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.