101 Great Rugby League Players

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

the book is in mint condition for only $5 so may donate to my ex first grade player whom I checked out last week he played for the state, can I tell you what he said after last SOO?

 

[Swordy]

In the book 101 Great Rugby League PLayers they don't have Jarryd Hayne but have Wayne Pearce but no Robbie Farah - there is no justice in the world. (benji is in there)

Robbie Farah in the top 100?
Was feeling down this morning and needed a laugh. Thanks BBF!

Glad I could help. Who knows when the next edition comes out in ten years time if RF has finally retired he may take Wayne's posi.

Out of curiosity, is it a recent edition thing or a few years old?

 

[colmcd]

Meninga was a massive beneficiary of Walters, Daley, Stuart, Belcher and Clyde…I would have any of those players except for Walters in front of him for ability without question.
Mal IMO was a bit of a myth, brushing aside blokes on the flanks who would of been spotting him 30 or so kilograms. If he was in the forwards he wouldn't of made a name for himself I'd reckon. Would of been interesting to see how he would of fared in this era of 100kg+ outside backs.

Mal was a legend. He was an utter legend and always will be a legend. You can't deride one of the Most successful players and one of the most successful Origin coaches ever. I don't know what his leadership style exactly is, but whatever he does it works. You don't go into Origin and help build a dynasty like 10/11 at Rugby Leagues top event.

If Thurston, Lockyer, Cam Smith, Slater rank then Mal sure as hell counts.

 

[JD Tiger]

Meninga was a massive beneficiary of Walters, Daley, Stuart, Belcher and Clyde…I would have any of those players except for Walters in front of him for ability without question.
Mal IMO was a bit of a myth, brushing aside blokes on the flanks who would of been spotting him 30 or so kilograms. If he was in the forwards he wouldn't of made a name for himself I'd reckon. Would of been interesting to see how he would of fared in this era of 100kg+ outside backs.

Mal was a legend. He was an utter legend and always will be a legend. You can't deride one of the Most successful players and one of the most successful Origin coaches ever. I don't know what his leadership style exactly is, but whatever he does it works. You don't go into Origin and help build a dynasty like 10/11 at Rugby Leagues top event.

If Thurston, Lockyer, Cam Smith, Slater rank then Mal sure as hell counts.

Now I hate the Raiders more than any other team, yes. But I'm sure most if not all of you know, they had Kangaroo Tours ever since foundation days in Rugby League. Australia going over to England to battle the Brits, every four years. A break or two during WWI/WWII and recently, but for about a hundred years. Three or four dozen players toured twice, and only a handful toured three times. Only a very small handful.

Then there's one who toured four times. That's representing Australia vs the Brits 12 years after first representing. And that was Big Mal. I'll give him that, but that's it.

 

[innsaneink]

Brett Kenny was the best Ive seen….he must be up pretty high

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Meninga was a massive beneficiary of Walters, Daley, Stuart, Belcher and Clyde…I would have any of those players except for Walters in front of him for ability without question.
Mal IMO was a bit of a myth, brushing aside blokes on the flanks who would of been spotting him 30 or so kilograms. If he was in the forwards he wouldn't of made a name for himself I'd reckon. Would of been interesting to see how he would of fared in this era of 100kg+ outside backs.

Mal was a legend. He was an utter legend and always will be a legend. You can't deride one of the Most successful players and one of the most successful Origin coaches ever. I don't know what his leadership style exactly is, but whatever he does it works. You don't go into Origin and help build a dynasty like 10/11 at Rugby Leagues top event.

If Thurston, Lockyer, Cam Smith, Slater rank then Mal sure as hell counts.

The title of the thread is 101 great rugby league players …....not State Of Origin coaches. Or else Gus would be in it as well I guess.
Mal wouldn't even tie Thurston's shoelaces in regards to playing ability. I would most definitely have him behind Lockyer, Slater and Contract Cammy as well in regards to ability. Mal could run, that's about the extent of his prowess as a player. Wasn't renowned for anything else talent wise.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

the book is in mint condition for only $5 so may donate to my ex first grade player whom I checked out last week he played for the state, can I tell you what he said after last SOO?

