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Johnathan Thurston is a great player, but not great enough to supplant Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns for the title of the greatest rugby league halfback of all time. That’s my opinion.
However, someone whose rugby league opinion is rated very highly disagrees with me: Andrew’s brother, Matty.
Last week in the Daily Telegraph, Matty stated that, in the next two years, his brother would be overtaken by Thurston for the mantle of rugby league’s greatest number 7.
It’s hard to argue with that statement. Not because I agree with it, but because it’s a prediction of the future, and seeming as no one knows what the future holds, you can’t really argue with anyone who attempts to predict it.
Therefore, if that’s what Matty Johns believes, all power to him.
My initial reaction to reading the heading of the story, which alluded to Thurston being better than Joey, was that the Johns’ brothers may have had another falling out, and the older brother was simply being provocative and antagonistic to annoy his younger sibling.
However, upon reading further, it became evident that Matty was simply stating that Thurston has the potential to become the best halfback of all time, rather than currently being rated above Joey.
“…Thurston… is not only about to enter the stratosphere of being ranked alongside Allan Langer and Andrew Johns, but he will go past them.”
The above quote suggests that not even Matty believes Thurston is in Langer or Joey’s class just yet. And with that I wholeheartedly agree.
I have Langer and Thurston neck-to-neck on my list of all time great halfbacks, though Langer may have the slight edge due to his four premierships. However, to be fair, ‘Alfie’ played on teams far more talented that any of Thurston’s playing squads.
I then have Joey at number one.
However, in a belief that is sure to ruffle the feathers of our Queensland friends, I have Joey a considerable distance in front. I wouldn’t go to the colloquial lengths of saying that ‘daylight is second’ – for Langer was simply outstanding – but there is a significant gap between them.
In fact, I believe Joey to be not just the greatest halfback of all time, but the greatest player of all time.
I am from Sydney, and I therefore support the New South Wales Blues, so I understand that I will naturally be accused of being biased.
It’s hard to truly recognise if you’re failing to be objective with your views, but I can honestly say that I don’t believe I’m giving Joey preferential treatment. I really do think he is the greatest footballer I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes.
Therefore, Thurston would have to put together two, or more, of the most outstanding seasons we’ve ever witnessed if he is to truly lay claim to the title of rugby league’s greatest halfback.
Thurston is only 29 years of age, so you could argue that he’s in the prime of his career, but to match Joey – let alone surpass him – one would think that he needs to win another premiership, another Dally M Medal, and continue his dominance at Origin level.
There is also the small fact that Thurston doesn’t even play halfback for his club, state or country anymore. He is a five-eighth, which slightly clouds any claim for the greatest halfback title.
Can Thurston really be called the greatest halfback of all time when he doesn’t even play that position?
This is not an attempt to diminish Thurston’s career or achievements. If he finished playing tomorrow, he would already be mentioned among the all time greats, and few players have dominated the State of Origin arena – the highest standard of rugby league in the world – like Thurston has.
He is a great footballer, and will even likely be an Immortal. But I don’t think he should be rated alongside, let alone better, than Joey Johns.
Though I will add the caveat of ‘yet’ to that last sentence.
In any case, such debates are somewhat pointless, as they tend to be based on subjective measures, not to mention state borders.
It’s almost impossible to nominate a winner in a sporting debate. After all, technically, an opinion can’t be wrong.
Yet that doesn’t make these types of discussions any less fun, and it’s what makes sport thrive in this country: passionate debates.
In fact, it’s the very essence of this site.