International Super League club with close Warriors/Kiwis connection?

[PrinceOfPenrose]

Looking at starting to keep track of the Super League, and was wondering which team (currently or not currently in the Super League) has the biggest connection to the Warriors/Kiwis?

 

[Matiunz]

I did a similar thing a while back and jumped on Leeds, mostly to see how Ali went
former Warriors players;
Richie Blackmore
Robbie Mears
Ali Lauitiiti
Clinton Toopi
Brent Webb
Joel Moon
Konrad Hurrell
Tui Lolohea
Bodene Thompson
King Vuniyayama
David Fusitua

 

[Viking]

The mighty Rhinos!

 

[sup42]

Undoubtedly if you want the closest Kiwi connection then it is Wigan, and arguably the closest Warriors connection is also the Wigan 'Warriors'.

They even pinched our name.

Too many links to name with that club, but big names like Graham Lowe, Dean Bell, John Money, Dennis Betts, Andy Platt Sam Tomkins, Frano Botica, Henry Paul all have dual ties to the two Warriors clubs, better mention Kevin Iro.

When I started following Wigan they were coached by Graham West, a former Kiwi international.

Even today Tony Iro is still at Mt Smart and was a beast for Wigan as an ex Union player that got a look in because of brother Kevin and Graham Lowe being coach of Wigan at the time.

I am sure I have left out a bunch of Warriors connections with Wigan, but there is lots more non Warriors Kiwi connections there, people Like Va'aiga Tuigamala.

Who could forget the last signing, cult hero Anthony Gelling who was old and still good for a laugh about the place.

We have a few long time English/ESL league fans on here, @Hardyman's Yugo (Not a Wigan supporter) and @Wigan Warrior.

Those lads do well to remember a lot about this club and their home clubs, I can barely keep up with this lot.

I am a bit of a bandwagon fan nowadays, I back the ESL club that has the most Kiwis or even better former Warriors, and even then I stopped following every game of a chosen club in the ESL when I retired from work, don't ask me how that works, I just found other things to do with all the free time rather than listen to BBC sport radio and watch SKY.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

The two Hull clubs had a few Kiwis post 1980 tour. Dane O’Hara, Gary Kemble, Mark Broadhurst, Gary Prohm, Fred Ah Kuoi, Gordon Smith, James leuluai. Widnes had a good few in the 1980’s as well

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

This picture is hung on a wall in a Wigan town centre boozer, The Raven on Wallgate

https://theravenwigan.com/

 

[Wigan Warrior]

Plenty of Wigan and Warriors links including assistant coach Tommy Leuluai and debutant today Adam Keighran.

 

[Zaggo]

I did a similar thing a while back and jumped on Leeds, mostly to see how Ali went
former Warriors players;
Richie Blackmore
Robbie Mears
Ali Lauitiiti
Clinton Toopi
Brent Webb
Joel Moon
Konrad Hurrell
Tui Lolohea
Bodene Thompson
King Vuniyayama
David Fusitua

Sam Lisone too. Scored the winning try a few days ago.

 

[PrinceOfPenrose]

Good start for the defending champs.

 

[sup42]

Plenty of Wigan and Warriors links including assistant coach Tommy Leuluai and debutant today Adam Keighran.

Reminded me of another, Blake Green...

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

I shall wrap myself in the historical cloak of @Bruce at this point and say Cec Mountford and Lance Todd at Wigan. The latter has the motm trophy for the challenge cup final named after him

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Is there a squad assembled soon?

 

[Teets]

All aboard the Pita Hiku Hull KR express.

If Pet can take the Rovers to a GF win he's pretty much an Immortal.

 

[Leighton Rhino]

All aboard the Pita Hiku Hull KR express.

If Pet can take the Rovers to a GF win he's pretty much an Immortal.

I'm a Rhinos fan but as we are only 40 minutes from Wembley we always make the Challenge Cup and 1895 cup day

Going to stick ourselves in the KR end as that is where York will be (it's York Vs Fetherston ki in the 1895 cup after the CC game)and I have a loose affiliation with them...will cheer on the Hiku Express!

Anu gossip that any Kiwis fancy a few years at Leeds? We'd take Fish off your hands if he fancied it for his last couple of years

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I'm a Rhinos fan but as we are only 40 minutes from Wembley we always make the Challenge Cup and 1895 cup day

Going to stick ourselves in the KR end as that is where York will be (it's York Vs Fetherston ki in the 1895 cup after the CC game)and I have a loose affiliation with them...will cheer on the Hiku Express!

Anu gossip that any Kiwis fancy a few years at Leeds? We'd take Fish off your hands if he fancied it for his last couple of years

Your more than welcome to take a Bunty Afoa in his prime years for super league?

I honestly would love to see bunty finish in super league, and think he could be better suited.

We could package up Kosi with him?

 

[snake77]

We did have a sister club arrangement with Wigan years ago. That looks like it has fizzled out.

Before the Warriors entered the competition I found it hard to get totally behind a team in the Aussie competition. For the English competition I quicky went for Wigan. They had the best players back then but also a few who ended up as favourites. Dean Bell, Shaun Edwards, Jason Robinson.

 

[Wah's Up]

I'm a Rhinos fan but as we are only 40 minutes from Wembley we always make the Challenge Cup and 1895 cup day

Going to stick ourselves in the KR end as that is where York will be (it's York Vs Fetherston ki in the 1895 cup after the CC game)and I have a loose affiliation with them...will cheer on the Hiku Express!

Anu gossip that any Kiwis fancy a few years at Leeds? We'd take Fish off your hands if he fancied it for his last couple of years

Far Cough Mate Fish will deliver our first NRL grand final win.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Hull KR have been invited to Vegas next year. Could be a mistake, some of their fans are mental. I can see a good few ending up in El Salvador