![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/210214.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDAVID Watkins MBE has been hailed as the \u2018George Best of rugby league\u2019 after the dual-code legend passed away.<\/p>\n
And in a sign of how good he was, the man himself used to watch the Welsh wizard in action from the terraces, along with Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Watkins, who crossed codes to rugby league after becoming a star in rugby union at Newport and won two titles with Salford in 1974 and 1976, died on Sunday at the age of 81.<\/p>\n
To show his standing in the 13-a-side code, the Rugby Football League went to the Red Devils to line up a minute\u2019s memorial \u2013 silence or applause. Not the other way around.<\/p>\n
And director Paul King, who stood as a child in awe of what he saw on the pitch, paid tribute to a \u2018generational talent.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid was the Georgie Best of rugby league,\u201d he said of the man signed for a then world record fee of \u00a315,000 in 1967, who represented Britain's Lions in union and league.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeorge would watch him on a Friday night before Manchester United played, as did the rest of the Holy Trinity – Law and Charlton.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf David was playing today, he\u2019d be a huge star. He\u2019d be ruling the NRL, he\u2019d be unquestionably worthy of that stage.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe came across with a world record attached to him and a target on his back. He was a good-looking bloke \u2013 my mum fancied him \u2013 and he took some batterings, but just brushed himself down.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s probably the best dual-code international there has ever been and I saw him play. He was the guy that brought the Quality Street gang at Salford together \u2013 he was just special, absolutely special.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDavid had incredible balance, a fantastic sidestep and he used to chip through for Keith Fielding, that was almost unstoppable \u2013 and he rarely missed a kick, he could kick them from anywhere.<\/p>\n \u201cHe could play anywhere. When Paul Charton left in 1975, he went to full back. Paul was the finest full back there\u2019s ever been but with David there, we hardly missed him.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a Floodlit Trophy replay at Warrington\u2019s Wilderspool, he walked off after kicking two in a 10-5 win and was that thick in mud, I could hardly recognise him but he\u2019d been incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n After Watkins retired, he set up in business in his native South Wales but his connection to Salford remained close.<\/p>\n He was at their final match at The Willows ground he starred on and was invited to a recent 150th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary celebration but was too ill to travel.<\/p>\n And at Sunday\u2019s meeting with Warrington, emotions are certain to run high as fans get the chance to pay their respects, soon after team-mates and legends Mike Coulman and Eric Prescott also died.<\/p>\n Watkins\u2019 family and representatives from Newport RUFC will also be invited.<\/p>\n \u201cDavid\u2019s just this iconic, legendary figure and I had the honour of meeting his wife and family last year,\u201d King added.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a lovely, lovely man and Sunday will be emotional, but incredibly respectful. We\u2019re having either a minute\u2019s silence or applause.<\/p>\n \u201cWhenever a club\u2019s former player passes away, you have to go to the RFL for permission to have either, we didn\u2019t have to with David.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a case of, \u2018Before you ask, permission granted.\u2019 That says a lot about David Watkins.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/crop-23793633.jpg\")
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