Coach: Alex Murphy

Honours: John Player Trophy winners 1987-88

The man who had been an absolute legend at St Helens RFC as a player took over from his former team-mate Billy Benyon in late Autumn 1986 after a coaching career that had included spells at Leigh [three times], Warrington and Salford. It was a case of the return of the 'Prodigal Son' in the media and Murphy was always newsworthy wherever he went. 'I am going to make St Helens the best club side in the world,' he said. 'Wigan are number one at the moment, but we are going to take their place. The war starts now.' The next few years were a real rollercoaster ride of brilliant rugby and some major disappointments as the club struggled to break the Widnes/Wigan stranglehold of the top honours.

After a shaky start, the team ended his first season winning the last 11 games, finishing in third place but losing at home to Leeds in the Premiership semi-final. The 1986-87 campaign saw Murphy's Men finish second in the league but come agonisingly close to Wembley glory as a Dad's Army Halifax team lifted the Challenge Cup 18-19, a bitter disappointment.

The signing of New Zealand international Shane Cooper gave a new impetus and direction to the team. From the middle of December 1987 to late February, confidence was high, with 11 wins on the bounce, including a marvellous victory against an Australian-infused Leeds team in the John Player trophy final at Central Park. Then, some disappointments: defeat at Salford in the Challenge Cup and an injury-ravaged team lost in the Premiership final to Widnes.

The team finished 7th in 1988-89 but produced a battling performance in the Challenge Cup semi-final against Widnes, only to face resounding defeat against the Old Enemy at Wembley, despite beating Wigan 4-2 at Central Park the week before in the first round of the Premiership. It appears that the impetus was slowing, but a fine winning run of 12 unbeaten matches from October to early December 1989 restored faith. Despite a brilliant 39-12 victory in the Challenge Cup against Castleford at Knowsley Road in the New Year, Alex's tenure was soon to come to an end. He returned once more to Leigh and was replaced by Kiwi Mike McClennan as another attempt was made to end the Widnes-Wigan domination.

There is no doubt that the appointment of Alex Murphy helped to maintain a high media profile for St Helens RFC and galvanised the fan base. For many supporters, the 1986-87 campaign remains their favourite with maybe just a couple of players short of making that vital step from nearly men to winners. A fine line indeed with luck also playing a major part!

