Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 8:46 am Posts: 1473 Location: exiled in Manchester Member for 17 years
There are many aspects to his life and career that made a difference but the biggest for me was not what he did for Wigan (great though that was) but how he helped to drag the game of RL into a modern age - despite a lot of resistance, shame that a lot of that vision has gone backwards since, RIP.
Last edited by exiled Warrior on Wed May 18, 2022 11:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:38 pm Posts: 335 Member for 2 years
Cruncher wrote:
Classic moment of Mo when he confronted the coach of one of the Australian club sides we played during a GB tour on the touchline. Think Maurice was tour manager at the time; it was early 90s. In a moment of unbelievable arrogance, the Aussie coach - not sure if it was Phil Gould, or someone similar equally disrespectful - brought subs on in the second-half who hadn't even figured on the team-sheet. Well, Mo wasn't having that. And quite right too.
That was what I was alluding to a touch line argument and Mo did not back down,Wigan through and through.Great visionary.
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:13 pm Posts: 1542 Member for 11 years
I have fond memories of Maurice probably the best was in the 1980s. We had won the John Player Trophy Final and all the players and staff were celebrating in Chaplin's Nightclub. The DJ started a competition regarding who could do the most press-ups. The players cajoled Maurice into being involved, a bad mistake he won easily. I bet he never let them forget it, it certainly gained him the respect of players and fans alike.
A marvellous guy, a great ambassador for rugby league and a Wigan legend (even though he came from Horwich).
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:07 pm Posts: 2468 Location: God's little acre Member for 14 years
jonh wrote:
A controversial figure in many respects but a man whose leadership took the club to ridiculous heights during parts of hos tenure.
Probably the man responsible for dragging the game into the professional era.
Didn’t get everything right but a fearless administrator who was Wigan to his very core.
An excellent summary that Jon. For me he didn't get enough accolades for what he achieved for the club and the game in general. I was fortunate to meet a few times and always found him to be charismatic, open and a funny guy. A gentleman.
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:38 am Posts: 27160 Location: WIGAN Member for 18 years
I wonder where the game would be now had there been no salary cap during that Whelan/Lindsay era pre Lenagan taking over. You had Whelan cashed up and clubs like Leeds, Saints, Bradford would’ve gone toe to toe with any attempts to spend our way to titles. You had Simon Moran getting involved at Wire and he would’ve took them on as well and then somebody like Koukash comes later and he seems the sort that would’ve relished taking on guys like Whelan and Lindsay. Who knows which other businessmen/women would’ve fancied jumping in at other clubs.
I’m confident we’d be a damn site better off as a sport then we are now. We’ve been left to rot really, all on the basis that clubs wanted an ‘even competition’. It’s that even we’ve had 4 Grand Final winners in 24 years.
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:14 pm Posts: 3598 Location: Watching Rugby League Member for 9 years
NickyKiss wrote:
I wonder where the game would be now had there been no salary cap during that Whelan/Lindsay era pre Lenagan taking over. You had Whelan cashed up and clubs like Leeds, Saints, Bradford would’ve gone toe to toe with any attempts to spend our way to titles. You had Simon Moran getting involved at Wire and he would’ve took them on as well and then somebody like Koukash comes later and he seems the sort that would’ve relished taking on guys like Whelan and Lindsay. Who knows which other businessmen/women would’ve fancied jumping in at other clubs.
I’m confident we’d be a damn site better off as a sport then we are now. We’ve been left to rot really, all on the basis that clubs wanted an ‘even competition’. It’s that even we’ve had 4 Grand Final winners in 24 years.
The clubs with no ambition are happy though so all is well.
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:01 pm Posts: 3084 Location: In the sky with diamonds Member for 10 years
NickyKiss wrote:
I wonder where the game would be now had there been no salary cap during that Whelan/Lindsay era pre Lenagan taking over. You had Whelan cashed up and clubs like Leeds, Saints, Bradford would’ve gone toe to toe with any attempts to spend our way to titles. You had Simon Moran getting involved at Wire and he would’ve took them on as well and then somebody like Koukash comes later and he seems the sort that would’ve relished taking on guys like Whelan and Lindsay. Who knows which other businessmen/women would’ve fancied jumping in at other clubs.
I’m confident we’d be a damn site better off as a sport then we are now. We’ve been left to rot really, all on the basis that clubs wanted an ‘even competition’. It’s that even we’ve had 4 Grand Final winners in 24 years.
Don't forget Branson was involved early doors too
22 LEAGUE TITLES 20 CHALLENGE CUPS 4 WORLD TITLES SAYS IT ALL REALLY
17 years
2 years
11 years
9 years
