The responsibilities of a winger have somewhat changed since the advent of Super League; they are now required to do more of the "donkey work" in getting the team out of defence and are expected to be athletic enough to finish spectacular tries. Here are five of the best:
Jason Robinson
Though "Billy Whizz" - a nickname given to Robinson after a character in the Beano whom is an extremely fast runner - played for Wigan a good six years before the creation of Super League in 1996, he still had four very memorable seasons with the Warriors in the summer game.
In the Wigan golden era of the late '80s, early '90s - where the club won eight Challenge Cups in a row and 12 senior titles altogether - Robinson was a part of two of the Challenge Cup-winning sides (1993 and 1995). Robinson also played a key role in Wigan's Grand Final success in 1998 - the first year of the showpiece event - putting in a man-of-the-match performance to earn the Harry Sunderland Trophy. On a national level, the Leeds-born flier won 12 Great Britain and seven England caps.
With lightning pace and a freakish eye for a gap, Robinson became one of the most elusive and exciting wingers in Super League, being named in the first ever Super League Dream Team in 1996. He was so impressive in his last few years at Wigan that he was named in the Dream Team in 1997, '98, '99 and 2000 before he decided to switch codes at the end of the 2000 season.
At the age of 26, Robinson still had a lot to offer and quickly became an asset to Rugby Union, scoring 30 tries in over 50 England appearances. He was also a part of the famous England side that lifted the World Cup in 2003.
Lesley Vainikolo
After playing six seasons for Australian side Canberra Raiders, Lesley Vainikolo made the move to Bradford ahead of the 2002 season, quickly becoming one of Super League's greatest ever wingers.
Despite a monstrous 6 ft 2, 112kg frame, Vainikolo had a remarkable turn of pace and would play a major part in Bradford's so-called "Golden Era" in the mid-2000s, winning two Super League titles and three World Club Challenges.
In six seasons at Odsal, Vainikolo scored an astounding 149 tries in 152 games. His try-scoring record was so impressive that he actually set the record for the most tries in a match - six versus Hull in 2005 - and the most tries in a Super League season - 36 in just 26 games, including five hat-tricks - a record only broken 12 years later by Castleford Tigers' Denny Solomona.
Despite being born in Tonga, Vainikolo represented only New Zealand at international level. In 12 appearances for the Kiwis, Vainikolo dotted down 14 times - including nine in the 2000 World Cup. A truly remarkable player and character, "The Volcano" - as he was aptly nicknamed - left his mark not only on Bradford but the whole of Super League. It was therefore sad to see him leave for Rugby Union in 2007.
Pat Richards
Pat Richards arrived in Wigan fresh from winning the NRL title with Wests Tigers in 2005 and quickly became an accomplished goal-kicker, adding an extra string to his impressive bow. Over the course of seven years at the Lancashire club, Richards played 244 games, scoring 167 tries and kicking an astonishing 898 goals and four drop-goals to notch up nearly 2,500 points.
He was named Wigan’s Player of the Season in 2008 after scoring 19 tries in the campaign and two years later set the record for the most points by a Wigan player in a Super League match. Five tries and nine goals equated to 38 points during a 58-0 win over Catalans. Moreover, the total of 462 points that Richards scored over the entire 2010 season (including playoffs and/or Challenge Cup) set a new club record at Wigan.
Richards' accolades did not end there however, as he became the first Australian to score over 1,000 points in a Wigan shirt in just his fourth season at the club - a sign of how integral he had become for the Warriors in their hunt for silverware. In fact, he was so key for Wigan that he won the Man of Steel in 2010 in what was the club's first Grand Final-winning year since 1998.
He went on to win two Challenge Cups (2011 and 2013) and another Grand Final (2013).
It was announced in April 2013 that Richards was to return to the NRL with Wests Tigers but he bowed out for Wigan in style, scoring a try and converting five goals as the Warriors beat Warrington in the 2013 Grand Final. The Irish international - for whom he played seven times - made a return to the Super League at the start of the 2016 season with Catalans Dragons, scoring nine tries and kicking 76 goals in 21 appearances. Richards retired at the end of that season, after accumulating over 3,000 career points.
Ryan Hall
A local Leeds lad, Ryan Hall made his debut for the Rhinos in 2007 and has been an ever-present in the team ever since.
Hall has played over 300 games for the Rhinos, scoring 226 tries and has become one of the world's finest wingers. Hall's medal cabinet is seriously impressive; he was won six Grand Finals with Leeds, two Challenge Cups and one World Club Challenge and was the winner of the Lance Todd Trophy in the 2014 Challenge Cup.
Built like a prop forward, but with a turn of pace which belies his hefty frame, Ryan Hall has developed into one of the most physical wingers in the game, helping his forwards massively with big drives out of defence. Ever Mr. Reliable for the Rhinos and a magnificent finisher, he is still only 30 years of age and has many years ahead of him. On a national scale, Hall has been even more impressive.
Since he debuted for England in 2009, Hall has become one of the first names on the teamsheet and was one of England's best performers at the 2017 World Cup. Not only does the winger have a remarkable record of 34 tries in 37 games, he is also second only to James Graham in the number of appearances for the national side.
Ade Gardner
Ade Gardner was actually born in Barrow and played for his hometown club for two years (2000-01) before a move to St Helens came about at the end of 2001. Gardner was at Saints for 12 years, scoring 173 tries in 289 games. Known for his superb athleticism, physical defence and his masterful catching of the high ball, Gardner won four Challenge Cups - including three successive wins in the mid-2000s - one Grand Final and one World Club Challenge.
His consistent performances at club level brought England and Great Britain call-ups - he earned five caps for both. As Gardner's career began to wind down and with St Helens having an abundance of wingers in 2014, Gardner was forced to leave on-loan - the Cumbrian winger joined Hull KR where he scored eight tries in 18 games. After 14 years in the game, the 6 ft 2 winger retired at the end of 2014 to take up a backroom role at St Helens.
