Best Balmain/Wests/West Tigers team

[mike]

For those that are too young Noel Kelly, prop and hooker (preferred - team of the century), was the original enforcer. Defended the little blokes, sent off 17 times. Example 2nd test 1967 Australia vs NZ, watch from the 2 minute mark.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-tk4dDSuRCE

That was just a love tap

A great left hook.

 

[happy_tiger]

For those that are too young Noel Kelly, prop and hooker (preferred - team of the century), was the original enforcer. Defended the little blokes, sent off 17 times. Example 2nd test 1967 Australia vs NZ, watch from the 2 minute mark.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-tk4dDSuRCE

That was just a love tap

A great left hook.

Goodna Handshake we call it

 

[BZN]

Noel Kelly... no need to say more

Another 2 greats from that era @mike Peter Dimond + Arthur Summons.

 

[mike]

Noel Kelly... no need to say more

Another 2 greats from that era @mike Peter Dimond + Arthur Summons.

Absolutely

 

[mike]

I can’t believe people would leave out Golden Boots himself, Keith Barnes

 

[Geo]

I can’t believe people would leave out Golden Boots himself, Keith Barnes

Never saw him play...so hard to judge plus the OP said 70's onwards..

Be like me picking Keith Holman over Tommy..

 

[mike]

I can’t believe people would leave out Golden Boots himself, Keith Barnes

Never saw him play...so hard to judge plus the OP said 70's onwards..

Be like me picking Keith Holman over Tommy..

Fair enough

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

the Tank, legend!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOTW0QNCqIo

 

[happy_tiger]

I can’t believe people would leave out Golden Boots himself, Keith Barnes

Never saw him play...so hard to judge plus the OP said 70's onwards..

Be like me picking Keith Holman over Tommy..

Didn't you watch Balmain play in the 50's and 60's Geo

 

[fibrodreaming]

Based on the players I have seen, I reckon we could pick one of the best pack of any club from the eligible players.

For a start, we have 2 front rowers that were selected in the team of the century – Kelly and Beetson. I think I’m right in saying that Kelly is the only player ever to be selected for Australia as a hooker (when winning the ball was crucial) and as a prop. I think that Artie is the best prop I have ever seen. That’s a great foundation. For me, the pack is easy to pick:

8. Arthur Beetson
9. Noel Kelly
10. Steve Roach
11. Les Boyd
12. Paul Sironen
13. Wayne Pearce

Now that’s a pack with a lot of mongrel !

I couldn’t find room for any forward that has played for the JV, which is probably not surprising because we have had one of the “softer” packs for most of the past 20 years.

Gareth Ellis would go close however. He may have been a better defender than my second rowers, but I think they had more impact running the ball.

Benny Elias is also a strong contender. If they game were played under the limited tackle rules, I would choose Elias and drop Roach and move Kelly to prop.

In fact, I have trouble leaving Benny out. He helped redefine the role of a dummy half and he also took the art of gamesmanship to a new level. I don’t think I have ever seen a player conn the referees as often as he did. I always thought that Roy & HG’s nickname for his was superb and captured his essence as a player – “back-door Benny” or simply “back-door”. He truly was like a thief in the night. As an opposition supporter I hated him, but there was always a sense of respect and even admiration, however grudging.

The only thing that gives me pause is that my pack contains 3 from the 1989 grand final (4 if you include Elias). If those guys were as good as I think they are, how come they didn’t win ?

I think the answer is that the Raiders pack wasn’t too shabby and included a couple of all time greats (Lazarus and Clyde) and Steve Walters was not far behind them. But I think the Raiders had a much better backline (old Balmain supporters my disagree). I think Stuart, Daley and Meninga were top draw and Belcher was not far behind (not to mention Chicka Ferguson, who was one of my favourite wingers).

So, I think Balmain lost despite having a great pack. Their pack kept them in contention and almost won them the game. It’s just that, across the park, the Raiders had too much strike.

Sorry about these ramblings, but there is not much to do after one has spent a couple of weeks under house-arrest.

 

[mike]

Based on the players I have seen, I reckon we could pick one of the best pack of any club from the eligible players.

