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.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Just watched the Storm v Souths "I tell you what, there is no one who plays the No 1 who can organise a defence like Billy Slater.”, Craig Bellamy
Dallas
Guest
Are you serious mate? The objective and goal of playing in an origin series is to win each game, so to win each game they will select the best 17 players at that time, not potential players of the future. Qld brought in McQueen, DCE and papali last year and matt Gillett the year before, no one else outside of the squad has warranted being selected. QLD domination has been based on loyalty and that's how they have always been.
john badseed
Guest
A lot of the current mob running around for the Kangaroos won't be at the next World Cup. Having set the record for being the best SOO team in history, Qld should bite the bullet first and start blooding the next generation of Kangas. What's to lose? might lose the current series but will again have the troops in place to hammer the Blues. NSW selectors should get past the "we need mongrel from our players' and select a skilled young team, without the perennial losers mentality. I reckon this would increase the already high prestige of the series.
Nathan
Guest
Once again just hearing what you want to hear. Johns said thursto will surpass Andrew johns as the best. Then quote him a year later talking about present form of DCE which no one would compare to JT or Andrew johns cause of his short career. Except you of course. Bag GI all you want but don't blame him for leaking tries and fail to mention that Madge changes his wing center combinations week to week! MASSIVE assumption to say thursto would be picked before GI by any team. He's the best centre in the game arguably (I'll give you that) the best full back and has proven ability playing 5/8.
Elron
Guest
On last nights performance, Cronk still a class above DCE!
Jackson Henry
Guest
That's actually a good point about the lack of opportunity. I would say, though, that because of the Lockyer+Thurston thing, the only chance Cronk has had to really show his wares have been in Grand Finals...and he's been to five, winning best on ground in the last two of those (one unofficially, the other officially). So for mine, that's actually comparable to Origin and Tests, perhaps even greater in terms of truly big games. I guess I watch a lot of what guys do on field, particularly "when" in games and "when" in seasons, with individual accomplishments and accolades being, at most, a secondary indicator of a player's true worth. In Cronk's case, though, it is overwhelmingly accurate...which is interesting as I don't think a lot of analytical rigour goes into Dally M calculations on a weekly basis sometimes. It's for these reasons why I rate Cronk as highly as I do - he significantly outperforms a lot of other future Immortals, and I don't think the lack of opportunity factor should in any way be hald against him - because that's totally out of his control. Life's unfair isn't it!
Dallas
Guest
Yea I think cronk has failed to get comparisons to the greats because he hasn't been able to dominate games in Origin and for Australia. Don't get me wrong, when ever cronk takes the field for what ever team he plays for he plays his role and does his job. But he has never played a game in origin where he has stood head and shoulders above the rest. Johns was 30 in 2005 when he dominated that series, Lockyer was 29 in 2006 which was was probably his best individual year, it is hard to pick which year was thurstons best because he has been so consistent for so long but he was only 23-24 when he started to kill it in origin and for Australia. So time is probably not on Cronks side at 30 nearly 31. He is a very very good player, but I dont think he is a 'special' player like the others.
Jackson Henry
Guest
I agree with a lot of what you've said here, particularly about Lockyer.As I've said above, he gets the title of 'The Greatest' for mine, as he's done things that are unlikely to ever again be replicated by any single player. However I don't think we can really come to any conclusions about Cronk's Origin career yet, given he's only started for 2 series now. But he did but on the series-winning plays in game 3 both years - which is very Lockyer-esque - and he does play a lot on the right...again very Lockyer-esque. I do agree though, Cronk's been the highest performing half since about 2009 and it's my opinion he should actually be in Immortal conversations that go on a round other current players like Smith and Thurston. His numbers and his acheivements are actually better than both these blokes...and yet, for some reason, he never gets a mention. If anyone is criminally underrated in the NRL it is Cooper Cronk. And this is the latest Dally M winner we're talking about.
hindsight
Guest
correct because it's still the NSWRL!
Dallas
Guest
Cronk will never be the half the player Lockyer was in origin footy especially, look at the players cronk has had around him during his origin career compared to Darren Lockyer in his earlier years say 2001-2002.. Lockyer basically did everything from fullback in that time period with very little talent around him especially in the halves. Cronk is just lucky he has all those great players around him in the Qld and Aus team or his place in those sides would be short lived. Cronk has been the best half in the NRL over the last 5 or so years and his short kicking game is 2nd to none but when it comes to origin and test footy he doesnt compare to Thurston, Lockyer or johns. He can stick to a structure and kick to the right places all day but he isn't capable of making the big plays and doing the specials things that Thurston, Lockyer and johns could do on a regular basis. And as for the cronk being a better organizer than Lockyer, he should because he is a half back, Lockyer was the best example of a five eighth you will ever see. He played on both sides of the field which you will likely never see again from a five eighth, besides Thurston and Marshall. Wayne Bennett always said Lockyer was not a half back or an organizer.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Up Dont think so mate.
up in the north
Guest
May I comment. I hate Manly Could be a NQ / Manly vrand final this year......!
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
H So you think Cronk is predictable ah? Go and ask the Manly right side if they think he is "predictable" when he put up a brilliant cross field kick on the run to try assist the winning try. Oh, just before that, he did a grubber fooling Snake and getting a solo try to put the Storm back in the game. He was brilliant, but Slater was the best player on the field. I backed Manly at +6.5 so won my bet, but I was lucky as Manly did not have a goal kicker and DCE was clearly injured and had a very quiet game for his high standards.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
P22 We are very lucky to have them both as Kangaroos.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Wow, I just watched Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk get the Storm home from an impossible position. Who said they are not playing well?
soapit
Guest
scott, did you know you are a media personality?
Hahabarba
Guest
That's crap. The best players should be picked not the best combinations. Players for all rep games should be picked on best form. Where is the incentive for the young players. The incentive is to sign on unders to play with a team of rep players to build combination to be picked for reps. It's crap. I'd rather watch a team of crazy talented players then guys that are just hard workers. Cronk is predictable, boring and wouldn't be playing reps if it wasn't for billy and cam. I'm not even sure if those three had played for three different clubs if they would be the players they are. If all teams were picked on form all rep games would be so crazy good they'd be sold out all the time. Who wants to pay there hard earned watching a guy do the same thing over and over. Have you watched Cronk this year. He has been terrible for more then half the games. As for your stats. There have been plenty of better halves that's have had great partners taking half the stats of them. Not Cronk this year. Cherry and gi have been the cream of the crop this year.
Dav
Guest
Yep hind, Matt Johns expert opinion is just a NSW media spindoctor, what a joke, no credibility, typical for alot of NSWhalers to take the bait, we witnessed tonight Canberra being dismantled by Warriors ...
P22
Guest
Cronk would prob be the first player selected by Mal, Sheens or Belamy. Anyone suggesting DCE is superior should shut it. I think the Aus coach, Qld coach and premiership winning NRL coach would know what they are doing. They know Cronk's composure and skill is supreme. He would execute any play required with precision. He's the reigning Dally M and let's not forget what he did in the last game of origin last year, there wouldn't be a player(including DCE) in the game today that could execute that kick, at that time, with that pressure, from that distance to WIN the series. These coaches know that Cronk is the player that if you said hit the ball on this spot at the 65th minute, he'd do exactly that, you can't not put this guy in your team. And also as big as DCE's heart is, the can't defend like Cronk can.
Jay C
Guest
Don't discount the organisation of Slater at the back though Scott