Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:28 pm  

Wally Lewis. Watched him stroll around with gumshield in hand until he was interested. He was quality.

Ps agree with biff, didn't see his post.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:31 pm  

The Avenger wrote:

Neil Fox

You mean Peter Fox surely.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:39 pm  

Neil Fox

Career highest point scorer of all time which will probably never be overtaken

6,220 358t, 2,575g, including 4 one-point dg
(6,578 points when adjusted to 4pt tries)

Scored at a time when UK Rugby League was the greatest standard in the world also includes points from Test matches against Australia and New Zealand, challenge Cup Finals amongst other high profile games.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:42 pm  

It's always a difficult question this. You can only be judged in your own era, so based on that I would say Wally Lewis. I am not old enough to have actually seen him play but I've seen plenty of old footage and the guy was something else.

That said though, the game has moved at such a pace in terms of professionalism, fitness and technique that in reality, if you sent a even a mediocre modern day player back to the 80s he would rip them to shreds. So by that definition the best player ever has to be whoever you regard as the best player in the world right now (or at least in the last 5 years). For me that would be Cameron Smith.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:50 pm  

Mr. Zucchini Head wrote:

It's always a difficult question this. You can only be judged in your own era, so based on that I would say Wally Lewis. I am not old enough to have actually seen him play but I've seen plenty of old footage and the guy was something else.

That said though, the game has moved at such a pace in terms of professionalism, fitness and technique that in reality, if you sent a even a mediocre modern day player back to the 80s he would rip them to shreds. So by that definition the best player ever has to be whoever you regard as the best player in the world right now (or at least in the last 5 years). For me that would be Cameron Smith.

Totally agree. However some can overcome that with foresight. Lewis was one.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:52 pm  

Ellery Hanley and Wally Lewis imo.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:17 pm  

Hanley was incredible, a freak. Probably the only player of the last 30 years that has terrified the Australian teams. A pure athlete built for RL.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:18 pm  

Kevin Sinfield

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:43 pm  

Mr. Zucchini Head wrote:

It's always a difficult question this. You can only be judged in your own era, so based on that I would say Wally Lewis. I am not old enough to have actually seen him play but I've seen plenty of old footage and the guy was something else.

That said though, the game has moved at such a pace in terms of professionalism, fitness and technique that in reality, if you sent a even a mediocre modern day player back to the 80s he would rip them to shreds. So by that definition the best player ever has to be whoever you regard as the best player in the world right now (or at least in the last 5 years). For me that would be Cameron Smith.

On the other hand, transport some great players of the 80s or any other era into modern training etc and they would be in a different galaxy to 99% of todays top players...

A really poor argument...

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:56 pm  

Voltaire wrote:

On the other hand, transport some great players of the 80s or any other era into modern training etc and they would be in a different galaxy to 99% of todays top players...

A really poor argument...

Whilst plenty of the great players from the 80's and earlier would do just as well now (if they undertook the same physical training as today's players, if not they'd get hammered) I don't see why they'd be in a different galaxy.