Martin Offiah

Exciting Great Britain flankman, originally from the Roslyn Park RU club, joined Widnes in 1987 and broke Frank Myler’s try-scoring record in his first season. Offiah made his Test debut against France in 1988, playing in all three Tests on the Lions Tour of Australia in 1988, and won a match race at Wentworth Park (defeating Dale Shearer and John Ferguson after Greg Alexander withdrew from the event). In 1992 Offiah scored 4 tries for Wigan in the final of the World Sevens competition and was rated one of the success stories of the Lions’ tour later that year. (However, Offiah’s standing as the fastest man in rugby league received a huge dent when he was beaten in a match race by P’matta’s Lee Oudenryn at P’matta Stadium). Offiah gave good value in the first two ‘guest’ spots with Easts and St George but lasted just half a match with the Roosters in 1993 before dislocating his shoulder in the match against Penrith. Offiah’s major defensive weakness was often exposed in top-class competition and his efforts in the final two Tests of the 1994 Ashes series were not his best.