Cement, The brick with eyes, Chief, Spud, Sludge, Changa, The King, Chicka, The ZIP ZIP MAN (that nickname has to be in caps), The Black Pearl, Mad Dog, Beaver, What’s-a-packet-a, The raging bull, Lurch, Mr Perpetual motion, The Falcon and my favourite, The Axe.
These are just some of the greatest nicknames ever, but I must ask where has the good nickname gone?
With Anthony ‘The Count’ Minichiello’s upcoming retirement the era of the good nickname may sadly be dead. Why is this?
Are today’s players not just as bright as their predecessors. I mean with nicknames like G.I, SBW, JT and the uninspired Gal, a strong argument could be put forward that this is the case. The era of the great nickname is dying.
With the Count moving on, Jamie ‘Killer’ Lyon may have to carry the burden by himself – an unenviable task. The days of the great nickname could add fear to the opponent with names like Cement, The Brick with eyes the Raging Bull and The Axe. Or they could make the crowd laugh,
Phil ‘Whats-a-packet-a’ Sigsworth and Brad ‘Adolf’ Fittler brought the fans closer to the players.
Is the modern day player not as creative? Do players remove all level of personality with the media out of fear? Meaning there are no potential for nicknames? Do we just need Roy and HG to come back? The era of the great nickname must return because if I hear another interview with Paul Gallen where he is constantly called Gal I may have a stroke.
Surely this should be issue number one for the Australian Rugby League Commission to return us to the state of intelligent nicknames. It’s got to the point where players are giving others nicknames on how they play the game. I am looking at you Josh ‘Grub’ Reynolds or Sam ‘third man in’ Thaiday.
In the immortal words of Geoff Toovey, there has to be an investigation. I demand better nicknames and I refuse that Mylesy is the best that the players can come up with for Nate Myles. Off the top of my head how about ‘bread’, because he has a head like a loaf of bread. Or Moses for Cam Smith because there is no player more blessed by refs in the game.
I would like to acknowledge the nickname for James Graham of Bupa in reference to Aidan Tolman being the healthier version of James Graham. A gold star to whoever came up with that.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! Classic & clever Roy & HG names ! Deborah Kerr ( the actress star in "The King & I " ) I loved these two : "The Map" & "Chokka" "The Map " - for John Cartwright ( of the famous Cartwright family on Bonanza, the western TV show with opening sequence of a burning map of their land) "Chokka" - for Dale Shearer ( shortened from chokka block full of angry pills !)
Tom
Guest
Not sure 'horhay' for Jorge Taufua is a nickname, Jorge is a Spanish name and that is the correct pronunciation. I'm not sure whether Jorge pronounces it 'George' or it is just Rabs Warren bungling it.
Griffo
Guest
I thought Dave Taylor was called the 'Coal Train' for a bit but the coal delivery's been a bit unreliable these last few years. Robert 'Baba' Lui, Semi 'Trailer' Radradra, Corey Parker 'The Jacket', (Brent) 'Tate of Origin', 'Quotidian' Daly Cherry-Evans, Will 'Clean Fingers' Hopoate, Ben 'Datshit' Creagh. Just a few that I like
nerval
Guest
You win Epiquin.
Paneer
Guest
The Bubbler!!!
Corunetes
Guest
Thumbs up for that one
mitchwally
Guest
I always though Cam Smith's nickname was " the accountant" as in he has the body of one....
The Koomz
Guest
Lol.....
Mango Jack
Guest
Agreed, don. Most of the nicknames, certainly most of the best nicknames, were the product of their genius game calling. They are sorely missed.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Ben Hannant "The Polar Bear" Tony "T-Rex" Williams The Hayne-Plane
Epiquin
Roar Guru
What about: James Tedesco "Sauce" Matt "The Razor" Gillett Corey "Uncle Toby" Oates Sam "Take it Easy" Tagataese Mark "The Violin" Minichiello Aidan "Julius" Sezer Greg "No-Speaky-da" Inglis Thomas "Not-George" Burgess Josh "The Hydrator" Drinkwater
Epiquin
Roar Guru
No one has mentioned Roy & HG's finest: Petrol Seventy-cents-a-litre. I believe he used to play for Brisbane...
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Johnno, is there any topic you CAN'T turn into a "the game's gone soft" argument? Talk about a broken record. The shoulder charge is gone, the fights don't happen anymore etc etc. Seriously, these were such small aspects of the game I can't understand why you miss them so much. Give me a scintillating Inglis try over that any day.
Tobias Zulaikha
Roar Rookie
Agreed Don, hard to argue Roy & HG's influence. Tigers of the late 80's had a heap of player nicknames too.. Junior, "Jimmy" Jack, Blocker, Backdoor Benny, Sirro, Black Pearl, Wiz, Ginger Meggs (Mick Neil), Goldilocks (Kev Hardwick) ... Great article, Jack!
MAX
Guest
Remember the blokes born at the head of the queue, be it school, football club or surf club... Stalky, Python, Tripod, Cannon, V2, Anaconda. The Fireman could always send his stream higher than anyone. In those days it never occurred to us to drink it.
don
Guest
I put it down to a lack of Roy and HG calling the State of Origin look at this list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_and_HG's_State_of_Origin_commentary
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha...Ferris Buhrer is a good one. I hadn't heard that before.
Sam
Guest
...Sowie, GI, Wal, Reyno. I agree, they're definitely lacking in creativity these days, that's for sure
Jacks
Roar Guru
haha I like it
Fairy fairfax
Roar Rookie
How about Podiatrist Slater, he likes to put his feet first.