For a start, we have 2 front rowers that were selected in the team of the century – Kelly and Beetson. I think I’m right in saying that Kelly is the only player ever to be selected for Australia as a hooker (when winning the ball was crucial) and as a prop. I think that Artie is the best prop I have ever seen. That’s a great foundation. For me, the pack is easy to pick:

8. Arthur Beetson
9. Noel Kelly
10. Steve Roach
11. Les Boyd
12. Paul Sironen
13. Wayne Pearce

Now that’s a pack with a lot of mongrel !

I couldn’t find room for any forward that has played for the JV, which is probably not surprising because we have had one of the “softer” packs for most of the past 20 years.

Gareth Ellis would go close however. He may have been a better defender than my second rowers, but I think they had more impact running the ball.

Benny Elias is also a strong contender. If they game were played under the limited tackle rules, I would choose Elias and drop Roach and move Kelly to prop.

In fact, I have trouble leaving Benny out. He helped redefine the role of a dummy half and he also took the art of gamesmanship to a new level. I don’t think I have ever seen a player conn the referees as often as he did. I always thought that Roy & HG’s nickname for his was superb and captured his essence as a player – “back-door Benny” or simply “back-door”. He truly was like a thief in the night. As an opposition supporter I hated him, but there was always a sense of respect and even admiration, however grudging.

The only thing that gives me pause is that my pack contains 3 from the 1989 grand final (4 if you include Elias). If those guys were as good as I think they are, how come they didn’t win ?

I think the answer is that the Raiders pack wasn’t too shabby and included a couple of all time greats (Lazarus and Clyde) and Steve Walters was not far behind them. But I think the Raiders had a much better backline (old Balmain supporters my disagree). I think Stuart, Daley and Meninga were top draw and Belcher was not far behind (not to mention Chicka Ferguson, who was one of my favourite wingers).

So, I think Balmain lost despite having a great pack. Their pack kept them in contention and almost won them the game. It’s just that, across the park, the Raiders had too much strike.

Sorry about these ramblings, but there is not much to do after one has spent a couple of weeks under house-arrest.

Absolutely 100%

 

[happy_tiger]

Based on the players I have seen, I reckon we could pick one of the best pack of any club from the eligible players.

For a start, we have 2 front rowers that were selected in the team of the century – Kelly and Beetson. I think I’m right in saying that Kelly is the only player ever to be selected for Australia as a hooker (when winning the ball was crucial) and as a prop. I think that Artie is the best prop I have ever seen. That’s a great foundation. For me, the pack is easy to pick:

8. Arthur Beetson
9. Noel Kelly
10. Steve Roach
11. Les Boyd
12. Paul Sironen
13. Wayne Pearce

Now that’s a pack with a lot of mongrel !

I couldn’t find room for any forward that has played for the JV, which is probably not surprising because we have had one of the “softer” packs for most of the past 20 years.

Gareth Ellis would go close however. He may have been a better defender than my second rowers, but I think they had more impact running the ball.

Benny Elias is also a strong contender. If they game were played under the limited tackle rules, I would choose Elias and drop Roach and move Kelly to prop.

In fact, I have trouble leaving Benny out. He helped redefine the role of a dummy half and he also took the art of gamesmanship to a new level. I don’t think I have ever seen a player conn the referees as often as he did. I always thought that Roy & HG’s nickname for his was superb and captured his essence as a player – “back-door Benny” or simply “back-door”. He truly was like a thief in the night. As an opposition supporter I hated him, but there was always a sense of respect and even admiration, however grudging.

The only thing that gives me pause is that my pack contains 3 from the 1989 grand final (4 if you include Elias). If those guys were as good as I think they are, how come they didn’t win ?

I think the answer is that the Raiders pack wasn’t too shabby and included a couple of all time greats (Lazarus and Clyde) and Steve Walters was not far behind them. But I think the Raiders had a much better backline (old Balmain supporters my disagree). I think Stuart, Daley and Meninga were top draw and Belcher was not far behind (not to mention Chicka Ferguson, who was one of my favourite wingers).

So, I think Balmain lost despite having a great pack. Their pack kept them in contention and almost won them the game. It’s just that, across the park, the Raiders had too much strike.

Sorry about these ramblings, but there is not much to do after one has spent a couple of weeks under house-arrest.

