I TIP my hat to Joel Monaghan this week.

What an achievement, to score your 100th try in your 100th appearance, but there is more to this man than simply being a try machine.

You can see on the pitch, especially this year, how he is calling on all of his experience to step up his leadership role and rally the troops.

And behind the scenes he is proving to be a valuable asset as he mentors some of the club’s young talent, like Gene Ormsby who is enjoying a breakthrough year with the first team.

But of course it is his incredible strike rate which is grabbing the headlines.

Wolves had no doubts the former Australia 2008 World Cup three-quarter would succeed over here after his controversial end-of-season party prank caused a storm in Australia and cost him is career at home club Canberra Raiders.

He was given a lifeline in the same squad as his brother and boy has he repaid that decision.

Of the 20 players to have scored 100 tries or more for Wolves, only world record holder Brian Bevan has a better try-per-game ratio.

So, with 59 tries at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, 31 in away games and 11 at neutral venues, he is doing better than touchdown kings of the past like John Bevan, Mark Forster and Jack Fish.

His consistency is remarkable in the modern game – 30 in 2011, 29 in 2012, and 31 in 2013.

He is leading the way again this year, although his rate is three down on the same stage last year.

But that is still good considering the number of touchdowns that used to come as a benefit of Lee Briers’ fine work.

And my favourite try of Joel’s so far?

I think I would have to say the opener in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final success over Leeds at Wembley, when he followed up Richie Myler’s kick.

 

Wolves’ ton-up try scorers (in order of total tries scored)

1 Brian Bevan (1945-62), 740 tries in total, 84 games to reach 100 tries

2 Jack Fish (1898-1911), 215 tries in total, 184 games to reach 100 tries

3 John Bevan (1973-86), 201 tries in total, 144 games to reach 100 tries

4 Mark Forster (1983-2000), 191 tries in total, 251+15 games to reach 100 tries

5 Parry Gordon (1963-81), 167 tries in total, 266+2 games to reach 100 tries

6 Albert Naughton (1949-61), 167 tries in total, 171 games to reach 100 tries

7 Billy Dingsdale (1928-40), 154 tries in total, 178 games to reach 100 tries

8 Lee Briers (1997-2013), 154 tries in total , 285+12 games to reach 100 tries

9 Bobby Greenough (1957-66) ,136 tries in total, 157 games to reach 100 tries

10 Jim Challinor (1952-63), 135 tries in total, 216 games to reach 100 tries

11 Brian Glover (1957-70), 130 tries in total, 244 games to reach 100 tries

12 Jim Tranter (1911-28), 120 tries in total , 342 games to reach 100 tries

13 Chris Riley (2005-now), 120 tries in total , 133+13 games to reach 100 tries

14 Bob Eccles (1977-87), 119 tries in total , 203+44 games to reach 100 tries

15 Tommy Thompson (1927-34), 112 tries in total, 172 games to reach 100 tries

16 Albert Johnson (1939-51) , 112 tries in total, 173 games to reach 100 tries

17 Ben Westwood (2002-now), 111 tries in total, 290+9 games to reach 100 tries

18 Gerry Helme (1945-57), 101 tries in total, 416 games to reach 100 tries

19 Joel Monaghan (2011-now), 101 tries in total, 100 games to reach 100 tries

20 Lee Penny (1992-2003), 100 tries in total, 266+9 games to reach 100 tries

(Note: the +figures represent substitute appearances)

 

Wolves’ ton-up try scorers (in order of fastest 100)

1 Brian Bevan (1945-62), 740 tries in total, 84 games to reach 100 tries

2 Joel Monaghan (2011-now), 101 tries in total, 100 games to reach 100 tries

3 John Bevan (1973-86), 201 tries in total, 144 games to reach 100 tries

4 Chris Riley (2005-now), 120 tries in total , 133+13 games to reach 100 tries

5 Bobby Greenough (1957-66) ,136 tries in total, 157 games to reach 100 tries

6 Albert Naughton (1949-61), 167 tries in total, 171 games to reach 100 tries

7 Tommy Thompson (1927-34), 112 tries in total, 172 games to reach 100 tries

8 Albert Johnson (1939-51) , 112 tries in total, 173 games to reach 100 tries

9 Billy Dingsdale (1928-40), 154 tries in total, 178 games to reach 100 tries

10 Jack Fish (1898-1911), 215 tries in total, 184 games to reach 100 tries

11 Jim Challinor (1952-63), 135 tries in total, 216 games to reach 100 tries

12 Brian Glover (1957-70), 130 tries in total, 244 games to reach 100 tries

13 Bob Eccles (1977-87), 119 tries in total , 203+44 games to reach 100 tries

14 Mark Forster (1983-2000), 191 tries in total, 251+15 games to reach 100 tries

15 Parry Gordon (1963-81), 167 tries in total, 266+2 games to reach 100 tries

16 Lee Penny (1992-2003), 100 tries in total, 266+9 games to reach 100 tries

17 Lee Briers (1997-2013), 154 tries in total , 285+12 games to reach 100 tries

18 Ben Westwood (2002-now), 111 tries in total, 290+9 games to reach 100 tries

19 Jim Tranter (1911-28), 120 tries in total , 342 games to reach 100 tries

20 Gerry Helme (1945-57), 101 tries in total, 416 games to reach 100 tries

(Note: the +figures represent substitute appearances)