Dean Bell (left): Captained Wigan to victory in 1992, 1993 and 1994 Shaun Edwards (middle): Captained Wigan to victory in 1988 and 1995 Ellery Hanley (right): Captained Wigan to victory in 1989, 1990 and 1991 Route to the finals, 1988-1995

Boasting world-class players like Ellery Hanley, Martin Offiah, Shaun Edwards, Andy Gregory, Dean Bell and Joe Lydon, they swept all before them and rewrote the record books in emphatic style.

It was a truly awesome winning run, stretching for 43 games until Salford's shock win in 1996.

No side has dominated British rugby league like Wigan did in that golden era - and few are likely to again.

Gregory, who played in a total of seven Challenge Cup-winning sides for Wigan between 1981 and 1992, insists the team was so good anyone could have coached it to victory.

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

Bell, who captained Wigan to three successive Challenge Cup final wins, said the team were fortunate to have so many outstanding players.

CHALLENGE CUP MEMORIES Read more of Andy Gregory Read more of Dean Bell Read more of Joe Lydon Read more of Jason Robinson

"Players like Edward, Gregory and Lydon could play a game in any way they wanted," says Bell.

"They could play adventurous, expansive rugby or they cold knuckle down and play with some steel."

Lydon says it was Wigan's mental strength that made them champions.

"The opposition would throw everything at us and look set for victory only for us to dig deep and win," he says.

"I got the feeling other teams knew we would always win."

Bradford Bulls coach Brian Noble, who lost to Wigan in two Cup semi-finals with Bradford Northern, agrees that most sides had an inferiority complex when they came face to face with the mighty Cherry and Whites.

I'm sure a lot of players went out there with a lot of fear in their bones Brian Noble on facing Wigan

"Deep down, you've got be honest and say teams were beaten before they even took to the field against Wigan, " Noble tells BBC Sport.

"I'm sure a lot of players went out there with a lot of fear in their bones.

"Before the semi-finals we had against them, I think we thought we could win. But when you go out on the field it's a different story. They just felt they couldn't lose.

"I don't think anyone could see an end to that run either.

"They were lucky enough to sign all the best local players. And if anyone had a decent season at another club, they were off to Wigan the next year.

"It was only the advent of summer football that the parallels were brought together.

"The challenge for any other club was avoiding Wigan in the draw as the only way to get to Wembley.

Never took a backward step, however fierce the opposition Ray French on Andy Platt Ray selects his best Wigan XIII

"Of our two semi-finals, I remember the first was 1-0 with 13 minutes gone and it ended up being 71-10 - very depressing.

"A year later, we faced the same team and it was a lot closer.

"We were in with a chance with 10 minutes to go, but they found a reason to win and we found a reason to lose. That's the way it was."

Wigan's run finally came to an end against Salford.

"They beat us 26-16 in a fifth-round tie, bringing our success to an abrupt and sensational end," says Jason Robinson.

"The defeat shocked the world of rugby league. It also shocked the Wigan players, who were in a state of disbelief when the final whistle went."