1996 Wigan RLFC season

Rugby league team season

1996 Wigan RLFC season

Super League I Rank| 2nd
Play-off result| Won Premiership Final
Challenge Cup| 5th round
1996 record| Wins: 19; draws: 1; losses: 2
Points scored| For: 902; against: 326
Team information
Chairman| Jack Robinson
Head Coach| Graeme West
Captain|

* Shaun Edwards
Andy Farrell

Stadium| Central Park
| ← 1995–96 | List of seasons | 1997 →

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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.

In July 1996 Farrell was appointed Wigan's captain.

## Background[edit]

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[edit]

Super League I Pos | Team

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| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

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1  |  St Helens (C) | 22  | 20  | 0  | 2  | 950  | 455  | +495  | 40  | Champions and qualified for Premiership semi final
2  |  Wigan | 22  | 19  | 1  | 2  | 902  | 326  | +576  | 39  | Qualified for Premiership semi final
3  |  Bradford Bulls | 22  | 17  | 0  | 5  | 767  | 409  | +358  | 34
4  |  London Broncos | 22  | 12  | 1  | 9  | 611  | 462  | +149  | 25
5  |  Warrington Wolves | 22  | 12  | 0  | 10  | 569  | 565  | +4  | 24  |
6  |  Halifax Blue Sox | 22  | 10  | 1  | 11  | 667  | 576  | +91  | 21
7  |  Sheffield Eagles | 22  | 10  | 0  | 12  | 599  | 730  | −131  | 20
8  |  Oldham Bears | 22  | 9  | 1  | 12  | 473  | 681  | −208  | 19
9  |  Castleford Tigers | 22  | 9  | 0  | 13  | 548  | 599  | −51  | 18
10  |  Leeds | 22  | 6  | 0  | 16  | 555  | 745  | −190  | 12
11  |  Paris Saint-Germain | 22  | 3  | 1  | 18  | 398  | 795  | −397  | 7
12  |  Workington Town (R) | 22  | 2  | 1  | 19  | 325  | 1021  | −696  | 5  | Relegated to Division One

Source: Rugby League Project
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

## Match results[edit]

Win | Draw | Loss

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### Super League[edit]

Date | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance

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30 March 1996 | Oldham Bears | Away | 56–16 | Connolly (3), Edwards (2), Offiah (2), Radlinski (2), Hall, Paul | Farrell (8) | 7,709
5 April 1996 | St. Helens | Away | 26–41 | Hall (2), O'Connor, Smyth, Tuigamala | Paul (3) | 15,883
8 April 1996 | Warrington | Home | 42–12 | Edwards (2), Haughton, A. Johnson, Paul, Radlinski, Smyth, | Farrell (6), Paul | 14,620
14 April 1996 | Castleford Tigers | Away | 28–10 | Connolly, Farrell, Paul, Robinson, Smyth | Farrell (4) | 7,985
19 April 1996 | Bradford Bulls | Home | 22–6 | Craig, Haughton, Murdock, Paul | Farrell (3) | 9,872
5 May 1996 | Paris Saint-Germain | Home | 76–8 | Paul (3), Smyth (3), Connolly (2), Haughton (2), Cassidy, Farrell, Murdock, Radlinski | Paul (6), Farrell (4) | 10,675
14 May 1996 | Halifax Blue Sox | Away | 50–4 | Robinson (2), Smyth (2), Cassidy, Connolly, Edwards, Haughton, Murdock | Farrell (5), Hall (2) | 5,269
18 May 1996 | Workington Town | Away | 64–16 | Farrell (2), Robinson (2), Tuigamala (2), Craig, Edwards, Hall, Murdock, Offiah | Farrell (8), Paul, Tuigamala | 3,176
29 May 1996 | Sheffield Eagles | Home | 50–6 | Offiah (3), Cassidy, Connolly, Hall, A.Johnson, Paul, Smyth | Farrell (7) | 9,158
1 June 1996 | Leeds | Away | 40–20 | Smyth (2), Murdock, Offiah, Paul, Robinson | Farrell (8) | 9,508
9 June 1996 | London Broncos | Home | 18–18 | Murdock, Robinson, Tuigamala | Farrell (3) | 9,189
16 June 1996 | Oldham Bears | Home | 44–16 | Robinson (3), Smyth (2), Connolly, Ellison, Haughton, Quinnell | Farrell (2), Edwards, Hall | 7,226
21 June 1996 | St. Helens | Home | 35–19 | Robinson (2), Haughton, Murdock, Smyth, Tuigamala | Paul (3), Hall (2), Robinson (DG) | 20,429
30 June 1996 | Warrington | Away | 21–0 | Paul (2), Smyth (2) | Connolly (2), Wright (DG) | 8,103
5 July 1996 | Castleford Tigers | Home | 26–25 | Robinson (2), A. Johnson, Tuigamala | Farrell (5) | 8,180
12 July 1996 | Bradford Bulls | Away | 12–20 | Ellison, Paul | Farrell (2) | 17,360
20 July 1996 | Paris Saint-Germain | Away | 24–20 | A. Johnson, Radlinski, Robinson, Tuigamala | Farrell (4) | 5,428
26 July 1996 | Halifax Blue Sox | Home | 34–26 | Connolly, Ellison, Murdock, Paul, Radlinski, Tuigamala | Farrell (5) | 8,221
3 August 1996 | Sheffield Eagles | Away | 54–12 | Paul (2), Connolly, Edwards, Ellison, Hall, Haughton, Murdock, Robinson | Farrell (9) | 5,103
9 August 1996 | Leeds | Home | 68–14 | Robinson (5), Connolly (2), Edwards (2), Cowie, Murdock, Radlinski, Tuigamala | Farrell (8) | 7,814
17 August 1996 | London Broncos | Away | 34–13 | Paul (2), Edwards, A. Johnson, Robinson, Tuigamala | Farrell (5) | 10,014
24 August 1996 | Workington Town | Home | 78–4 | Barrow (3), Paul (3), Edwards (2), Haughton (2), Robinson (2), Ellison, Farrell | Farrell (9), Tuigamala (2) | 6,466

