27 Aug 2015
Rugby League legend Murphy thrilled by Wembley statue
By Simon Dent
Rugby League has scaled many heights in the last 120 years, but Alex Murphy OBE, one of the five subjects of the Wembley Statue, believes that the unveiling of the monument on Saturday August 29 will be the pinnacle of the game’s history.
Billy Boston MBE, Eric Ashton MBE, Martin Offiah MBE, Gus Risman and Murphy were voted as the five Rugby League legends to be included by a large panel of journalists, coaches, players, MPs, national newspaper editors and supporters.
The statue has been commissioned in association with the sport’s charity, Rugby League Cares, and is set to become a focal point at Wembley for generations of Rugby League fans.
Murphy, who was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame in 1988, ranks the unveiling of the statue prior to this year’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final as the greatest achievement in the sport.
“I think it’s the biggest thing to happen in Rugby League. It’s as big as putting a man on the moon,” he said.
“When people go to Wembley for different events, they’re not only going to see a statue of Bobby Moore, but they’ll also see the Rugby League statue of Billy Boston, Eric Ashton, Gus Risman, Martin Offiah and myself. It’s huge for Rugby League to have a permanent place at Wembley.
“If someone told me that a lad from Thatto Heath, on his sixth birthday when he signed for St Helens at midnight, not only would I play for my hometown club, not only would I win at Wembley a few times, go to Buckingham Palace and receive an OBE, and then for someone to put me amongst the five best players to have played, is absolutely mind-blowing. I can’t believe it’s happened.”
Plans for a Rugby League statue to feature at Wembley Stadium were announced in 2012, and Murphy has been mesmerised by the work done by the sculptor, Stephen Winterburn.
“I cannot believe that someone can get so much detail on this statue. He even corrected my ear. He was observing the statue and said, ‘oh, that’s not right’,” he said.
“There’s so much detail in it and Martin Offiah can’t believe what he’s done, and he’s even got a bandage around his wrist standing out with the numbers on the jerseys. I’ve got to be honest – I think he’s one of the best sculptors in England, and everyone will be proud of the work he’s done.”
Murphy played from 1956-1975 and made over 500 professional appearances, 319 for St Helens. He is regarded as one of the greatest half-backs ever to play the game. He played in 27 Test matches, toured Australia twice and was part of Great Britain’s World Cup-winning team of 1960.
Tickets for the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final between Hull Kingston Rovers and Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium on Saturday August 29 are still available from as little as £20. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk or calling the Rugby League Ticket Hotline on 0844 856 1113.
