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After the vigorous and interesting debate answering yesterday’s Is Thurston the greatest ever Australian rugby league halfback? article, let’s expand on that concopt.
Below are those I’ve seen play and rated since 1948. The date of their first Test is in brackets.
From that list select your first and second Australian rugby league teams – I have already done mine, and they are with The Roar editorial team to be published tomorrow.
Select a fullback, two wingers, two centres, a five-eighth, halfback, lock, two second rowers, two props, and a hooker for both teams.
There are some players who were, and are, capable of playing in more than the one position as shown.
Fullbacks
Clive Churchill (1948), Keith Barnes (1957), Les Johns (1963), Graeme Langlands (1963), Eric Simms (1968), Graham Eadie (1973), Garry Jack (1984), Gary Belcher (1986), Darren Lockyer (1998), Greg Inglis (2006), Billy Slater (2008) and Brett Stewart in 2008.
Wingers
Ron Roberts (1949), Brian Carlson (1952), Ian Moir (1954), Eddie Lumsden (1959), Ken Irvine (1959), Michael Cleary (1962), Johnny King (1966), Kerry Boustead (1971), Eric Groth snr (1982), Wendell Sailor (1994), Matt Sing (1995), Mat Rogers (1998), Lote Tuqiri (2001), Jarryd Hayne (2006) and Brett Morris in 2009.
Centres
Harry Wells (1952), Dick Poole (1955), Reg Gasnier (1959), Bob Fulton (1968), John Cootes (1969), John Brass (1970), Michael Cronin (1973), Steve Rogers (1973), Mal Meninga (1982), Gene Miles (1982), Michael O’Connor (1985), Andrew Ettingshausen (1988), Laurie Daley (1990), and Mark Gasnier in 2001.
Five-eighths
Brian Clay (1957), Arthur Summons (1961), Jimmy Lisle (1962), Phil Hawthorne (1970), Johnny Peard (1975), Wally Lewis (1981), Brett Kenny (1982), Terry Lamb (1986), and Brad Fittler in 1990.
Halfbacks
Tommy Raudonikis (1971), Steve Mortimer (1961), Peter Sterling (1982), Allan Langer (1988), Ricky Stuart (1996), Geoff Toovey (1991), Andrew Johns (1995), Johnathan Thurston (2006), and Cooper Cronk in 2007.
Locks
Johnny Raper (1959), Ray Price (1978), Wayne Pearce (1982), and Bradley Clyde in 1989.
Second rows
Jack Rayner (1948), Les Cowie (1948), Norm Provan (1954), Kel O’Shea (1954), Ron Lynch (1961), Dick Thornett (1963), Arthur Beetson (1966), Ron Coote (1967), Bob McCarthy (1969), Paul Sait (1970), Noel Cleal (1985) and Sam Thaiday in 2006.
Props
Roy Bull (1949), Noel Kelly (1959), Kevin Ryan (1963), John Sattler (1967), John O’Neill (1970), Bob O’Reilly (1970), Craig Young (1990), Les Boyd (1978), Steve Roach (1985), Glenn Lazarus (1990), Paul Harragan (1992), Shane Webcke (1998), Petero Civonicea (2001), Paul Gallen (2008) and Anthony Watmough in 2008.
Hookers
Ken Kearney (1052), Ian Walsh (1959), Fred Jones (1968), Max Krilich (1978), Ben Elias (1985), Royce Simmons (1986), Steve Walters (1991), Danny Buderus (2001), and Cameron Smith in 2006.
Looking forward to your selections.