TO mark the 50th anniversary of the St Helens Star covering Saints, each week of 2023 we will highlight a player who made a significant contribution to the year in focus.
To open with - and 1973 - we pick Billy Benyon, a player who clocked up more than 500 appearances for the club between 1962-1977.
Benyon's skills transcended the generations - winning competitions under unlimited, four and six-tackle rules and a Wembley winner in 1966, 1972 and 1976.
Benyon had only just turned 17 when he made his debut in the centres in 1962, but he swiftly established himself.
His quality service from left centre was greatly appreciated by his wingman Len Killeen. Quick thinking too, as illustrated by his chip to the corner for the South African to pounce in the 1966 Challenge Cup Final win over Wigan.
Benyon's greatest final exploit, however, was as the "one-armed bandit" in the 1971 Championship Final victory over Wigan.
Entering the last minute, Saints had been trailing by a point when John Walsh took a punt for a drop goal. It missed but Benyon, despite nursing a bad shoulder, was up like a shot to touch the ball down for the winner.
A Wembley winner in 1972 and the Dad's Army team of 1976, Benyon took the skipper's reins in 1976-77 and his trophy lift in the 1977 Premiership would be the last cup Saints would win for seven years.
And of course, Benyon was coach for that next bit of silverware in 1984-85 having joined two seasons earlier.
As a coach he had that largely homespun team playing great, free-flowing football.
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