move to rugby union. O’Loughlin played his entire club career with the Warriors, from 2002 right though to 2020 when he retired with over 450 appearances to his name. Four Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and one World Club Challenge later and the now 38-year-old is classed as a club legend at the DW Stadium.

Pat Richards
Have Wigan had an overseas signing as much loved as Pat Richards in the modern game? Probably not and here’s why; the rangy winger joined in 2006 and left at the end of 2013, with almost 2,500 points and nearly 250 appearances later. In that time, Richards won the 2010 and 2013 Super League Grand Finals as well as the 2011 Challenge Cup. Individually, however, his achievements were incredible; he was awarded the Man of Steel in 2010 and became the highest overseas points-scorer in the competition’s history.

Tommy Leuluai
One man that could rival Pat Richards for a favourite adopted Wiganer is Tommy Leuluai. Signing from Harlequins RL ahead of the 2007 season, the halfback became an instant hit in Lancashire, helping to steer Wigan to a Grand Final victory in 2010 and then a Challenge Cup success a year later. Though the Kiwi left to join New Zealand Warriors in 2013, Leuluai returned in 2017 like the prodigal son, winning a second Super League title in 2018. He is still a major star in the Warriors side.