Playing Career
He galvanised a great Wigan team, his own medal haul including six Championships, seven Rugby League Challenge Cups, three Premierships, four John Player/Regal Trophies and two Lancashire Cups. He also received the Lance Todd Trophy (1991) and the coveted Man of Steel award (1995).
He featured in three World Club Challenge matches for Wigan, winning two, against the Penrith Panthers in 1991 and the Brisbane Broncos 1994.
During the 1992–93 Rugby Football League season Betts played at second-row forward for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge against the visiting Brisbane Broncos. After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Betts travelled with defending champions Wigan to Brisbane, playing in the second row in the 1994 World Club Challenge victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. Betts had the honour of scoring the opening try in the last game at Central Park and the first try at the JJB Stadium.
At the height of the Super League War he signed a lucrative deal with the Auckland Warriors in 1995, but returned to Wigan in 1998, and played in the side that lost to Sheffield Eagles in the Challenge Cup Final that year. He missed the 1998 Super League Grand Final win that year through injury, but played in the losing Grand Final sides of 2000 and 2001. Betts was persuaded to retire from playing at the age of 32, in order to help Wigan get under the salary cap.
He made 32 appearances for Great Britain, the joint highest ever for a forward, and toured three times, in 1990, 1992 and 1996. He was also the vice-captain of England in the 95 World cup final, which they lost to Australia at Wembley Stadium.
Betts is the only player to win both England and Great Britain caps whilst at the Auckland Warriors.
Read more about this topic: Denis Betts
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