Dwayne West

Dwayne West (born 8 June 1980) is a former rugby league footballer of the 2000s. He competed in the Super League competition, featuring as a winger. He started his career at Wigan Warriors, debuting in Super League 1999 but was signed by St Helens in June 2000.[1] He stayed at St Helens until being signed by Hull.[2] However, on his debut for Hull he picked up a serious knee injury.[3] He is the son of former coach Graeme West.[1]

He is most remembered for his time at St Helens for his role in arguably the most famous try in Super League history - Chris Joynt's try in the Qualifying Playoff at Knowsley Road vs. Bradford Bulls on 22 September 2000. With the Bulls leading 11-10, the clock was up and there was one last play for St Helens to score; if the ball went dead the game would finish. After the ball had been passed back and forth on the right hand side by the St Helens players, there was no way through. Sean Long switched the play left where he found West. He ran forward and beat two Bulls players before passing the ball inside to Joynt to score a dramatic try at the death.[4] The try soon became known as the 'Wide to West' try, named after the memorable commentary by Eddie Hemmings:

“ Sculthorpe wants to get on with it, Bradford counting down, this is the last play! Long, kicks it wide, to Iro. Iro... to Hall. Hall is trapped. Back it goes... to Hoppe, over the shoulder to Hall. There is Jonkers, here is Long. And Long fancies it, Long fancies it! It's wide to West, it's wide to West! Dwayne West! Inside to Joynt! Joynt, Joynt, Joooynt! Oh! Oh! Fantastic! They've won it, they've won it! ”

—Commentator Eddie Hemmings, Sky Sports

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Whalley, John (15 June 2000). "St Helens fend off Leigh to capture West". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  2. ↑ "St Helens". BBC. 7 March 2003. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  3. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (26 February 2003). "Knee operation leaves West facing another season on the sidelines". London: The Independent. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  4. ↑ "wide to west". YouTube. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 14 August 2009.