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Jim Sullivan's tackling in the1929 Cup Final at Wembley in 1929
Jim Sullivan's tackling in the1929 Cup Final at Wembley in 1929
Photo: Keith
Views: 3,556
Item #: 29006
Jim Sullivan, one of the greatest names in Rugby League history, here seen tackling a Dewsbury opponent in the 1929 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in 1929, the very first Rugby League final played at Wembley which Wigan won. Jim, apart from being a great talent, was very much a no nonsense player and I think you can sense this from the nature of this tackle showing Jim's physique was more than a match for any player at that time. Whether it was a "legal tackle" is impossible to say without viewing it in action, but standards were also different in those days.

Comment by: AB on 8th February 2017 at 09:26

In the centre of the picture to the left of the posts is John Sherrington I went to school with his son Billy in the Forties. I knew John as a very hard, tough, man

Comment by: Josh on 8th February 2017 at 20:40

Looks like Jim has struck his opponent to the ground and he's falling as if unconscious, or am I being melodramatic.

Comment by: Jarvo on 8th February 2017 at 23:54

A bit different from the 'White Horse' cup final a few years earlier, isn't it? There's nobody theer...Just goes to show that RL was as unpopular then, than it is today. Gordon Bennett!

Comment by: JamesB on 9th February 2017 at 08:47

Thirty years on from this "unpopular" game I was watching Wigan play in front of 47,000, the following year 83,000 and the year after in front of 93,000 - nothing "unpopular" about that.

Comment by: Jarvo on 9th February 2017 at 11:12

As it is today...Edit

Comment by: gideonfel on 9th February 2017 at 12:03

Yet another example of Jarvo sniping at Rugby League. He never misses a chance. The fact that this 1929 final was the first time the game was played at Wembley, when the game was largely unknown in the south, is conveniently ignored. His beloved wendyball was then, and now, the country's national sport. Why doesn't he simply forego the sarcastic sniping at such an inferior sport and stick to his own game? I know he does it for effect and to annoy genuine RL fans, but he reminds me of the little scrote in the playground who calls the big boys names then scurries off! On a more positive note, my dad saw Jim Sullivan play and had nothing but the highest praise for him. Another great [adopted!] Wiganer of whom the town can be justly proud.

Comment by: Josh on 9th February 2017 at 12:58

Well said on all counts gideonfel.

Comment by: Jarvo on 9th February 2017 at 19:20

I'm sorry but the game was played exactly as you've decscibed: big boys throwing their weight around; but they never scared me, buster. And they never will. I still rate football as the harder and fitter game. The likes of the great Dave Mackay never used his fists or force, unlike Sullivan in this photograph. Mackay tackled fairly and without fear; and it cost him numerous broken legs...Easy to throw your fists about; not as easy to tackle like a terrier and win the ball fairly...But it was for Mackay...

Comment by: tuddy on 9th February 2017 at 22:25

I've never heard of the great Dave Mackay so I can't comment on him, but I've never heard anyone describe Jim Sullivan as a dirty player, and he dose not appear to be using his fists in the photograph as his hands are open.
Now, if this Dave Mackay never used any force in a tackle how did he manage to break his leg so often?

Comment by: Jarvo on 10th February 2017 at 00:14

He NEVER shirked a 50/50 tackle...

Comment by: pete barker on 10th February 2017 at 01:00

My old Dad used to say that Jim Sullivan was a rough player and could mix it with the best of them. Ozzies a speciality. But he wasn't dirty. Similarly, Dave Mackay was a rough hard player. The last time I saw Mackay was when he was playing for Derby County.I saw him use his fists in matches. But I wouldn't call him dirty, but a hard man for football. Tommy Smith of Liverpool was another hard case. To compare these footballers to RL players though is ridiculous. Especially the modern variety. They are like big girls blouses.

Comment by: tuddy on 10th February 2017 at 08:00

Don't think there'll be many shirkers in this photo.

Comment by: Bod on 10th February 2017 at 10:34

My old chap calls today's soccer players brylcream boys with silk knickers and should be re-named ,pass back.

