Danny lives the dream at Saints
DANNY RICHARDSON was one of seven St Helens players in the Super League Dream Team unveiled at Old Trafford yesterday.
But the highly-rated scrum-half and ardent Manchester United supporter was also a promising footballer with Everton in his formative years.
He spent four years in the junior ranks at Goodison Park where it became apparent his natural aggression would be better suited to rugby league.
Richardson chose the 13-man and has not looked back, with his creative skills a key part of a Saints side who finished top and now host Warrington in the first play-off semifinal on Thursday.
The 22-year-old, a prolific goalkicker who hails from Widnes, was joined in the Dream Team, which is voted for by rugby league journalists, by Saints team-mates Ben Barba, Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival, Jonny Lomax, James Roby and Luke Thompson.
Richardson revealed: “As a kid I played football and rugby league and was on Everton’s books between the age of seven and 11.
“I was playing for a local football team called the Widnes Wolves and one of my friends’ dad coached us. We had a very code
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good side and I got scouted by Everton before going on trial, so it went from there. There were lads I played with at Everton who went on to be professional footballers and that’s good to see.
“We went on tour to places like Guernsey and obviously played against all the other Premier League clubs.
“I played with Ryan Ledson, who is now at Preston North End, and Joe Williams is currently at Bolton, so I always look out to see how they’re doing. When I was a young footballer I was always a lot rougher on the field than the other kids because I played rugby as well.
“I played in the centre of midfield and was good at winning the ball back but I also used to give quite a lot of fouls as well.
“My mum and dad said, ‘Danny, you’re going to have to choose between rugby and football’. It went on for weeks. I simply couldn’t decide but I finally opted for rugby league. Seeing where I am now, it has not been a bad decision.
“My dad rang the coaches up at Everton to say I would be focusing on rugby league. He told them I had actually been playing rugby for the past
Full-back: Ben Barba (St Helens) Wing: Tommy Makinson (St Helens) Centre: Mark Percival (St Helens) Centre: Bill Tupou (Wakefield) Wing: Tom Johnstone (Wakefield) Stand-off: Jonny Lomax (St Helens) Scrum-half: Danny Richardson (St Helens) Prop: Luke Thompson (St Helens) Hooker: James Roby (St Helens) Prop: Remi Casty (Catalan Dragons) Second row: John Bateman (Wigan) Second row: Matty Ashurst (Wakefield) Loose forward: Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan)
four years and they were like, ‘Oh right, we thought he had a bit of aggression in him!’
“But I loved my time at Everton and playing football helped me to progress in rugby league because I’ve always been good at striking the ball.
“As a half-back, my kicking game is obviously very important.”
Richardson, speaking in the Trafford Suite yesterday afternoon, added: “I’m a big United fan and come here quite often to watch games with Tommy Makinson.
“Russell Beardsmore, who used to play for United, sorts us out with tickets and we do likewise if he ever wants to come to a St Helens game because he’s a big rugby league fan.
“To play here for Saints in the Grand Final on October 13 would be a dream come true.”
Standing in the way of Justin Holbrook’s side is a Warrington team who have not been crowned champions since 1955.
Richardson said: “We’ve got seven lads in the Dream Team and there could have been a few more. We’ve had a great season but we want to finish if off now by winning the title.”
WAKEFIELD winger Tom Johnstone will today be named in the England squad for the three-match Test series against New Zealand. THE SCOUT