Coach from : Nov 01st 1985 to Jan 31st 1990
DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
1985-11-03 1
W
 Featherstone Rovers L A 38 12 VIEW
1985-11-10 2
W
 Dewsbury L H 24 6 VIEW
1985-11-17 3
W
 Bradford Northern L A 18 9 VIEW
1985-11-24 4
W
 Dewsbury JP1 H 42 6 VIEW
1985-12-01 5
W
 Doncaster JP2 H 36 20 VIEW
1985-12-08 6
D
 Leeds L H 12 12 VIEW
1985-12-11 7
W
 Hull JP3 H 57 14 VIEW
1985-12-15 8
D
 Hull L A 20 20 VIEW
1985-12-21 9
L
 Hull Kingston Rovers JPSF N 4 22 VIEW
1985-12-26 10
L
 Wigan L A 14 38 VIEW
1986-01-01 11
L
 Widnes L H 16 30 VIEW
1986-01-05 12
L
 Halifax L A 18 27 VIEW
1986-01-12 13
L
 Warrington L A 16 26 VIEW
1986-01-19 14
L
 Bradford Northern L H 8 18 VIEW
1986-02-02 15
W
 Featherstone Rovers L H 44 14 VIEW
1986-02-24 16
W
 Dewsbury CC1 A 22 19 VIEW
1986-03-02 17
W
 Halifax L H 22 10 VIEW
1986-03-08 18
L
 Wigan CC2 A 14 24 VIEW
1986-03-16 19
W
 York L A 18 11 VIEW
1986-03-19 20
W
 Salford L H 28 10 VIEW
1986-03-23 21
W
 Dewsbury L A 18 12 VIEW
1986-03-28 22
W
 Wigan L H 18 13 VIEW
1986-03-31 23
W
 Widnes L A 16 6 VIEW
1986-04-02 24
W
 Oldham L A 38 12 VIEW
1986-04-06 25
W
 Swinton L H 24 14 VIEW
1986-04-09 26
W
 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 22 13 VIEW
1986-04-13 27
W
 Salford L A 30 28 VIEW
1986-04-16 28
W
 Castleford L H 62 12 VIEW
1986-04-20 29
W
 Oldham L H 44 12 VIEW
1986-04-27 30
L
 Leeds PT1 H 22 38 VIEW
1986-08-20 --
W
 Sheffield Eagles* Fr A 26 25 VIEW
1986-08-24 --
W
 Great Britain XIII* Fr Testimonial H 34 30 VIEW
1986-08-31 31
W
 Leigh L H 50 18 VIEW
1986-09-03 32
W
 Salford L A 38 4 VIEW
1986-09-07 33
W
 Leeds L A 40 20 VIEW
1986-09-14 34
W
 Carlisle LC1 H 112 0 VIEW
1986-09-21 35
W
 Halifax L H 38 16 VIEW
1986-09-24 36
W
 Warrington LC2 H 19 15 VIEW
1986-09-28 37
W
 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 36 4 VIEW
1986-10-01 38
L
 Wigan LCSF A 16 22 VIEW
1986-10-05 39
W
 Wakefield Trinity L H 32 11 VIEW
1986-10-12 40
W
 Barrow L A 34 12 VIEW
1986-10-17 41
W
 Salford L H 32 14 VIEW
1986-11-02 42
L
 Australia Tour H 8 32 VIEW
1986-11-09 43
W
 Featherstone Rovers L A 44 8 VIEW
1986-11-16 44
W
 Oldham L A 18 17 VIEW
1986-11-23 45
W
 Hull L H 50 10 VIEW
1986-11-30 46
W
 Whitehaven JP1 A 10 8 VIEW
1986-12-06 47
W
 Castleford JP2 A 26 22 VIEW
1986-12-14 48
L
 Warrington JP3 H 20 22 VIEW
1986-12-21 49
W
 Oldham L H 28 6 VIEW
1986-12-26 50
L
 Wigan L H 4 12 VIEW
1987-01-01 51
L
 Widnes L A 10 16 VIEW
1987-01-04 52
L
 Halifax L A 19 20 VIEW
1987-01-21 53
W
 Swinton CCP H 18 16 VIEW
1987-01-25 54
W
 Featherstone Rovers L H 43 14 VIEW
1987-02-05 55
W
 Dewsbury CC1 A 48 12 VIEW
1987-02-08 56
W
 Wakefield Trinity L A 30 6 VIEW
1987-02-14 57
W
 Oldham CC2 A 24 14 VIEW
1987-02-18 58
W
 Warrington L H 42 22 VIEW
1987-02-22 59
W
 Bradford Northern L H 40 14 VIEW
1987-03-01 60
W
