Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Tue May 26, 2015 11:48 pm  

knockersbumpMKII wrote:

So to Sir Johnny Whiteley 15 Test/World Cup appearances for Great Britain which is MORE than Vinty Karalious, if weren't for VK and Derek 'Rocky' Turner two outstanding loose/locks Whiteley would be the most capped GB player. Selected for the 1954 GB world cup squad but didn't play(Dave Nightingale played all four)
Selected and played in the 1958 tour squad that retained the Ashes in Australia scoring a try in the third test.
He was a member of the last G.B. squad to beat Australia on home soil in the 1959 test series scoring the try that beat the Aussies
He repeated the feat again scoring the vital winning try in the last few minutes in the 1960 ashes triumph.
Member of the 1962 G.B. team (regarded by many as the greatest ever touring team) which won the ashes in Australia.

I would go for the 1958 Gt Britain team as the best touring team as it had the best pack supported by halves Dave Bolton and Alex Murphy.

Brian McTigue, Tommy Harris, Alan Prescott, John Whiteley, Dick Huddart and Vince Karalius. Best ever Gt Britain/England pack in my lifetime.

Possibly shaded in the backs by the 1962 team.

Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Wed May 27, 2015 4:00 am  

knockersbumpMKII wrote:

So for me Johnny Whiteley MBE gets my vote.


He was a member of the last G.B. squad to beat Australia on home soil in the 1959 test series scoring the try that beat the Aussies
He repeated the feat again scoring the vital winning try in the last few minutes in the 1960 ashes triumph.

Think there is a mix up here. The 1959/60 ashes 3 match series was completed in England in Dec 1959. Johnny scored his try in the second test in the last few minutes giving Gt Britain a 2-0 lead and series win. Aus won the last game.

No ashes matches were played in 1960 when the third World Cup competition was held in England which England won by beating Australia in a series where no final was played and the team with the most points won. Both teams were undefeated until that match produced the winner.

I went to the game at Odsal and I cannot remember Johnny playing but can remember Billy Boston scoring a try.

Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Wed May 27, 2015 6:18 am  

oud3pstander wrote:

J,Whiteley for me then Mick Crane the true entertainer.
Only 2 players from Hull have had the rules changed because of there use of them B.Batten vaulting people .
Mick Crane with his winning the ball at the play the ball if he hooked it back or near the line kick through and score.
Clarke would have a field day with body language for him [lost by 50 before you start]

I think that Charlie Nimb also was instrumental in getting the rule that at a penalty if you elected to go for goal you had to stick to that decision being implemented.

Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Wed May 27, 2015 9:07 am  

Seem to remember when the 4 tackle rule first came in, Cyril Sykes would kick the ball dead on the last tackle, and we'd get possession back from the (then) dropout.

Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Wed May 27, 2015 12:32 pm  

I didn't see Whiteley play but by all accounts he was one of the very best players in the world game in his era, as Norton and Smith were in theirs. Really its hard to separate them on ability so the only meaningful measure I could use is club appearances making my 1 2 3 Whiteley Norton Smith.

After that Mick Crane - an excellent player in his own right and the absolute definition of a character and legend. Among others Divorty was a good player and a main driving force in the Brian Smith revival of the team. No mention of Westerman yet, I know he has his haters on this board, but he definitely deserved his England selection last year.

Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Sun Jun 07, 2015 9:59 pm  

sorry this thread got a bit lost in the fall out from the magic weekend.

i'll sort out the 5 proposed nominees tomorrow

any more for any more?

Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Sun Jun 07, 2015 11:49 pm  

How many nominees do we normally have for a single position, is 5 one too many?

Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Mon Jun 08, 2015 7:58 am  

Johnny Whiteley for me. His record for Hull and GB, speaks for himself.
I read terry Clawson's autobiography a while back, in it, he tells of his first game against Johnny. Terry was a young player just starting his professional career at Cas? Playing at the Boulevard, against an aging Johnny, Terry put a few big hits on him. At half time, Terry saw Johnny approaching him from the side and expected a nudge at least but Johnny walked up, put his arm around Terry's shoulder and started telling him how to better his game!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gentleman John, for me.
ps. We should start a campaign to get him a Knighthood, Allam might be able to remember who Johnny is then.

Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Mon Jun 08, 2015 8:15 am  

We have had an enormous blessing of loose men. The jury will be out for ever on this one.
Knocker for me, he had it all, Whiteley was incomparable but I was but a young gun then, Crane absolute class, Grimaldi modern day artist and Smith the perfect allrounder.
Tough call for you mate, best of luck.

Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.13 - The Loose Forward : Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:59 am  

Having started watching fc properly in 2003 Jason Smith is by far the best loose and best player I've seen play for fc! That return game against saints at the kc when he tore them apart, then sat on the bench for a while. Truly amazing what he could do without breaking sweat! A younger generation fc fan.