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For the past two NRL seasons Sam Burgess and Sonny Bill Williams have been regarded as the NRL’s benchmark forwards.
Both players will depart the NRL at the end of the 2014 season, and while their time in the NRL has been brief, they have earned a reputation for being the game’s most destructive, athletic and skilful forwards in recent times.
But where do Williams and Burgess rank in comparison to the great NRL forwards of previous years?
To compare, I will select my top 15 backrow forwards that have played in the NRL (previously the NSWRL) since 1981.
My list will exclude traditional prop forwards such as Glenn Lazarus, Steve Roach, Ian Roberts and Shane Webke, whose roles and abilities were quite different to the attributes of Burgess and Williams.
To get the ball rolling, I’ll start by considering players who have been named as Dally M lock or second rower of the year since 1981. This obviously generates a very comprehensive register of names – in fact almost 40 players.
Next, I’ll restrict this list to former players only, who have either won this award more than once or have also achieved one of the following accolades:
1. Rothmans Medal (considered to be the official player of the year up until 1997)
2. Provan Summons Medal (considered to be the people’s choice award since 1993)
3. Dally M Rookie of the Year
4. Captaining Australia or New Zealand for at least two years
5. Named in either the NSW, Queensland or New Zealand Team of the Century (1908-2007)
My top 15 backrow forwards since the 1980s, excluding current players and in no particular order, are:
1. Ray Price
Won the Rothmans Medal in 1979, the Dally M Medal in 1982 and was also named Dally M Lock of the year for five consecutive years from 1982 to 1986.
He was one of the toughest forwards and one of the best cover defenders to ever play the game.
He was extremely mobile and fast in open play and is credited for his courage, tireless defence and ability to just keep going which earned him the nickname ‘Mr Perpetual Motion’.
He captained NSW and in 2005 he was also named as one of the 25 greatest ever players for NSW.
2. Wayne Pearce
Won the Rothmans Medal in 1985 and was also named Dally M Lock of the year in 1987 and 1988.
A tough lock who punched well above his weight for over a decade, ‘Junior’ is often remembered for his determination and leadership qualities. He is widely regarded as the role model of the 1980s due to his professionalism and commitment to match preparation.
He captained NSW and in 2005 was named as one of the 25 greatest ever players for NSW.
3. Gavin Miller
Won the Rothmans Medal in 1989 and won consecutive Dally M Medals in 1988 and 1989, along with being named Dally M second rower of the year. He also won the UK Man of Steel Award in 1986.
He debuted in the NSWRL in 1977 as a teenage centre, but will be remembered for his hey day during the late 1980s, where he was regarded as the most dangerous attacking force in the premiership.
Although possessing exceptional skills, he was regularly over-looked for representative duties.
4. Bradley Clyde
Won the Provan-Summons Medal in 1994 and was also named Dally M lock of the year in 1989 and 1990. He also won the Clive Churchill Medal in 1989 and 1991.
He was consistently one of the first players picked for NSW and Australia in the years prior to the Super League War and was arguably the world’s most valuable player for much of the 1990s.
In 2005 he was also named as one of the 25 greatest ever players for NSW.
5. Gorden Tallis
Captained Australia from 2000-02. He was named Dally M second rower of the year in 1999 and also won the Clive Churchill Medal in 1998.
He was one of the hardest running forwards of the 1990s, earning the nickname ‘The Raging Bull’ for his on-field aggression. At his peak he was considered the best second rower in the game.
In 2005 he was named as one of the 25 greatest ever players for Queensland, and in 2010 he became only the 11th player to be inducted into the Brisbane Broncos Hall of Fame.
6. Nathan Hindmarsh
Won the Provan-Summons Medal on five occasions (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011) and was also named Dally M second rower of the year on five occasions (2000, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006).
While he is renowned for his stamina and extensive work-rate at both club level and for NSW, he also possessed deceptive speed and a powerful fend in attack.
