DAVID Watkins MBE has been hailed as the ‘George Best of rugby league’ after the dual-code legend passed away.
And in a sign of how good he was, the man himself used to watch the Welsh wizard in action from the terraces, along with Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton.
Watkins, who crossed codes to rugby league after becoming a star in rugby union at Newport and won two titles with Salford in 1974 and 1976, died on Sunday at the age of 81.
To show his standing in the 13-a-side code, the Rugby Football League went to the Red Devils to line up a minute’s memorial – silence or applause. Not the other way around.
And director Paul King, who stood as a child in awe of what he saw on the pitch, paid tribute to a ‘generational talent.’
“David was the Georgie Best of rugby league,” he said of the man signed for a then world record fee of £15,000 in 1967, who represented Britain's Lions in union and league.
“George would watch him on a Friday night before Manchester United played, as did the rest of the Holy Trinity – Law and Charlton.
“If David was playing today, he’d be a huge star. He’d be ruling the NRL, he’d be unquestionably worthy of that stage.
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“He came across with a world record attached to him and a target on his back. He was a good-looking bloke – my mum fancied him – and he took some batterings, but just brushed himself down.
“He’s probably the best dual-code international there has ever been and I saw him play. He was the guy that brought the Quality Street gang at Salford together – he was just special, absolutely special.
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“David had incredible balance, a fantastic sidestep and he used to chip through for Keith Fielding, that was almost unstoppable – and he rarely missed a kick, he could kick them from anywhere.
“He could play anywhere. When Paul Charton left in 1975, he went to full back. Paul was the finest full back there’s ever been but with David there, we hardly missed him.
“In a Floodlit Trophy replay at Warrington’s Wilderspool, he walked off after kicking two in a 10-5 win and was that thick in mud, I could hardly recognise him but he’d been incredible.”
After Watkins retired, he set up in business in his native South Wales but his connection to Salford remained close.
He was at their final match at The Willows ground he starred on and was invited to a recent 150th anniversary celebration but was too ill to travel.
And at Sunday’s meeting with Warrington, emotions are certain to run high as fans get the chance to pay their respects, soon after team-mates and legends Mike Coulman and Eric Prescott also died.
Watkins’ family and representatives from Newport RUFC will also be invited.
“David’s just this iconic, legendary figure and I had the honour of meeting his wife and family last year,” King added.
“He was a lovely, lovely man and Sunday will be emotional, but incredibly respectful. We’re having either a minute’s silence or applause.
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“Whenever a club’s former player passes away, you have to go to the RFL for permission to have either, we didn’t have to with David.
“It was a case of, ‘Before you ask, permission granted.’ That says a lot about David Watkins.”
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