Smiffy27 wrote:There was a top Union prop who signed League ... Mike Coulman Salford (he was a success). But I can't think of more. Must be a few at a lower level. Did Mike Nicholas MBE play union first? He was one of our best props of all time. Roland Phillips definitely did and here is is with number 10 on his back https://twitter.com/i/status/1108839958712930304

Smiffy27 wrote:There was a top Union prop who signed League ... Mike Coulman Salford (he was a success). But I can't think of more. Must be a few at a lower level. Did Mike Nicholas MBE play union first? He was one of our best props of all time. Roland Phillips definitely did and here is is with number 10 on his back https://twitter.com/i/status/1108839958712930304

Wires71 wrote:Did Mike Nicholas MBE play union first? He was one of our best props of all time. Roland Phillips definitely did and here is is with number 10 on his back https://twitter.com/i/status/1108839958712930304 Yes they did. I think we have our wires crossed a bit. I'm saying ... there are not many who played prop in Union and then signed RL. There are hundreds who have played Union (at back row) then played prop in League. Mike Nicholas & Roland Phillips would have been mainly back row in Union. Nicholas must have played a bit at prop ... but would have preferred back row.

Wires71 wrote:Did Mike Nicholas MBE play union first? He was one of our best props of all time. Roland Phillips definitely did and here is is with number 10 on his back https://twitter.com/i/status/1108839958712930304 Yes they did. I think we have our wires crossed a bit. I'm saying ... there are not many who played prop in Union and then signed RL. There are hundreds who have played Union (at back row) then played prop in League. Mike Nicholas & Roland Phillips would have been mainly back row in Union. Nicholas must have played a bit at prop ... but would have preferred back row.

I think that Mike played at prop for Aberavon although his senior debut was at halfback.

Roland Philips was a back row forward in Union and, although Wikipeadia lists his as a second row for the Wire, I seem to recall him as a prop. This was the era when Clive Griffiths was assistant coach to Brian Johnson and we brough a few Welsh Rugby Union guys over including Alan Bateman, Kevin Ellis and the aforementioned Roland Philips. The difference between a Union and a League prop weren't quite as great as today but even so it took a while for the Union players to adapt.

we played him at prop, he should have been a second rower, he would have been more effective, we did the same thing with dave king when we signed him from huddersfield.

Saints signed Stuart Evans in the late 80s (?). Pretty sure he was a prop in both codes. Don't recall him being much cop for them though.

Quinell

Cliff Watson didn’t do too badly. Signed in 1960 after Saints advertised for top class RU forwards.

He was rubbish, in fact he was uber rubbish. He made Rowland Phillips look like Les Boyd.

He was better then Mark Jones though. He was built like an outside lavvy and stunk to the same extent. Physique of Sylvester Stallone, rugby league ability of Sylvester Pussycat.

Sufferin sucotash, indeed.

Stuart Evans was tosh, but in the same breath, was nobody's fool if a certain story is to be believed, regarding himself and Gary Stretch (a boxer from At Helens in the late 80's/early 90's) in a local chippy.

Kelvin Coslett & Jim Mills.