Rugby League Legend Martin Offiah available for interview on release of his new book

Nov. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- It is almost a decade since Martin Offiah, prolific, record-breaking try-scorer, retired from rugby league. He has remained a part of the sport that made his name, sharing his opinions and comments on television and in the press. He also continues to play a part in the game as an agent for some of rugby league’s rising young stars.

It is also over a decade since Martin Offiah published his autobiography, some five years before his playing career came to an end. In that decade, rugby league has progressed, changed almost beyond recognition. The game has both expanded and consolidated its base, has seen crowds and television audiences grow. The opportunities the sport can now offer a player are fundamentally different from when Martin’s career was launched by a surprise move from south to north, from union to league, from youth achievement to instant professional recognition over twenty years ago. In his 50 of the Best Martin discusses these changes via the careers of rugby league’s great players.

In his 50 of the Best, Martin Offiah celebrates and analyses some of rugby league’s great scores. Martin relives some of his own tries, the spectacular, the significant and the memorable, a handful from his record-breaking career tally of 501. His fascinating selection also looks at great achievements of others, both team-mates and foes, players he played with and against in his fifteen years in the game. From David Topliss to Kyle Eastmond, from Clive Sullivan to Wally Lewis, he considers legends, rookies, a few lucky breaks and some great stories of the game’s past and present. He highlights the speed and strength, the tactics and teamwork, and especially the individual stealth that combine to make rugby league so spectacular, skilful and exciting. Martin Offiah tells the stories behind great moments from the last 30 years of the game, discusses how rugby league has developed and suggests some pointers for its future.

50 of the Best is more than reminiscences from a great player, however. With the prospect of a World Cup staged in England less than four years away, Martin also looks to rugby league’s future and considers its continued development. He highlights how recent changes in the game can lift the sport to new heights of achievement and popularity, whilst also identifying some of its weaknesses.

50 of the Best by Martin Offiah is a personal reflection on rugby league past, present and future by one of the sport’s greatest ever players. He states why he believes that achievements such as his will never again be matched, and offers his own explanation of how changes in the last decade, both inside and outside rugby league, have changed the game for good.


"Martin was a phenomenal try scorer and a lot braver than people gave him credit for. The best person to compile a book like this"
Jonathan Davies - Ex Widnes RL


'Martin was the ultimate try scoring machine. He had pace that no player has matched since.
His tactical awareness to anticipate breaks made all over the field and his blistering pace made him the player he was. He is the only man fit to pull together a book on try scoring'
Sean Long - St Helens

Anyone who has been as succesful as Martin in scoring tries and creating havoc will always have my vote in getting others to understand the uniqueness in how to the perform the skill"
Ellery Hanley - Wigan and Great Britain Legend


It has been a privilege to have played with Martin over the years. I regard him as one of the best finishers there has been in the game’.
Jason Robinson – Wigan and Great Britain Legend

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