### Premiership[edit]

Game | Date | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Ref

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Semi Final | 31 August 1996 | Bradford Bulls | Home | 42–36 | Edwards (4), Ellison (2), Paul, Radlinski | Farrell (5) | 9,878 | MR
Final | 8 September 1996 | St. Helens | Neutral | 44–14 | Ellison (3), Connolly, Edwards, Haughton, Murdock, Paul, Robinson | Farrell (4) | 35,013 | MR

### Challenge Cup[edit]

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]

Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Ref

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Fourth | 28 January 1996 | Bramley | Home | 74–12 | Offiah (4), Farrell (2), Quinnell (2), Radlinski (2), Connolly, Cowie, Robinson, Tuigamala | Hall (5), Paul (4) | 4,627 | MR
Fifth | 11 February 1996 | Salford Reds | Away | 16–26 | Tuigamala (2), Offiah | Farrell, Paul | 10,048 | MR

### Clash of the Codes[edit]

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]

Game | Date | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Ref

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League | 8 May 1996 | Bath | Neutral | 82–6 | Offiah (6), Robinson (2), O'Connor (2), Johnson (2), Paul, Cassidy, Quinnell, Murdock | Hall (5), Farrell (4) | 20,148 | MR Archived 2016-03-13 at the Wayback Machine
Union | 25 May 1996 | Bath | Neutral | 19–44 | Murdock (2), Tuigamala | Farrell (2) | 42,000 | MR Archived 2016-03-13 at the Wayback Machine

## Squad[edit]

[6]

No | Player | Apps | Tries | Goals | DGs | Points

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1 | Kris Radlinski | 21 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40
2 | Jason Robinson | 25 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 105
3 | Va'aiga Tuigamala | 25 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 58
4 | Gary Connolly | 25 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 64
5 | Martin Offiah | 10 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 48
6 | Henry Paul | 23 | 22 | 19 | 0 | 126
7 | Shaun Edwards | 24 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 70
8 | Kelvin Skerrett | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
9 | Martin Hall | 26 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 44
10 | Terry O'Connor | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4
11 | Simon Haughton | 26 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44
12 | Mick Cassidy | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12
13 | Andy Farrell | 26 | 7 | 113 | 0 | 254
14 | Rob Smyth | 17 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 64
15 | Danny Ellison | 11 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40
16 | Scott Quinnell | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12
17 | Andy Johnson | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20
18 | Craig Murdock | 21 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44
19 | Martin Dermott | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
20 | Daryl Cardiss | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
21 | Nigel Wright | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
21 | Andy Craig | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8
22 | Steve Barrow | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12
22 | Paul Johnson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
23 | Matt Knowles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
24 | Shem Tatupu | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
25 | Neil Cowie | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8
26 | Sean Long | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
27 | Neil Baynes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
28 | Gaël Tallec | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0

### Transfers[edit]

#### In[edit]

Player | Pos | From | Fee | Date | Ref

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Stuart Lester | Fullback | Auckland Warriors |  | August 1996 |
Stephen Holgate | Second-row | Workington Town | £100,000 | December 1996 |
Ian Sherratt | Prop forward | Oldham Bears | £30,000 | December 1996 |
Doc Murray | Fullback | Auckland Warriors |  | December 1996 |

#### Out[edit]

Player | Pos | To | Fee | Date | Ref

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Scott Quinnell | Second-row | Richmond (RU) | £250,000 | June 1996 | [7]
Shem Tatupu | Prop forward | Northampton Saints (RU) | £80,000 | July 1996 | [8]
Martin Offiah | Winger | London Broncos | £300,000 | August 1996 | [9]
Martin Dermott | Hooker | Warrington Wolves |  | September 1996 |
Andy Craig | Centre | Swinton Lions |  | December 1996 | [10]

## References[edit]

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.

## External links[edit]

* Wigan Warriors Rugby League Fan Site Archived 2014-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
* Wigan - Rugby League Project

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Wigan Warriors

Est. 1872 in Wigan, England

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1996 in rugby league

« 1995

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International Rugby League|

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| Competitions|

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|

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|

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*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[PF]: Points for
*[PA]: Points against
*[PD]: Point difference
*[Pts]: Points