: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:37 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Good player, but better than Sculthorpe and Farrell?

he's an import though so could play against them

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:38 am  

vikinggriff1979 wrote:

he's an import though so could play against them

good call

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:31 am  

Gavin Miller - Legend wrote:

Buderus after 20 mins on the field in Leeds colours

Aye, no matter what name he uses his Leeds colours come shining thru

For me the best import hooker was Hetherington for the Broncos.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 5:02 am  

is this a leeds thread

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:28 am  

Big Graeme wrote:

Aye, no matter what name he uses his Leeds colours come shining thru :lol:

For me the best import hooker was Hetherington for the Broncos.

fredie wrote:

is this a leeds thread :roll:

Are the above comments examples of the psychology of selective perception?

According to the famed mathematicians who advise me on my work, the clubs cited in this meticulous team selection have the following number of representatives:

Wigan: 9

Leeds: 8

St Helens: 8

Bradford: 4

Hull FC: 2

London: 2

Catalans: 1

Perhaps this selection is in fact a fair representation of the top clubs' performances over thirteen years of Super League?

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:52 am  

These hypotheticals are always pretty stupid but if you're going to do it you have to decide whether these players are to be judged on their performances in SL or on their performances at their peak. Most of the imports were not at their best when they played in SL like Renouf, J Smith etc, in fact most of the imports would fit into that category. If it was based on their ability at their best the likes of Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus and Alfie Langer would have to swing it the imports' way. The imports could pick three or four halves combos that would be better than Long and Maguire but the locals stack up better in most other positions. But it's still just speculation so who cares.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:06 am  

I'd pick Senior and Robbie McCormack above the two selections you've made for starters.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:24 am  

ECT wrote:

These hypotheticals are always pretty stupid but if you're going to do it you have to decide whether these players are to be judged on their performances in SL or on their performances at their peak. Most of the imports were not at their best when they played in SL like Renouf, J Smith etc, in fact most of the imports would fit into that category. If it was based on their ability at their best the likes of Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus and Alfie Langer would have to swing it the imports' way..

Steve Renouf did some wonderful things for Wigan when he was there, even though he was not quite the great player he had been when he was a Brisbane Bronco. (Incidentally, quite a courageous performance for a diabetic!)

Jason Smith was still a great player when he came to Hull. He then went back to Australia and played magnificently (for Canberra and North Queensland as I recall).

Trent Barrett was a great player when he came to Wigan, and remains so. (We all pray that his neck injury suffered today will not be career ending). His unfortunate second season, which resulted from personal family issues, should not detract from the magnificent performances he turned on for Wigan.

The English selection were a stronger pack, but I suspect that the import forwards would do enough when in possession to enable Henry Paul and Trent Barrett (and Stacey) to create openings and let the flying outside backs score lots of tries that the English backs could not.

ECT wrote:

The imports could pick three or four halves combos that would be better than Long and Maguire but the locals stack up better in most other positions. But it's still just speculation so who cares.

We all care. It matters precisely because the different relative ability of the English in certain positions.

What this analysis tells us is that the England/Great Britain squad has strong forward components, but is weak in the backs, relative to foreign countries. This began with the arrival of Reginald Gasnier and Graeme "Changa" Langlands on the international scene. It has been embarrassingly true since the retirement of Roger Millward, and even moreso since the retirement of Gary Schofield.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:42 am  

Alice's Phallus wrote:

What this analysis tells us is that the England/Great Britain squad has strong forward components, but is weak in the backs, relative to foreign countries. This began with the arrival of Reginald Gasnier and Graeme "Changa" Langlands on the international scene. It has been embarrassingly true since the retirement of Roger Millward, and even moreso since the retirement of Gary Schofield.

No. What it tells us is that if England/GB could compile all of its best players from the past 14 years and had them all playing at their best then they might have a strong forward pack on paper. In fact they'd have a strong backline too. If South Sydney could bring Clive Churchill, John O'Neill, Bob McCarthy and Ron Coote back and have them playing at their career peak they'd have a good side too. If France had Puig Aubert, Max Rousie and Eduard Ponsinet back at their best they'd have a good side as well. So what. All of that is just hypotheticals, so who cares.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:16 am  

if we could bring back the best team in history . dragons 11 GF team