 Whitehaven CC3 H 41 10 VIEW
1987-03-04 61
L
 Castleford L A 10 12 VIEW
1987-03-14 62
W
 Leigh CCSF N 14 8 VIEW
1987-03-17 63
L
 Hull L A 22 36 VIEW
1987-03-22 64
D
 Warrington L A 17 17 VIEW
1987-03-25 65
W
 Leigh L A 16 8 VIEW
1987-03-29 66
W
 Hull Kingston Rovers L H 44 22 VIEW
1987-04-01 67
L
 Castleford L H 8 10 VIEW
1987-04-05 68
W
 Leeds L H 24 22 VIEW
1987-04-08 69
W
 Barrow L H 26 4 VIEW
1987-04-12 70
L
 Bradford Northern L A 4 18 VIEW
1987-04-17 71
L
 Wigan L A 12 42 VIEW
1987-04-20 72
L
 Widnes L H 24 30 VIEW
1987-04-26 73
W
 Bradford Northern PT1 H 46 14 VIEW
1987-05-02 74
L
 Halifax CCF N 18 19 VIEW
1987-05-10 75
L
 Warrington PTSF H 8 18 VIEW
1987-08-14 --
W
 Sheffield Eagles* Fr H 40 2 VIEW
1987-08-23 --
L
 Widnes * Fr Charity A 14 26 VIEW
1987-08-30 76
L
 Castleford L A 10 20 VIEW
1987-09-06 77
W
 Hull Kingston Rovers L H 31 16 VIEW
1987-09-13 78
L
 Leigh LC1 A 21 27 VIEW
1987-09-20 79
L
 Warrington L A 20 24 VIEW
1987-09-27 80
W
 Bradford Northern L H 38 10 VIEW
1987-10-04 81
L
 Halifax L A 12 14 VIEW
1987-10-18 82
W
 Leigh L H 23 14 VIEW
1987-10-25 83
W
 Salford L A 18 8 VIEW
1987-11-01 84
W
 Auckland Tour H 52 26 VIEW
1987-11-08 85
L
 Leeds L A 21 24 VIEW
1987-11-14 86
W
 Widnes JP1 H 12 10 VIEW
1987-11-22 87
W
 Mansfield Marksmen JP2 H 40 0 VIEW
1987-11-29 88
W
 Hull JP3 H 20 16 VIEW
1987-12-06 89
L
 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 16 25 VIEW
1987-12-13 90
W
 Warrington L H 17 14 VIEW
1987-12-19 91
W
 Oldham JPSF N 18 8 VIEW
1987-12-27 92
W
 Wigan L A 32 22 VIEW
1988-01-03 93
W
 Widnes L H 25 0 VIEW
1988-01-09 94
W
 Leeds JPF N 15 14 VIEW
1988-01-17 95
W
 Bradford Northern L A 13 12 VIEW
1988-01-31 96
W
 Leigh CC1 A 22 12 VIEW
1988-02-07 97
W
 Halifax L H 16 4 VIEW
1988-02-13 98
W
 Warrington CC2 A 24 20 VIEW
1988-02-17 99
W
 Hull L H 64 2 VIEW
1988-02-21 100
W
 Leigh L A 50 12 VIEW
1988-02-28 101
L
 Salford CC3 A 18 22 VIEW
1988-03-01 102
W
 Hunslet L H 70 6 VIEW
1988-03-06 103
W
 Hunslet L A 14 10 VIEW
1988-03-13 104
W
 Castleford L H 14 6 VIEW
1988-03-16 105
W
 Salford L H 24 10 VIEW
1988-03-20 106
W
 Swinton L A 34 18 VIEW
1988-04-01 107
L
 Wigan L H 9 10 VIEW
1988-04-04 108
L
 Widnes L A 6 16 VIEW
1988-04-10 109
L
 Leeds L H 23 28 VIEW
1988-04-13 110
W
 Hull L A 20 8 VIEW
1988-04-17 111
W
 Swinton L H 52 4 VIEW
1988-04-24 112
W
 Castleford PT1 H 40 8 VIEW
1988-05-08 113
W
 Bradford Northern PTSF H 24 10 VIEW
1988-05-15 114
L
 Widnes PTF N 14 38 VIEW
1988-08-14 --
W
 Widnes* Fr Charity H 28 16 VIEW
1988-08-21 --
D
 Past Players XIII* Fr Testimonial H 52 52 VIEW
1988-08-28 115
W
 Bradford Northern L H 23 16 VIEW
1988-09-04 116
W
 Warrington L A 25 14 VIEW
1988-09-11 117
D
 Castleford L H 14 14 VIEW
1988-09-18 118
L
 Widnes LC1 A 24 32 VIEW
1988-09-25 119
L
 Leeds L A 0 32 VIEW
1988-10-02 120
W
