I thought that was because Bill Kirkbride wanted to stand when he was coaching?

It was against Wigin, for whatever reason Bill packed down as hooker and whats his name packed down in the second row and reached through and belted him while he had arms round the props and broke his jaw, I'm sure it will get a mention somewhere in the book.

Would have struggled to get in the 60's team in front of Brian Briggs & Don Vines. Now they were 2 very hard hombres.

I doubt mr as hurst would have struggled to get in any team.

I don't think he was as good as people on here think. But it is just a matter of opinion.

That's for sure brian

I saw every game he played for us and, IMHO, a fully fit Bill Ashurst was as good as the majority of posters on here suggest.

A fit Bill would have stood head and shoulders above any pack player. A fit Bill would not look out of place playing today.

Can't see why Brian Briggs was a blind side prop and a very good one, in those days' it was the no.10 that made the hooker look good.

Wigan had the best out of him before he came to us but even so the only player I've seen that could compare with him at BV was Bob Haigh and at a push Budgie Firth.

I'm not sure I've seen a second rower that can directly compare with him. He was 6'4" in an era when you were considered a big bloke if you stood 6'0. He was as hard as marble and regarded as someone you didn't cross, even Mills, Nicholas etc didn't take him on unless they had to. He was mobile and had decent pace but more importantly he knew how and when to time himself onto the ball. His kicking game was better than any forward I've ever watched (40 years) and as good as any back I've ever seen. His ability to ball handle was amazing, the deception, the variety, the delivery was all World class and he had the communication and leadership skills to organise those around him.

If he were around today he'd be the best second rower in the world imo