Best Balmain/Wests/West Tigers team

[fibrodreaming]

best combined team that I have seen play, from late 70’s

I didn't see that bit - sorry.

 

[happy_tiger]

I don’t think picking a combined backline is as straightforward as picking the forwards.

Since I’ve been watching, Balmain has produced more quality full backs than the Magpies: Barnes; Jack; Brasher compared with, say, Don Parish (played for Australia), Dorahy and Brett Hodgson. While Barnes is the only one of those on the list of 100 greatest players, I can’t go past Tedesco. He has a great attacking game and a passing game that the old-time full backs couldn’t match.

On one wing I would select my boyhood hero Peter Diamond. He was like the Taniela Tuiaki of the 1960s. Diamond destroyed the great 1961 England team (that Warren Ryan said is the best team he ever saw – and which flogged a full-strength St George team in a mid week game) in the third test. The Pommie Journalists said that Diamond was the only Australian player good enough to be picked in the England team.

I would have Larry Corowa on the other wing. He was a thrilling runner of the ball. Very similar to JAC today.

I don’t recall Wests or Balmain producing many great centres. But we have produced 2 juniors that have played in the centre for Australia, and whose careers in the centres were cut short by illness on the one hand and injury on the other: Geoff Starling and Chris Lawrence.

The halves are easy for me: Benji Marshall and Tommy Raudonikis. At his peak Marshall was the best player in the game, while Tommy dominated the half back position in Australia for a decade. Enough said.

So, my best combined team since I’ve been watching is:
1. James Tedesco
2. Larry Corowa
3. Chris Lawrence
4. Geoff Starling
5. Peter Diamond
6. Benji Marshall
7. Tommy Raudonikis
8. Arthur Beetson
9. Noel Kelly
10. Steve Roach
11. Les Boyd
12. Paul Sironen
13. Wayne Pearse
With the exception of Benji, everyone else has played for Australia, and Benji did win the Golden Boot award in 2010.
The team has in spades what our current team lacks: intimidation in the forwards and pace in the backs. Apart from Tedesco and Corowa, Lawrence pre-injury had raw speed while Benji in his pomp had blistering acceleration and good top end speed.

Sorry fibro ...geo lied told me from the 70's onwards ..every comp he runs is a disaster of the Titanic proportions

And Schofield was far more talented than Lawrence

From the ORIGINAL POST

best combined team that I have seen play, from late 70’s

If forumers have earlier memories than that it's fine too..

As I said to another poster who said why isn't Keith Barnes in any teams..well it would be like me picking Keith Holman over Tommy..so why isn't Arthur Summons mentioned much either..

Were you in a coma for 30 years ....you were there...... Dally M and all

 

[Russell]

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

Nearly agree wit everything you say, when you are talking seriously about football.

Cannot I am afraid even come close to taking you seriously when you say Linder was better than Pearce. Let alone Clyde.

Think you are letting your maroon bias show hap.

You have to include all form ....Lindner puts on the Maroon jersey / Australian jersey and he was an absolute machine ...better than Sironen ..in the same sentence as Clyde

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

Nearly agree wit everything you say, when you are talking seriously about football.

Cannot I am afraid even come close to taking you seriously when you say Linder was better than Pearce. Let alone Clyde.

Think you are letting your maroon bias show hap.

You have to include all form ....Lindner puts on the Maroon jersey / Australian jersey and he was an absolute machine ...better than Sironen ..in the same sentence as Clyde

Sironen doesn't come into it at all.

If we are talking Wayne Pearce, we are talking Lock Forward. Siro wasn't. Lindner was primarily a second rower that player lock sometimes.

I never have and never will think Bradley Clyde was better or even equal to Pearce.

Don't know how you can say Pearce was overhyped or dismiss his career on the '89 grand final. In my opinion that was lost by only one person - Warren Ryan.

 

[Geo]

best combined team that I have seen play, from late 70’s

I didn't see that bit - sorry.

It doesn't matter m8 if people are old enough god bless to see some of those great players play that's fantastic ..there is no set rule....

Just saying for me it would be hard to judge say Noel Kelly who by all reports and awards he has gathered to select him in my team over say Dallas who i saw spill blood on many occasions from the bike track at Lidcombe Oval..even though he probably deserved it

 

[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

Nearly agree wit everything you say, when you are talking seriously about football.

Cannot I am afraid even come close to taking you seriously when you say Linder was better than Pearce. Let alone Clyde.

Think you are letting your maroon bias show hap.

You have to include all form ....Lindner puts on the Maroon jersey / Australian jersey and he was an absolute machine ...better than Sironen ..in the same sentence as Clyde

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

Nearly agree wit everything you say, when you are talking seriously about football.

Cannot I am afraid even come close to taking you seriously when you say Linder was better than Pearce. Let alone Clyde.

Think you are letting your maroon bias show hap.

You have to include all form ....Lindner puts on the Maroon jersey / Australian jersey and he was an absolute machine ...better than Sironen ..in the same sentence as Clyde

Sironen doesn't come into it at all.

If we are talking Wayne Pearce, we are talking Lock Forward. Siro wasn't. Lindner was primarily a second rower that player lock sometimes.

I never have and never will think Bradley Clyde was better or even equal to Pearce.

Don't know how you can say Pearce was overhyped or dismiss his career on the '89 grand final. In my opinion that was lost by only one person - Warren Ryan.