In 2003 he led Parramatta to victory in the rugby league world sevens tournament, and was named player of the series – an extraordinary achievement for any forward.
7. Steve Menzies
Was named Dally M second rower/lock of the year on four occasions (1994, 1995, 1998 and 2002) and was also named Dally M rookie of the year in 1994.
He was a brilliant defender but is probably best known for being the most prolific try-scoring forward and the second-most prolific try scorer overall.
Credited for his endurance, he played a mammoth total of 390 first grade and representative matches before heading to the UK Super League.
8. David Fairleigh
Won the Rothmans Medal in 1994 and was also named Dally M second rower of the year in 1996.
A superb, hard running and skillful forward, widely regarded as one of the most consistent performers throughout the 1990s.
In 2006 he was named in the North Sydney Bears greatest ever team, spanning their 100-year history.
9. Jim Dymock
Was named Dally M lock of the year on three occasions (1993, 1995 and 1996) and also won the Clive Churchill Medal in 1995.
He was a highly gifted player with exceptional ball skills, fantastic vision and a unique ability to offload.
While some fans may consider him a five-eighth, his versatility and all-round skills enabled him to develop his own style and become one the most dangerous attacking loose forwards of the 1990s.
10. Ben Kennedy
Was named Dally M lock of the year in 2005 and 2006, and was also named Dally M captain of the year in 2006.
He was a terrific ball runner with a remarkable ability to bust the line on the edge of the ruck. With his rugged defence he was regular selection for NSW and Australia right up until his retirement in 2006.
In 2007 he was named in Manly Warringah’s greatest ever team spanning the previous 60 years, which is quite remarkable given he only played two seasons for the club.
11. Noel Cleal
Was named Dally M second rower of the year on two occasions (1984 and 1986).
Although starting out as a centre, he became one of the toughest and hardest running forwards of the 1980s and earned the nickname ‘Crusher’. In 1984 he was also runner-up for the prestigious Rothman’s medal.
In 2005 he was named as one of the 25 greatest ever players for NSW.
12. John Cartwright
Was named Dally M second rower of the year in 1991 and 1992.
An aggressive second row forward who possessed an uncanny ability to off-load seemingly impossible ‘round the corner’ passes, which became his trademark in the early 1990s.
Unfortunately his career was plagued by leg and shoulder injuries which cut short his representative honours.
13. Paul Sironen
Was named Dally M second rower of the year in 1990 and Dally M rookie of the year in 1986.
At his peak he was one of the most damaging attacking forwards in the game. He possessed great speed for his size and was one of the most difficult players to contain.
He represented Australia in his rookie year, and in 1994 he became only the fourth forward in history to be selected for three successive Kangaroo tours (1986, 1990 and 1994).
In 2005 he was named as one of the 25 greatest ever players for NSW.
14. Mark Graham
Was named Dally M second rower of the year in consecutive years (1981 and 1982).
He was one of the true hard men of the game, with a reputation for being tough and fearless. While he was renowned for his bone-jarring defence he also possessed great mobility in attack. He is often regarded as the greatest rugby league forward to hail from New Zealand.
In 2006 he was named in the North Sydney Bears greatest ever team.
Throughout the 1980s he captained the Kiwis to several turbulent victories over the Kangaroos, and in 2008 he was named New Zealand rugby league’s player of the century.
15. Bob Lindner
Was named Dally M second rower of the year in 1993 and was named in the Queensland rugby league team of the century at lock.
He was a hard-running backrow forward and a great support player, best remembered for his representative career between 1984 and 1993 where he won numerous man of the match and player of the series awards for Queensland and Australia.
He is the most prolific try-scoring forward in State of Origin history, with seven tries in 25 appearances.
Obviously you may not agree with the methodology used to generate this list, however there are some fine players there whose skills, athleticism and determination would surpass the abilities of the current crop of NRL forwards.
In any case, I’d be interested to know where Sam Burgess and Sonny Bill Williams would rank in comparison to these former rugby league forwards.
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