For what it's worth, go ahead and tell us.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

the book is in mint condition for only $5 so may donate to my ex first grade player whom I checked out last week he played for the state, can I tell you what he said after last SOO?

For what it's worth, go ahead and tell us.

That RF should have been hooker for SOO - you could not have guessed of of course. My mate had played centre and 5/8 representing state and first grade and hooker as well in lower grades. I was almost blowing a gasket to get that out.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

IMO you wouldn't probably get an argument from most people that Farah would have done as good of a job as Peats if not better in Origin this year. Peats is an OK defender who has zero attacking game or kicking game.

 

[gallagher]

the book is in mint condition for only $5 so may donate to my ex first grade player whom I checked out last week he played for the state, can I tell you what he said after last SOO?

For what it's worth, go ahead and tell us.

That RF should have been hooker for SOO - you could not have guessed of of course. My mate had played centre and 5/8 representing state and first grade and hooker as well in lower grades. I was almost blowing a gasket to get that out.

You've been blowing your gasket all over RF for way too long.

 

[Russell]

the book is in mint condition for only $5 so may donate to my ex first grade player whom I checked out last week he played for the state, can I tell you what he said after last SOO?

For what it's worth, go ahead and tell us.

That RF should have been hooker for SOO - you could not have guessed of of course. My mate had played centre and 5/8 representing state and first grade and hooker as well in lower grades. I was almost blowing a gasket to get that out.

Well BBf I'll give you a point for flogging a dead horse :deadhorse:

I'll also go out on a limb and say that MAYBE if it was 1001 Great Rugby League Players, your mate may sneek in at 1001 - however I wouldn't put money on it.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

In the book 101 Great Rugby League PLayers they don't have Jarryd Hayne but have Wayne Pearce but no Robbie Farah - there is no justice in the world. (benji is in there)

Robbie Farah in the top 100?
Was feeling down this morning and needed a laugh. Thanks BBF!

Glad I could help. Who knows when the next edition comes out in ten years time if RF has finally retired he may take Wayne's posi.

Out of curiosity, is it a recent edition thing or a few years old?

2012, apparently various groups have put out similar books in the past, about 15 or 20 years apart.

 

[MG1962]

Brett Kenny was the best Ive seen….he must be up pretty high

No Kenny should not be in the book. He is too good. And I agree best I have ever seen, edging out the amazing Steve Rogers by a hair.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

Brett Kenny was the best Ive seen….he must be up pretty high

S Rogers 31 and B Kenny 46, I thought Ron Coote at 15 was too high. They should have given Jonah Lomu a guest nominal appearance. They could have a sneakiness classification for Backdoor Benny - no. 1\. But shame he kept it up after his playing days. He should done a late transfer to Bunnies and given them a leg down.

 

[JD Tiger]

Robbie Farah in the top 100?
Was feeling down this morning and needed a laugh. Thanks BBF!

Glad I could help. Who knows when the next edition comes out in ten years time if RF has finally retired he may take Wayne's posi.

Out of curiosity, is it a recent edition thing or a few years old?

2012, apparently various groups have put out similar books in the past, about 15 or 20 years apart.

I first saw a Top 100 Rugby League players as a kid, it was a magazine printed by Rugby League Week, in about 1991 (give or take a year). Churchhill #1, Jr about #99, Langer and Lewis yes but no Lockyer yet. Mal was about #13\. Even Snoz O'Connor was in there.

 

[Russell]

A lot of people tend to remember great or really good players as being better than they really were. To be fair, some in hindsight were a lot better than given credit for.

It depended on certain circumstances, what you choose to remember and if you don't place the players in their era. It is very subjective whether there would be many players from years ago that could be placed ahead of players in the current game. As an e.g. would anybody seriously place Brett Kenny ahead of Jonathan Thurston or Arthur Summons or Peter Sterling ahead of Andrew Johns. Billy Slater, Graham Langlands, Ken Thornett, Graham Eade ahead of Clive Churchill.

