Radlinski inducted into Hall of Fame

Wigan Warriors are delighted to announce that legend Kris Radlinski has been inducted into the Club’s Hall of Fame.

Radlinski was inducted at the Club’s 150^th Year Celebration Dinner at the DW Stadium on Sunday afternoon by Chairman Ian Lenagan.

From player to director, Radlinski has been at his hometown Club since 1993 and has gone on to become a Wigan great.

After signing for Wigan’s Academy from Wigan St Judes ARLFC, Radlinski progressed through Wigan’s Academy and went on to make his first team debut as a substitute on 31st October 1993 against Castleford, earning the Heritage Number 885.

Between 1993 and 2006, Radlinski made 322 appearances for Wigan, scoring 183 tries and winning 10 trophies.

His medal collection includes three Championships, three Premiership Trophies, one Challenge Cup, one Super League Grand Final, one John Player Trophy and one Charity Shield.

Radlinski was a member of the Super League Dream Team on five consecutive occasions (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002) and was also the 1995 Harry Sunderland Trophy winner.

In 1998, he featured in the first ever Super League Grand Final as Wigan overcame Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford and a year later played in the final ever match to be played at Central Park as Wigan went out victorious against local rivals St Helens.

One game Radlinski will always be remembered for is his outstanding performance in the 2002 Challenge Cup Final when Wigan beat St Helens at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium. Radlinski played a starring role at full back and was instrumental in defence to inspire Wigan to victory, as he became the first Wigan player ever to win the Lance Todd Trophy away from Wembley.

Internationally, he represented Great Britain 20 times and England 10 times, and then in 2007 he was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen for his services to Rugby League.

Staying at the Club, Radlinski was appointed to the role of Rugby General Manager in 2010, operating alongside then Head Coach Michael Maguire, and his coaching team, providing an important link between the performance department and other sections of the Club.

Radlinski is now the Club’s Executive Director and works closely with Chairman Ian Lenagan driving all areas of Club business, implementing strategic vision throughout all departments of the Club.

An instrumental figure in the day-to-day running of the Club, he ensures that high standards of player coaching, performance and discipline are implemented consistently. He also played a crucial part in helping the Club navigate its way throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

He is now part of the Club’s illustrious Hall of Fame and joins Andy Farrell OBE, Shaun Edwards OBE, Dean Bell, Ellery Hanley MBE, Andy Gregory, Eric Ashton MBE, Billy Boston MBE, Brian McTigue, Ken Gee, Joe Egan, Jim Sullivan, Frano Botica, Colin Clarke, Martin Offiah MBE and Sean O’Loughlin OBE on the decorated list.

Chairman, Ian Lenagan, said: “He deserves it immensely. If you look back at Kris’ career at Wigan… 13 years as a player – only ever for Wigan. Aged 19 – winning the Man of the Match trophy in the Premiership Final and getting a hat-trick in the same game. Those who were at the Challenge Cup Final in 2002 will remember rather a special week for Kris… in hospital for part of the week and then eventually getting the Man of the Match. An MBE for Kris at the end of his career was a more than adequate award for what he did. I don’t think there is anybody who has contributed as a player and then contributed as well in another 12 years off the field. He started on 1st December 2009 as Rugby General Manager when Michael Maguire’s announcement was made – the start of a new era at Wigan at that time.

“Through the next 10 years, he and I have worked together all of the time on the forward plan, on recruiting, on appointing coaches. That forward planning is key to Wigan and Kris has been central to all of that. This is a part of Kris Radlinski – separate from his playing career – that people are not aware of.

“His leadership during lockdown and more particularly and recently the new badge – he was a major leader in putting that together. It’s a completely different aspect to what we saw of him as a player. The appointment of a new coach in Matt [Peet] and having the courage to appoint somebody new in that position. Robin Park – playing a major part in bringing it to what it is today – which I think will be the greatest success of Wigan in the next 10 or 20 years. He has a touch of togetherness with fans too. He is a superb person to work with – he embodies everything that is Wigan.”

On being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Radlinski said: “It’s caught me by surprise. I’ve been very lucky that this is the only job I’ve ever had. It’s the only place I’ve ever worked. The place means a lot to me. There’s a lot of great memories, but my greatest memory of all actually happened this year. When the team won the Cup, I was able to celebrate it with people I’ve never been able to do it with before. I was in the boardroom with my family at the side of me. That was the greatest moment I’ve had in my career.

“The Club means a lot to me. I’ve give it everything. I was never the most talented player, but I was the hardest worker. It’s the greatest gift I can give to my kids – work hard and anything is possible.

“This award means the world to me. My mum and my sister are here today and it’s for them.”