Winging their way to the Hall of fame

RYAN IS BENCHMARK FOR HOT TRIO

THIS season’s Betfred Super League campaign has seen the emergence of three exciting young wingers in Liam Marshall, Regan Grace and Jake Bibby. Wingers are players that can still get the mick taken out of them by team-mates – the line about them being an extra touch-judge with muscles still goes around. But a good winger can add so much to your team – not just in terms of scoring tries, but in getting a side on the front foot when bringing the ball back. Marshall at Wigan has probably been the stand-out. Wigan use a system where we often see the ball end up in the winger’s hands, and their wide men usually score plenty of tries. But some Marshall has scored have been down to pace, and he is also a great finisher in tight spaces – as we’ve seen against Warrington this year. Grace has come through at St Helens and has really impressed, like Marshall he’s got genuine speed. But he’s also shown excellent finishing instincts too – to spin out of a tackle when it seemed like there was nothing on against Salford last week was great to see. Bibby at Salford is a slightly different kind of winger to the other two. While they have been more about a slight of foot and body movement, this guy has out-and-out power. He’s good in the air as well which is another key strength for modern wingers, and it’s been exciting to watch him play and develop. When I played, I was fortunate enough to line up alongside four outstanding wingers so I know the value they can add to a team. There was Tevita Vaikona and Lesley Vainikolo at Bradford Bulls – they changed the way that wingers played, carrying the ball 20 times a match and getting the team going forward from the first tackle. Scott Donald at Leeds was a very good finisher with real pace out wide. But the pick was probably the Rhinos’ Ryan Hall. He can be as hard to handle as any player, is good in the air and has consistently come up with the big tries when it matters most. If any one of those three youngsters that have impressed this year can develop into the kind of player Hally has become they will have done really well.

WIDEBOYS Ryan Hall (far left) was a star for Leeds Rhinos and Regan Grace (left) and Jake Bibby (below) can emulate him