The Cherry and White were certainly too hot for Halifax in 1988, the first of their eight straight Challenge Cup final wins.

Gregory, only the second player to win the Lance Todd Trophy, says Wigan would have beaten Australia that day.

Here, the pocket scrum-half talks about those glory days and the influence of coaches John Monie and Graham Lowe:

"I can remember more about the weeks leading up to the 1988 final against Halifax than I can of the match itself.

"It was the best preparation I have ever had before a big event.

"The whole team were so well prepared I think we could have beaten Australia never mind Halifax.

The game against Warrington was certainly no classic but I think I played better than I did two years before Andy Gregory

"I felt sorry for Halifax. Every one of us was in superb condition, both mentally and physically.

"No-one dropped a ball in training and we prepared as if we were going into a Test match.

"The game turned out to be one of Wigan's finest and I ended up winning the Lance Todd Trophy.

"When my name was announced over the public address system, I was quite surprised.

"I made a few breaks in midfield and kept putting out the passes but anyone could have won it.

"I won my second Lance Todd Trophy in 1990.

"The game against Warrington was certainly no classic but I think I played better than I did two years before.

"I was quite pleased with the pass I flicked over my right shoulder to send Ellery Hanley in for a try under the posts. That possibly clinched the votes for me.

"Wigan were the Real Madrid of rugby league. If you couldn't play in that team, then you couldn't play the game.

"I played under two overseas coaches in Graham Lowe and John Monie. They were both very similar in style and in the way they approached a Challenge Cup final.

"They worked the players hard in the weeks before and were meticulous in their approach.

"John was very much a players' man who kept 19 internationals very happy by rotating the squad and by holding regular meetings to explain just what he was doing.

"Graham was a little more distant from the players but he had the respect of us all."