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In the Daily Telegraph, Matthew Johns told us “Greg Inglis and Daly Cherry-Evans are the two best players in rugby league at the moment”, and that Queensland coach Mal Meninga and national coach Tim Sheens have got it wrong.
Big claims against two legends of the game who have the runs on the board Matty. Let me explain to you why they are right and you are wrong.
Both GI and DCE just came off two amazing performances that had the entire sporting world applauding, and no one doubts their stunning abilities or claims to greatness.
To say they are “the two best players” and not “two of the best players” is a backhander to Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater. As good as GI and DCE are, they would never be selected in any team in front of Thurston – now or in in past years. He has been the mainstay for the Maroons over their last eight series wins and constantly been the difference. He has also won the man of the match in five out of the last six Test matches.
We all stood and applauded when Greg Inglis beat eight defenders to score the try of the year in Round 8 against the Broncos. It is doubtful anyone else could have done that, but while GI was celebrated, the media never mentioned that he also was responsible for conceding two tries after that. What is the point posting four points if you give eight back?
GI lacks the ability to talk and organise like Billy Slater, which is why he is not the fullback for the Maroons and Australia. It is not about who the most devastating runner is, but what suits the make-up of the team the best, and the results say the Maroons and the Kangaroos have got it right.
We all would like to see GI with more ball in hand, perhaps he would be able to roam more if he had Darius Boyd’s position on the wing.
As for Billy Slater, his record speaks for itself and his skill set has been a major contributor to his state and country for almost a decade. After enduring an off season operation, he has come back to almost his best form.
When the Kangaroos needed something extra, Billy rose to the occasion and provided two try assists. His communication with Smith, Thurston and Cooper Cronk is why the Kangaroos were able to win the second half 18 points to nil. That is why they were selected and that why coach Sheens never considered bringing Cherry-Evans on early.
To have Daly Cherry-Evans on the bench is a luxury, but that is what Cooper Cronk did, waiting for the great Darren Lockyer to retire.
Matt Johns said Daly Cherry-Evans is a better player than Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk, which is confusing given he went to print 12 months ago saying that in the next two years, his brother (Andrew Johns) would be overtaken by Thurston for the mantle of rugby league’s greatest number 7.
Does that mean Matty thinks DCE is better than Joey Johns? That is another debate, but what is relevant today is that the rep number 7 shirt is Cronk’s to lose and he has done nothing to suggest it should be hand-balled to the 25-year-old Manly half just yet.
What Cronk brings to the party is high intelligence, communication and the best long and short tactical kicking game in the NRL. He is the reigning Dally M Player of the Year and is playing even better in 2014.
Mal Meninga will be trying to win his ninth consecutive State of Origin series this year, while Tim Sheens has just won his 16th straight Test victory with his Kangaroos, equalling the mark set by Frank Stanton’s Invincibles between 1979 and 1983.
Look at the scoreboard, Matty.
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