Martin Offiah

1987–91: Widnes

Inc. 1989 summer stint at Eastern Suburbs & 1991 summer stint at St. George Dragons

Offiah was spotted by Widnes coach Doug Laughton playing in the Middlesex Sevens, and was signed by the club to play rugby league for the 1987–88 season. Alex Murphy had been interested in acquiring Offiah from rugby union, but the board of directors at St. Helens infamously referred to Offiah as an "uncoordinated clown" and the interest was not followed up with action. Within months, he became the most talked-about winger since Billy Boston for his lightning speed and try-scoring; at Widnes he forged a reputation as a devastating winger, helping the team win both the Championship and Premiership. He ended his début season with 42 tries,^[14] making him the league's top try scorer, also breaking the club record held by Frank Myler for most tries scored in a season.^[15] He received the Man of Steel award for his efforts.

He was also rewarded with a place in the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia, where he played in all three Tests of the Ashes series which was lost to Australia. While on tour with the Lions, Offiah took part in a 100-metre match race at Wentworth Park in Sydney against Australian flyers Dale Shearer and John Ferguson (Ferguson replaced Greg Alexander who was forced to withdraw through injury). Offiah easily won the race from Shearer and Ferguson.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1988–89 season, Widnes won the Championship and Premiership for the second successive year, and Offiah was again the league's top try scorer with 58 tries in 41 games.^[14] He played in Widnes' 6–12 defeat by Wigan in the 1988–89 John Player Special Trophy final Burnden Park in Bolton.^[16]

He then spent the summer in Australia playing for Eastern Suburbs. He scored a try on his NSWRL début against Western Suburbs, and went on to score nine tries in 12 games for the club before returning to Widnes.

During the 1989–90 season, Offiah played for Widnes on the wing in their 1989 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Canberra Raiders. Offiah scored a try in Widnes' 24–18 victory over Salford in the 1990 Lancashire Cup final.

In 1991, Offiah had a second spell in Australia, this time playing for St George Dragons. He scored 11 tries in 14 games, including a hat trick against his former club, Eastern Suburbs.^[17]

Over four seasons at Widnes Offiah scored 181 tries in 145 games.

1992–95: Wigan

Inc. 1993 summer stint at Eastern Suburbs

Offiah joined Wigan in January 1992 for a world record fee of £440,000^[18] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £979,384.20 in 2025).^[19] This remained a record for a total cash transfer until Wigan paid £450,000 for Stuart Fielden from the Bradford Bulls in 2006.

Playing in his regular left wing position, Offiah formed a devastating partnership with Gene Miles in his first season at Wigan, scoring 30 tries in just 15 games. He set a new club record of ten in a single match against Leeds in the Premiership semi-final in May.^[20]

Offiah played in Wigan's 5–4 victory over St Helens in the 1992 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road.^[21]

He played in a 15–8 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1992–93 Regal Trophy Final at Elland Road,^[22] played in the 2–33 defeat by Castleford in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy Final at Headingley, and scored a try in the 40–10 victory over Warrington in the 1994–95 Regal Trophy Final at Alfred McAlpine Stadium,^[23] and played in the 25–16 victory over St Helens in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy Final.^[24]

He was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. Before the match against the Parramatta Eels, Offiah had a 100-metre race against Eels winger Lee Oudenryn. Offiah appeared to slip slightly at the start and Oudenryn won by half a yard.^{[citation needed]}

During the 1992–93 season Offiah played on the wing for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge against the visiting Brisbane Broncos. A week before the WCC, Offiah had played on the wing for Great Britain in the World Cup final against Australia at Wembley in front of an international rugby league record crowd of 73,631 fans.^[25]

Offiah played in four Challenge Cup wins, five Championship teams, three Regal Trophy wins and one Lancashire Cup victory. He was twice man of the match winning the Lance Todd Trophy at Wembley. His 90-metre solo try in the 1994 Challenge Cup Final win over Leeds is remembered as one of the finest ever seen in a final,^[26] but he made a habit of such runs during his career, scoring a similar try just weeks before against Castleford. After the 1993–94 season Offiah travelled with defending champions Wigan to Brisbane, playing on the wing in their 1994 World Club Challenge victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos.

In 1995, Offiah's life story, a 30-minute documentary, was produced and directed by Pogus Caesar for Carlton TV UK as part of the Respect series. Offiah was selected to play for England in the 1995 World Cup final on the wing, but Australia won the match and retained the cup.

Offiah jointly holds the record for the most tries scored in a match for England.^{[citation needed]}

Offiah made 158 appearances for Wigan with another single appearance as a substitute. He scored 186 tries, more than a try a game. He also managed a goal and three drop goals, scoring a total of 749 points for the club. Upon leaving he sent a letter to the Wigan Observer thanking fans and the club for his time there.^{[citation needed]}

1996–99: London Broncos

Inc. 1996–97 winter stint at Bedford Blues

Following Offiah's departure from Wigan, he return to the capital and signed for London Broncos.

Following the switch to summer rugby in 1996, Offiah signed for Bedford Blues during the Super League off-season He played 14 games for the club, scoring 10 tries, before returning to the Broncos for the 1997 season.^[4]

He was awarded an MBE in the 1997 New Year Honours.^[27]

He played for London in their 1999 Challenge Cup Final defeat against Leeds. In total, he scored 24 tries in 48 games for the club.

2000–01: Salford Red Devils

After the London Broncos he moved to Salford City Reds for the 2000 Super League V, staying for two seasons, playing 45 games and scoring 23 tries. He scored his 500th career try in July 2001 in a 37–14 win against his former club London Broncos.^[28]

2001–02: Wasps

He finished his career in 2001–02 playing rugby union for London Wasps, who were coached by his former Wigan team-mate Shaun Edwards. He played in eight games for the club, scoring five tries.^[4]

Club

Overall

Offiah scored 501 tries during his rugby league career. His try total in British rugby league (481) puts him third in the list of all-time try scorers (behind Brian Bevan and Billy Boston).^[38]

Club

Widnes

• Rugby Football League Championship First Division
  • Champion: 1987–88, 1988–89
• Rugby League Premiership
  • Champion: 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90
• Lancashire Cup
  • Champion: 1990–91
• World Club Challenge
  • Champion: 1989

Wigan

• Rugby Football League Championship First Division
  • Champion: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95
• Rugby League Premiership
  • Champion: 1993–94, 1994–95
• Challenge Cup
  • Champion: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95
• Lancashire Cup
  • Champion: 1992–93
• League Cup
  • Champion: 1992–93, 1994–95
• World Club Challenge
  • Champion: 1994

International

England

• Rugby League World Cup
  • Runners-up: 1995

Individual

• Man of Steel: 1988
• Lance Todd Trophy: 1992, 1994
• Rugby Football League Hall of Fame: Inducted 2013
• Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame: Inducted 2016

Orders

• MBE: 1997 New Year Honours