Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:05 am  

I think Thurston would get a lot more mentions now. Best player i've ever seen.

Great player in an influential position. Interestingly his team still made the GF without him.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 12:30 pm  

Darren Lockyear.

The worlds best fullback became the worlds best five-eighth

In 2006 he captained Australia, Queensland and Brisbane to tournament victories.

Read his wiki page or even his book, his achievements are incredible

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 4:51 pm  

The correct answer is a two way tie between Andrew Johns of Newcastle Knights and Warrington Wolves, and Arthur Beetson of Eastern Suburbs Tricolors and Hull Kingston Rovers.

3. Brian Bevan of Eastern Suburbs Tricolors and Warrington Wolves.
4. Reginald Gasnier of St George Dragons,
5. Roger Millward of Hull Kingston Rovers,
6. Jonathan Thurston of North Queensland Cowboys,
7. Graeme Langlands of St George Dragons,
8. Ellery Hanley of Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors,
9. John Raper of St George Dragons,
10. Walter Lewis of Brisbane Broncos,
11. Malcolm Meninga of Canberra Raiders
12. Shaun Johnson of New Zealand Warriors.
13. Albert Rosenfeld of Eastern Suburbs Tricolors and Huddersfield Giants.
14. Brian McTigue of Wigan Warriors
15. Richard Huddart of St. Helens and St George Dragons
16. William Slater of Melbourne Storm
17. Cameron Smith of Melbourne Storm.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 5:17 pm  

Darren Lockyer was a poor defender. He therefore cannot be on anyone's list.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 6:07 pm  

Darren Lockyer was a poor defender. He therefore cannot be on anyone's list.

How do you rate Johnsons defence?

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 6:39 pm  

I'm still sticking with "The King" Wally Lewis

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 8:15 pm  

wire-quin wrote: How do you rate Johnsons defence? Shaun Johnson's defence is very good. Did you see him chase down and tackle Michael Jennings ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftfqh38E3oU ... and Daniel Tupou? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lboX92sE6K8

wire-quin wrote: How do you rate Johnsons defence? Shaun Johnson's defence is very good. Did you see him chase down and tackle Michael Jennings ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftfqh38E3oU ... and Daniel Tupou? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lboX92sE6K8

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 8:58 pm  

Kevin Sinfield

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 9:44 pm  

the artist wrote:

of course it's a question that cannot be answered really as all of us never saw the great players of the latter half of the C19 and first half of last century, the evidence is all annecdotal, and records patchy in some cases. also you get the arguments over which position a player played, so maybe you are better off coming up with the greatest fullback, winger, scrum half etc. etc.

one question you could ask therefore is which position do you think the greatest player of all time would/should occupy?

The past is another country, they do things differently there. Early rugby league was so unlike today's game as to be unrecognisable. Have a look on the BFI website for early filmed games. To answer this question we really need to compare things that are reasonably similar. That might allow us to think about Puig Aubert versus Tuigamala(?) in the same frame.
I must admit that the first time I saw Inga the Winger in full flight the shock and awe was visceral. Technically not so much.

Re: Greatest player of all time? : Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:55 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

Darren Lockyer was a poor defender. He therefore cannot be on anyone's list.

Maradona was a poor defender, who cares?

Lockyer best ever for me, Joey Johns might get more praise for his performances on a weekly basis but if you were behind in the last minute of an international, GF or origin match, you would want Lockyer on the ball over Johns.