Comment by: jonno on 10th February 2017 at 11:14

Dave Mackay, a whinging Scot with apparently 'numerous legs'which he broke regularly. Go back to sleep Jarvo, your beloved game is a shadow of its former self, all the game consists of is a load of underworked, WELL overpaid jessies, none of whom would have the bottle to cross the whitewash onto a rugby pitch. Football, in 90% of the UK is watched by as few supporters as you are accusing RL of having, it's only the big city clubs in the premier and who are sponsored by super rich foreigners that get the idiots paying daft prices to watch them. Jarvo, if the rich people weren't involved to pay stupid wages and even more stupid transfer fees the game would literally go to the dogs. AND, Jarvo, before you start calling RL attendances take a look at your beloved Blackburn, average attendance for 2016 / 2017 is 11,612,(-17.8% on last season)and,less than 400 higher than the Latics average and will be lower than WRLFC's average come the end of OUR season. Your game is played by fraudsters and con men trying their best to gain unfair advantages with their acrobatics, nuff sed !!!

Comment by: Jarvo on 10th February 2017 at 12:29

Blackburn??? I'm a Wolves man all my life. The point of this was the awful attendance at a major RL event, and the thuggery that has tarnished RL for its entire lifetime. The attendances at SL games are embarrassing to say the least, and only top 20,000 (in Wigan's case) when they play Saints on bank holidays. Football attendances are regularly on the increase and have been despite Sky TV. The thuggery is still there in rugby and you only need look a couple of seasons back when Ben Flower's nasty assault on an already unconscious man lost Wigan a cup final. I much prefer boxing after football, at least the opponent has a 'fighting' chance...Blackburn my a--e...

Comment by: gideonfel on 10th February 2017 at 13:36

I find it quite sad that what started out with a cracking photo of the great Jim Sullivan should now be hijacked with the conversation now focusing on wendyball and Dave Mackay. Once again Jarvo has succeeded in poisoning an innocent and nostalgic thread. It's our fault, I know, for taking notice of him, but he does it with monotonous regularity whenever Rugby League is the topic under discussion. Are there no wendyball threads he can interfere with? Or won't they let him play?

Comment by: Maurice on 10th February 2017 at 17:18

Syd Abram scored the first try in this match,he worked in the Arley mine at Nook pit,he would work on a Sat morning and play in the afternoon,along with a few others.

Comment by: Jarvo on 10th February 2017 at 18:09

Just my opinion, but the reality isn't a millioion miles away from my thinking.

Comment by: Kenneth on 10th February 2017 at 18:11

No worry gideonfel, whatever small minded people say or write today, Jim will always remain a colossus of the game, a unique individual of great talents, with records that stand today. A supreme athlete with unbelievable talent, his place in sporting history is forever assured.

Comment by: tuddy on 10th February 2017 at 21:26

I had the honour of meeting Jim Sullivan when I was a school boy, a giant of a man, and very modest. I also worked with the nephew of Syd Abrhams. I think the attendance for this game was around 40,000. Not bad for two teams based around 200 miles from the stadium when the north was in the middle of one of the worst economic depression ever known. Dewsbury would also have been little more than a village in 1929.

Comment by: WN1 Standisher on 11th February 2017 at 11:14

I don't usually get involved in all this football/rugby rubbish, I just enjoy looking at the photos, but but will just add that comparing a totally different game from different eras strikes me as just trying to provoke a response, and not a positive one. Jarvo will be well aware that comparing football then to football now is a flawed arguement. Different game altogether as is Rugby League. And before you ask, I follow both Latics and the Warriors and enjoy both games. ' Dual core ' I think they call it. I support WIGAN. I will be in Salford later to see the lads start the defence of their title and down in Wolverhampton on Tuesday to hopefully see the Tics earn 3 points towards survival. See you there Jarvo. Enjoy the game.

Comment by: GeorgeB on 11th February 2017 at 16:18

WN1 Standisher - Now that's what I call a true Wigan supporter, with a balanced and logical view that make total sense - need I say more.

Comment by: WN1 Standisher on 12th February 2017 at 13:20

Thanks GeorgeB. A good start at the AJ Bell but a poor second half when Powell went off. Anyway, Cronulla up next. Fulham, what can I say ? heartbreak in the 94th minute and a valuable point lost.Never mind, the mighty Wolves on Tuesday night. I don't think we'll go down but do think we need to start making our own luck. FA Cup Champions and Super League GF winners 2013. Not bad for a small town in Lancashire.

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