End of an Era

During the 1970s and 1980s, Widnes R.LFC were labeled the 'Cup Kings'. When the team narrowly lost the 199.1 Challenge Cup Final against Wigan, it marked the end of 20 seasons of the Club as a major force in British Rugby League. 'End of an Era' is a chronicle of the last six of those 20 seasons from the 1987/88 until the 1992/93 season. Widnes won two successive Championships, three Premierships, the Lancashire Cup and the World Club Championship in that period. Anthony J. Quinn infers in his book that they could have achieved even more, and perhaps nominated British Rugby League until the advent of Super League in 1996. He suggests the famous World Club Championship victory in 1989 may have had "ramifications". He speculates that it may have cost a third successive Championship and a place in the 1990 Challenge Cup Final, which in turn may have led to the departures of coach Doug Laughton and star winger Martin Offiah from the Club. The author also gives his opinion that the Club should not have signed Jonathan Davies. Whilst acknowledging the Welshman's great performances for Widnes, he writes that his signing was a factor in the Club's financial problems that along with the departures of Laughton and Offiah resulted in an era ending before it should have done.