Give me Billy Slater over Hayne anyday

Slater

Slater is a CAT so it's no surprise that his defence is very average!

Many thanks for the blog, and I strongly agree, although this debate is becoming somewhat of a dry argument ... There are many things that separate Billy Slater and Jarryd Hayne as fooball players, and as people, and their only constant is that they both play Rugby League in the position of fullback, other then that they are poles apart ... This shows, if through nothing else, the age and maturity differences of these two men ... In 5 years Slater will be 31 and Hayne will be 26, the same age Billy is today ... Who knows if Hayne will even be playing league ??? Then, there is the difference in size - weight for age, as apposed to the size of ones heart, and knowledge and insight into the game, and that at least is one thing Billy Slater can't possibly be judged on, he is simply super brilliant at reading play - and if making mistakes is about taking chances in a split second, then I'll bet that Slater's mistakes hardly rate as apposed to his try scoring and try assists and winning games - MR CONSISTENCY... As an athlete Slater's outstanding performance on Channel 7's, Rexona's Australia's Greatest Athlete in 2009 and 2010, clearly showed his committment, determination, ingenuity and dire ability to compete ... (Perhaps Jarryd can show his true blue ability in 2011) ... Of course, among other things there are their differing cultures, family upbringing, and their discipline and respect for the game of league ... It's more than obvious that Billy has a much more connective and appreciative grassroots approach to the game, and Hayne exudes a more glorified persona, that has very little to do with God, or perhaps it's more the media who inflate his egotisical balloon, that annoys the crap out of most ... There is something about Billy Slater that is a little "old school" that is refreshingly unique, and definately can't be learnt, a generational and nurtured thing - which for once can't be awarded or bought, irrespective how large your next contract may be ... GO QUEENSLANDER ... GO MELBOURNE STORM ... GO BILLY SLATER !!!

Both are prone to errors because they are always pushing the envelope in attack, going for that little extra play that the average player would not dare to try. It is the same thing that makes them so good that makes them prone to the occassional error.

MIA in the 2008 GF? Don't think so - he was the only man on the field for Melbourne that game. Inglis, Cronk and the entire forward pack on the other hand... And before you ask, I'm a Manly supporter.

You could almost write the same criticism of Hayne who is prone to gambling, much like Billy, and has a similar memorable clanger (state of origin) on a much shorter resume than Billy and was MIA in his only appearance at a grand final. Possibly because they are both mercurial fullbacks that gamble often? I’d take Billy, at this point, because he seems to fit more easily into a team structure where as Hayne needs a high volume of touches to be effective but can’t play in the halves so to maximise his talents you need to build around him. Still if he was the consolation prize, it wouldn’t be a bad one.

got to agree with this ... Slater's defence is average at best ...

Hayne isnt a better defender. Defence at fullback is all about positioning and when it comes to that Hayne is shocking. See Inglis and Morris tries in finals last year as proof.

I honestly think Slater is the most overrated player in the game. That doesn't mean I don't think he's very good, but there are flaws to his game that crop up at the worst times (the World Cup Final and MIA in the 2008 Grand Final spring to mind). He's almost a Campese-like flawed genius - capable of amazing feats while able to throw a game away with sheer stupidity. To me, Jarryd Hayne is almost as brilliant in attack, but is a much better defender. I still can't work out why Slater continues to slide feet first into goal-line tackles. It's illegal, rarely effective, and quite possibly cowardly. So I'd take Hayne. But to throw a spanner in the works - I think Brett Stewart is better than both of them.

Slater's hugely advantaged by the fact that he plays in a team filled with superstars (Inglis, Cronk, Cam Smith etc) so I'll say Hayne.

I'd say Slater has the better game overall, but Hayne certainly raises the bar when it comes to movement.

I think Slater can be called "mercurial". He can win you games but by golly, he can cost you one as well. He is such a good player though!

Give me Slater anyday. I may be biased (Storm supporter) but Slater's positioning and defence is a mile ahead of Hayne. They are both brilliant in their own styles of attack but defence is the difference. Using the GF as an example, Storm picked Hayne apart with their kicking game early and caught him out of position a number of times with Smith and Cronk's kicks close to the line causing him all sorts of trouble. Then Hayne stood and watched when GI scored his try from an uncontested high ball that Hayne could have easily at least attempted to catch or get in GI's path. Then late in the game a similar situation for the Eels where they bomb the line and Billy is up their putting his body on the line. He may have spilt the beans but at least he had a go and the Eels didn't score from it. Another thing to is the little extra efforts Slater puts in. Whenever the Eels scored Slater would be the last man arriving trying to get his body in under the ball (and he succeeds quite often). When the Storm scored Hayne would be 5-10 metres away watching standing with hands on hips. It is these little extra efforts that make Slater the best No 1 in the game, in my opinion anyway.

Ahh, wasn't Hayne playing 5/8th at the beginning of last season when the Eels were bottom of the table? Slater has been more consistent over a number of years, hence the better player at the moment. He gets his fair share of press also, Australia's greatest athlete, ads for Suzuki and Rexona.

In the context of the article, I agree, Slater before Hayne. Besides, I remain to be convinced Hayne puts his team before himself.

Hard to decide, both bring a exciting game to the table. I'll keep watching both. :)

Hayne for my team.