sang-et-or.net partners |
|---|
|
|
|
Not him. The other one |
Chris Plume profiles the second inductee into the sang-et-or.net hall of fame - a player instrumental in the transition of the Dragons from raw
underdogs to play-off-reaching heavy hitters. Take a bow, John Wilson |
Originally from Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, John Wilson began his career at the Wentworthville junior club in Sydney, before being signed in 2000 by the Parramatta Eels. He made his debut that year, in Round 22 of the NRL, at Mt Smart in Auckland (where he came up against future Dragons team-mate and fellow Hall-of-Famer Stacey Jones). The following year he would begin a five-season stint with Wests Tigers, for whom he would play 62 first grade games and score 30 tries, a healthy return for a player who constantly spent his
early career switching between second row and centre.
Scoring at home against Warrington
2006 saw him move to France and the new challenge of a Catalan Dragons team in Super League. Quickly nicknamed 'Sergeant' by Dragons fans, Wilson was a virtual ever-present in that first difficult campaign, a season which, despite some promising displays, saw them finish bottom. Wilson's versatility would be utilized in full, adapting constantly to
shifts in the centres, the back row as well as being pressed into service as an emergency stand-off on more than one occasion. It was a tough year for player and club, but his hat-trick away at Cas seemed to breathe life into both.
In relaxed mood before the Cup final in 2007
2007 saw Wilson become something of a microcosm of the club as a whole, with a consistent run at centre leading to some of his best displays during his spell in Super League. 25 games during the season was an all-the-more remarkable statistic given that Sarge played
through the pain with a badly broken nose during a period of the year when the team was going through a massive injury crisis that saw Mick Potter down to his last 17 fit players going into the Challenge Cup quarter final against Hull. This says it all, really, about Sergeant
Wilson. While there have been more naturally gifted, skilful players to have pulled on the Dragons jersey, none have played with as much consistency, effort and heart as he.
In derby action
Wilson contributed two tries to the Challenge Cup campaign that year, including one during the memorable semi-final victory over Wigan that was to propel the Dragons both to Wembley and into the sporting spotlight for the first time. Playing at Wembley in the first
Challenge Cup final at the new facility must have been a huge honour for him and few, if any, deserved it more than Sarge.
An artistic shot of our hero from sang-et-or.net's resident photographer
2008 would prove to be a year of continuous improvement and Sarge would once again contribute, notching up 7 tries in 24 matches appearing once again mainly at centre. While there was no Wembley final this year, the run to 3rd in the table and the play-offs would
certainly make up for that and Wilson's calm, resolute presence in the side would undoubtedly play a factor. A tenacious tackler, Sarge's never-say-die attitude and sharp rugby brain have proved invaluable in three years during which time the Dragons have progressed from bottom of the table in 2006 to third in 2008, with a cup final in between.
While the likes of Stacey Jones, Adam Mogg, Clint Greenshields and Thomas Bosc have caught the majority of the attention and gained most of the plaudits, unheralded players like John Wilson have worked tirelessly to keep the team moving. For a man of such a superior level of fitness, 30 years of age seems like a very young age to choose to retire from the game, and there is no doubt that his presence in the dressing room will be missed. A dedicated clubman and a real unsung hero of rugby league, John Wilson is hereby inducted into the hall of fame.
Modelling the t-shirt dedicated to his honour
John Wilson's Dragons career in stats:
Games: 77
Tries: 25
Points: 100
|
|
|
Login |
|---|
Not a member yet? Click here to register.
Forgotten your password? Request a new one here.
|
|
|