Absolutely 100%

Bob Lindner was twice the 13 Pearce was ..wasn't even close ....my opinion you can barely split Lindner /Clyde

I know Wayne Pearce is Leichhardt to his laces but he wasn't that great a player ..good yes ...in the same ocean as Lindner ...not a chance

 

[Geo]

Jim Leis>>>>Lindner>>>Pearce

 

[mike]

Based on the players I have seen, I reckon we could pick one of the best pack of any club from the eligible players.

For a start, we have 2 front rowers that were selected in the team of the century – Kelly and Beetson. I think I’m right in saying that Kelly is the only player ever to be selected for Australia as a hooker (when winning the ball was crucial) and as a prop. I think that Artie is the best prop I have ever seen. That’s a great foundation. For me, the pack is easy to pick:

8. Arthur Beetson
9. Noel Kelly
10. Steve Roach
11. Les Boyd
12. Paul Sironen
13. Wayne Pearce

Now that’s a pack with a lot of mongrel !

I couldn’t find room for any forward that has played for the JV, which is probably not surprising because we have had one of the “softer” packs for most of the past 20 years.

Gareth Ellis would go close however. He may have been a better defender than my second rowers, but I think they had more impact running the ball.

Benny Elias is also a strong contender. If they game were played under the limited tackle rules, I would choose Elias and drop Roach and move Kelly to prop.

In fact, I have trouble leaving Benny out. He helped redefine the role of a dummy half and he also took the art of gamesmanship to a new level. I don’t think I have ever seen a player conn the referees as often as he did. I always thought that Roy & HG’s nickname for his was superb and captured his essence as a player – “back-door Benny” or simply “back-door”. He truly was like a thief in the night. As an opposition supporter I hated him, but there was always a sense of respect and even admiration, however grudging.

The only thing that gives me pause is that my pack contains 3 from the 1989 grand final (4 if you include Elias). If those guys were as good as I think they are, how come they didn’t win ?

I think the answer is that the Raiders pack wasn’t too shabby and included a couple of all time greats (Lazarus and Clyde) and Steve Walters was not far behind them. But I think the Raiders had a much better backline (old Balmain supporters my disagree). I think Stuart, Daley and Meninga were top draw and Belcher was not far behind (not to mention Chicka Ferguson, who was one of my favourite wingers).

So, I think Balmain lost despite having a great pack. Their pack kept them in contention and almost won them the game. It’s just that, across the park, the Raiders had too much strike.

Sorry about these ramblings, but there is not much to do after one has spent a couple of weeks under house-arrest.

Absolutely 100%

Bob Lindner was twice the 13 Pearce was ..wasn't even close ....my opinion you can barely split Lindner /Clyde

I know Wayne Pearce is Leichhardt to his laces but he wasn't that great a player ..good yes ...in the same ocean as Lindner ...not a chance

I’d forgotten about Lindner, very good assessment.

 

[happy_tiger]

Jim Leis>>>>Lindner>>>Pearce

Lindner would chew Jim Leis up and spit him out walking back after scoring

Lindner is in the Brad Clyde class ...even better than Sironen

 

[happy_tiger]

Jim Leis>>>>Lindner>>>Pearce

Let me guess Graeme O'Grady next ...puhlease ..good yes ...Gareth Ellis isn't even close to Bob Lindner

 

[Geo]

Jim Leis>>>>Lindner>>>Pearce

Lindner would chew Jim Leis up and spit him out walking back after scoring

Lindner is in the Brad Clyde class ...even better than Sironen

OK Nathan 'Renouf' Milone

 

[happy_tiger]

Jim Leis>>>>Lindner>>>Pearce

Lindner would chew Jim Leis up and spit him out walking back after scoring

Lindner is in the Brad Clyde class ...even better than Sironen

OK Nathan 'Renouf' Milone

This was going to his year ...shot down before his prime

 

[Geo]

Jim Leis>>>>Lindner>>>Pearce

Let me guess Graeme O'Grady next ...puhlease ..good yes ...Gareth Ellis isn't even close to Bob Lindner

In fact all 4 of those guys are in my team...haven't seen yours yet..

 

[happy_tiger]

Jim Leis>>>>Lindner>>>Pearce

Let me guess Graeme O'Grady next ...puhlease ..good yes ...Gareth Ellis isn't even close to Bob Lindner

In fact all 4 of those guys are in my team...haven't seen yours yet..

Can't post before you ...you just copy and paste my team ...every time

Is it players who have played for both Wests /Balmain and or Wests Tigers