 Wakefield Trinity L H 30 14 VIEW
1988-10-09 121
W
 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 30 22 VIEW
1988-10-16 122
L
 Hull L H 9 20 VIEW
1988-10-23 123
W
 Oldham L A 26 22 VIEW
1988-11-06 124
W
 Salford L H 30 14 VIEW
1988-11-13 125
W
 York JP1 A 14 6 VIEW
1988-11-20 126
L
 Castleford L A 12 46 VIEW
1988-11-27 127
W
 Hull JP2 H 16 13 VIEW
1988-12-04 128
W
 Wakefield Trinity JP3 H 34 18 VIEW
1988-12-10 129
L
 Widnes JPSF N 18 20 VIEW
1988-12-13 130
L
 Hull L A 12 21 VIEW
1988-12-18 131
W
 Halifax L H 50 16 VIEW
1988-12-26 132
L
 Wigan L H 11 18 VIEW
1989-01-01 133
L
 Widnes L A 22 29 VIEW
1989-01-08 134
W
 Leeds L H 15 6 VIEW
1989-01-15 135
L
 Featherstone Rovers L A 12 13 VIEW
1989-01-22 136
W
 Hull Kingston Rovers L H 29 0 VIEW
1989-01-29 137
W
 Swinton CC1 A 16 5 VIEW
1989-02-12 138
W
 Barrow CC2 H 28 6 VIEW
1989-02-19 139
W
 Bradford Northern L A 16 12 VIEW
1989-02-26 140
W
 Featherstone Rovers CC3 H 32 3 VIEW
1989-03-01 141
W
 Oldham L H 58 12 VIEW
1989-03-11 142
W
 Widnes CCSF N 16 14 VIEW
1989-03-14 143
L
 Salford L A 4 22 VIEW
1989-03-19 144
L
 Featherstone Rovers L H 10 31 VIEW
1989-03-27 145
L
 Widnes L H 16 44 VIEW
1989-04-02 146
L
 Wakefield Trinity L A 14 21 VIEW
1989-04-09 147
W
 Warrington L H 30 16 VIEW
1989-04-12 148
L
 Wigan L A 7 14 VIEW
1989-04-16 149
L
 Halifax L A 8 40 VIEW
1989-04-23 150
W
 Wigan PT1 A 4 2 VIEW
1989-04-29 151
L
 Wigan CCF N 0 27 VIEW
1989-05-07 152
L
 Widnes PTSF A 14 38 VIEW
1989-08-20 --
W
 Widnes* Fr Charity A 24 16 VIEW
1989-09-03 153
W
 Sheffield Eagles L A 36 20 VIEW
1989-09-10 154
L
 Castleford L H 24 26 VIEW
1989-09-17 155
W
 Runcorn Highfield LC1 H 78 10 VIEW
1989-09-24 156
L
 Bradford Northern L A 18 28 VIEW
1989-09-27 157
L
 Oldham LC2 H 6 36 VIEW
1989-10-01 158
W
 New Zealand Tour H 27 26 VIEW
1989-10-08 159
W
 Wakefield Trinity L A 24 21 VIEW
1989-10-15 160
W
 Featherstone Rovers L H 50 11 VIEW
1989-10-29 161
W
 Warrington L A 15 3 VIEW
1989-11-04 162
W
 Salford L H 40 16 VIEW
1989-11-12 163
W
 Barrow L H 62 18 VIEW
1989-11-21 164
W
 Hull L A 34 24 VIEW
1989-11-26 165
W
 Featherstone Rovers L A 24 23 VIEW
1989-12-02 166
W
 Hull Kingston Rovers RT1 H 40 26 VIEW
1989-12-10 167
D
 Dewsbury RT2 H 12 12 VIEW
1989-12-13 168
W
 Dewsbury RT2 (rep) A 14 0 VIEW
1989-12-17 169
W
 Oldham RT3 H 32 18 VIEW
1989-12-23 170
L
 Halifax RTSF N 9 10 VIEW
1989-12-26 171
L
 Wigan L A 6 38 VIEW
1990-01-01 172
L
 Widnes L H 8 18 VIEW
1990-01-07 173
L
 Leigh L A 18 30 VIEW
1990-01-14 174
W
 Castleford CCP H 39 12 VIEW
1990-01-17 175
W
 Hull L H 19 12 VIEW
1990-01-21 176
W
 Salford L A 25 10 VIEW
1990-01-28 177
W
 Bramley CC1 A 22 14 VIEW
1990-01-31 178
W
 Bradford Northern L H 32 10 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 121 | LOSSES : 58 | DRAWS : 6




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