I think you have to place a player in their era and consider how they dominated the game or changed how RL was played. If you do this then it is no wonder that Clive Churchill is number one - unfortunately people picking 101 players or the greatest team of all time do not use this type of criteria in selection.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

I haven't seen that much of Slater but more of Churchill, was Churchie as good as Billy the Kid?

 

[Russell]

I haven't seen that much of Slater but more of Churchill, was Churchie as good as Billy the Kid?

I have seen them both - but using the criteria of players and their era - Churchill was the best defensive FB that has ever played the game in my opinion. He also changed the role of FB play in attack and became a running FB as well. He changed the way the game was played and so deserves the No. 1 spot imo.

Take nothing away from Slater he is brilliant - it is no shame to be pipped by a freak.

I remember a game at Leichhardt - Tigers against Souffs, Churchill had the ball running to the scoreboard end (in those days) and the old grandstands side of the field. He was running to that corner when the Tigers defence started to close in on him and would have pushed him out. The winger came in but was marked, as he got to the 25 he kicked a field goal and won the game as the bell sounded.

"The Little Master" was an amazing player.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Norm Provan should be high in the numbers!

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

101 Great Rugby League Players
1\. C. Churchill
2\. R. Gasnier
3\. J. Raper
4\. G Langlands
5\. D Messenger
6\. Andrew Johns
7\. W Lewis
8\. B Fulton
9\. A Beetson
10\. M Meninga
11\. D Lockyer
12\. K Irvine
13\. Dave Brown
14\. Harold Horder
15\. Ron Coote
16\. Vic Hey
17\. Brian Carlson
18\. Norm Provan
19\. Frank Burge
20\. Duncan Hall
21\. Wally Prigg
22\. Peter Sterling
23\. Brian Bevan
24\. Tom Gorman
25\. Keith Holman
26\. A Langer
27\. M Cronin
28\. Duncan Thompson
29\. Billy Slater
30\. Sid Sandy Pearce
31\. Steve Rogers
32\. Brad Fittler
33\. Eric Weissel
34\. Graham Eadie
35\. Ian Walsh
36\. Chris McKival
37\. Harry Bath
38 Cameron Smith
39\. Joe Chimpy Busch
40\. Bob McCarthy
41\. Noel Kelly
42\. George Treweek
43\. Brian Davies
44\. Jim Craig
45\. Les Johns
46 Brett Kenny
47\. Ken Thornett
48\. Billy Smith
49\. Charles Chook Fraser
50 Laurie Daley
51\. Sid Joe Pearce
52\. Harry Wells
53\. Herb Narvo
54\. Keith Barnes
55\. Ray Price
56\. Howard Hallett
57\. Barry Muir
58\. Glen Lazarus
59\. Cec Blinkhorn
60\. Tommy Raudonikis
61\. Andrew Ettingshausen
62\. Shane Webcke
63\. Lionel Cooper
64\. Roy Bull
65\. Terry Lamb
66\. Eric Grothe
67\. Herb Steinohrt
68\. Ken Kearney
69\. Arthur Pony Halloway
70\. Arthur Clues
71\. Ray Stehr
72 Kerry Boustead
73\. Kel O'Shea
74\. Bradley Clyde
75\. Brian Hambly
76\. Herb Gilbert
77\. Eddie Lumsden
78\. Jack Rayner
79\. Steve Mortimer
80\. Albert Rosenfeld
81\. Ernie Norman
82\. Peter Mick Madsen
83\. Pat Devery
84 Johnathan Thurston
85\. Dan Dempsey
86\. Frank McMillan
87\. Johnny King
88\. Vic Armbruster
89\. John O"Neill
90\. Gene Miles
91\. Vic Farnsworth
92\. Benny Wearing
93 John Sattler
94 Steve Walters
95 Greg Inglis
96 Steve Roach
97\. Bill Cann
98\. Peter Gallagher
99\. Wayne Pearce
100\. Arthur Summons
101\. Benji Marshall
(102 Robbie Farah - poetic license)