Junior was good , but he wasn't in Lindner's class ...he wasn't in Sirro's class and Ellery had so much more to offer ..his lack of size is an issue as well ...he would get well and truly owned in the modern game

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Pearce was physically fit well before his time captained nsw and australia he has to be in team.
Farah a terrific player but Elias changed the game and the way dummy half was played made two grand finals tests srate of origin

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Winger
Len Killeen 69 grand final
balmain club record
South African RU winger and goal-kicker extraordinaire shifted from Rugby’s amateur ranks to play for St Helens in 1965. Killeen got a first-hand view of the 1967-68 Kangaroos in England and decided that Australia was the place to play rugby league. Signing with Balmain he established a club record 207 points (9t, 84g, 6fg) during the club's premiership winning season in 1969 - surpassing the great Keith Barnes. Killeen's kicking style - placing the ball upright with an ultra-quick walk-up - was seen to good effect in the Tigers’ shock, 11-2 win over Souths in the infamous 1969 grand final. He saw out his career at Penrith in 1972 before returning to South Africa.

 

[BZN]

Both suck...No Tommy No Boyd No Freeman No O'Grady No Giteau No Mullins No Brown
the list goes on and on = NO IDEA

And Where is Brendan Tuuta..or Gibbs both Ronny and Bryce

Les is still suspended as well as Tuuta

And if you play Benji and Tommy together I see one ending ...Benji throws a pass into the crowd ...Tommy puts one on Benji's chin lol

This is the funniest post I have read on the Forum @happy_tiger, Well done.

 

[JD Tiger]

Balmain vs Raiders grandfinal- the best final of all time is on kayo atm.....

Just changed my mind, @TheDaBoss I downvoted that comment, but removed it as even though I know you're joking, some things you just can't joke about.

lol, just joking, though I still am not watching it. I did watch the 89 Semi Final vs Souths, that was a ripper.

 

[TheDaBoss]

Balmain vs Raiders grandfinal- the best final of all time is on kayo atm.....

Just changed my mind, @TheDaBoss I downvoted that comment, but removed it as even though I know you're joking, some things you just can't joke about.

lol, just joking, though I still am not watching it. I did watch the 89 Semi Final vs Souths, that was a ripper.

lol ag

i was going to add to that comment, i wasnt going to watch it cause i knew how it was going to end

and being depressed like that aint good during the "offseason: 😀

 

[diedpretty]

For those who haven’t heard of John Elford - here is a clip that shows him scoring a try when he played on the wing. Later moved to Second Row where he went on to play for Australia.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=ZbPLwti5L2M&fbclid=IwAR3fp56i853jljvhOG2kwHEZK_G0Fs0j04A_GQAC_WxKEN8D8B5jm3CYMhw

 

[mike]

For those who haven’t heard of John Elford - here is a clip that shows him scoring a try when he played on the wing. Later moved to Second Row where he went on to play for Australia.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=ZbPLwti5L2M&fbclid=IwAR3fp56i853jljvhOG2kwHEZK_G0Fs0j04A_GQAC_WxKEN8D8B5jm3CYMhw

Great player.

 

[JD Tiger]

Balmain vs Raiders grandfinal- the best final of all time is on kayo atm.....

Just changed my mind, @TheDaBoss I downvoted that comment, but removed it as even though I know you're joking, some things you just can't joke about.

lol, just joking, though I still am not watching it. I did watch the 89 Semi Final vs Souths, that was a ripper.

lol ag

i was going to add to that comment, i wasnt going to watch it cause i knew how it was going to end

and being depressed like that aint good during the "offseason: 😀

Yeah, definitely some doublethink was being applied there to enjoy the win but forget about the following week.

 

[happy_tiger]

Some of you older guys may have seen Kevin Yow Yeh ...thoughts

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Yow Yeh was a good player played in the 1966 grand final loss i think

 

[jadtiger]

Some of you older guys may have seen Kevin Yow Yeh ...thoughts

Good player would love to have someone like him these days

 

[happy_tiger]

Some of you older guys may have seen Kevin Yow Yeh ...thoughts

Good player would love to have someone like him these days

Yeah heard many stories about him around Gladstone post footy ...passed so young

 

[Russell]

Good player - but on many occasions he went on walkabout, leaving us holding the bag.

 

[happy_tiger]

Good player - but on many occasions he went on walkabout, leaving us holding the bag.

Yeah Artie Beetson has said Yow Yeh didn't cope with the racism well

 

[yeti]

Winger
Len Killeen 69 grand final
balmain club record
South African RU winger and goal-kicker extraordinaire shifted from Rugby’s amateur ranks to play for St Helens in 1965. Killeen got a first-hand view of the 1967-68 Kangaroos in England and decided that Australia was the place to play rugby league. Signing with Balmain he established a club record 207 points (9t, 84g, 6fg) during the club's premiership winning season in 1969 - surpassing the great Keith Barnes. Killeen's kicking style - placing the ball upright with an ultra-quick walk-up - was seen to good effect in the Tigers’ shock, 11-2 win over Souths in the infamous 1969 grand final. He saw out his career at Penrith in 1972 before returning to South Africa.

LOL. I had Len's #5 on my supporters jersey way back as a kid. I have to say, though, that although he was a class goal kicker, as a player, he had one enormous deficiency. If jerseys back in the day didn't have collars, he never would have made a tackle. The guy was dead set, a joke in defence. Loved him though!