Do you know who scored the first EVER Super League try?

It's a classic quiz question for the ages: who scored the first try in Super League history?

There’s some legendary players who featured in the opening season of rugby league’s summer era, including Great Britain centre Paul Newlove who finished as the competition’s top scorer with 28 tries as St Helens became champions. 

Wigan Warriors iconic captain Andy Farrell was named Man of Steel, club-mate Jason Robinson was ripping defences to shreds while young gun Iestyn Harris was making strides and scoring some stunning solo efforts at Warrington Wolves. 

But anyone who knows their onions will recall it was a far less familiar name who got the first try of Super League when the bright new era kicked off in 1996 – Frederic Banquet. 

The French centre, of course, crossed when expansion newcomers Paris St Germain kicked off amid all the hype and razzmatazz in their Charlety Stadium, picking up a famous 30-24 opening night win against Sheffield Eagles. 

As Super League prepares to celebrate its 30th birthday on March 29 – the anniversary of that landmark fixture – Banquet admitted, from his home in France, that his recollections remain vivid. 

He said: “My main memories are of a Charlety Stadium filled with French and English supporters – there was almost 18,000 people there - and the opening of the Super League in Europe. 

“Even though it was 30 years ago, I still remember that try when the Sheffield player [Johnny Lawless] lost control of the ball about 30m from his own line. 

“I recovered it and managed to get over for the first try of the match – and the first try in Super League. 

“I didn't really have time to feel any emotion at that point because I was so caught up in the game.  

“But, today, it remains one of the best memories of my career. And we always see that try replayed every year when the Super League resumes.” 

It was also a belated birthday present for Banquet who had turned 20 just five days earlier. 

Among the PSG side that day was brilliant France scrum-half Patrick Entat who remains one of the greatest players in Les Tricolores’ history. 

Banquet, now 50, added: “I was incredibly lucky to play against Patrick Entat when he was at Leeds and I was at Featherstone Rovers two years before the Super League started. 

“We had already played together for the French national team, and then again in 1996 with PSG. He was an exemplary player on the pitch: an outstanding leader, and a man who loved to win.” 

PSG, of course, only managed three victories all season in 1996, the others coming against Workington Town and London. 

Banquet played in them all – he scored seven tries in 18 appearances before rejoining Wakefield Trinity the following campaign – but the French side only lasted two seasons in Super League before disbanding, beset by a raft of issues which hindered their chances of success. 

Banquet, who scored 15 tries in 20 games largely as a winger for Featherstone during the 1994-95 season, admitted: “Personally, having only played one season with PSG, I think they lacked the resources to create a truly professional club. 

“Training sessions were held in Toulouse, and matches took place either in Paris or England. 

“The second season, the players were based in Paris, and that must have been a financial burden for the club.” 

Banquet was delighted, though, to see Catalans Dragons eventually establish themselves in Super League as a genuine force for French rugby league. 

They won the Challenge Cup in 2018, finished top three years later and have reached two Grand Finals, bringing so much to the competition. And now Toulouse Olympique are also back in Super League for their second season in the top-flight, giving further belief that the sport can kick-on at the elite level. 

Banquet, who featured briefly with Sheffield in 1995-96, added: “Since being founded in 2000, Bernard Guasch has succeeded in his endeavour of creating a Super League team in Perpignan, structuring and stabilizing a truly professional club.  

“They have now been in the competition for 20 years. We can only hope for the same success in Toulouse. 

“Because with these two professional clubs, rugby league is back in the spotlight in France - and this gives a lot of hope to our young players who possess immense talent and ambition.” 

Catalans will host Wigan in Paris on June 6 to mark the anniversaries of 20 years of Catalans in Super League and – where it all began - 30 years since the start of Super League. 

Banquet, who remains involved in the sport through his position on the French Rugby League Federation disciplinary committee, said: “I hope to be there for what will be a wonderful event. 

“It's an excellent idea to hold another match in Paris for the 30th anniversary of the Super League. 

“Furthermore, the Super XIII Championship final will be played before the Catalans v Wigan match; this presents a great opportunity for fans to come together in the capital. 

“When I now look back at Super League over four decades, it’s hard to pick out who the best player has been.  

“But from my generation, the one who does spring to mind is someone from that Wigan club - Andy Farrell.” 

Banquet, meanwhile, wishes he could have played more Super League; he returned to France in July 1997 after his second stint with second tier Wakefield, still aged only 21. 

He explained: “The year before the Super League, I signed with Sheffield Eagles, where I played for half a season. 

“But because the summer schedule featured the first Super League match between Paris and Sheffield, I couldn’t stay with them [Eagles]. 

“I joined Wakefield for the end of that [95-96] season instead, where I had a great time playing with some talented players.  

“I was supposed to return to England later on. But having to do my military service in France prevented me from pursuing my childhood dream. 

“After that, I played for Villeneuve-sur-Lot, where we won three French league titles and three French Cups, as well as a European Cup, in seven seasons. 

“I finished my career at Carcassonne, my boyhood club, with whom I won a French Cup at the age of 35 in 2009.” 

By Dave Craven