After the vigorous and interesting debate answering yesterday’s Is Thurston the greatest ever Australian rugby league halfback? article, let’s expand on that concopt.
Below are those I’ve seen play and rated since 1948. The date of their first Test is in brackets.
From that list select your first and second Australian rugby league teams – I have already done mine, and they are with The Roar editorial team to be published tomorrow.
Select a fullback, two wingers, two centres, a five-eighth, halfback, lock, two second rowers, two props, and a hooker for both teams.
There are some players who were, and are, capable of playing in more than the one position as shown.
Fullbacks
Clive Churchill (1948), Keith Barnes (1957), Les Johns (1963), Graeme Langlands (1963), Eric Simms (1968), Graham Eadie (1973), Garry Jack (1984), Gary Belcher (1986), Darren Lockyer (1998), Greg Inglis (2006), Billy Slater (2008) and Brett Stewart in 2008.
Wingers
Ron Roberts (1949), Brian Carlson (1952), Ian Moir (1954), Eddie Lumsden (1959), Ken Irvine (1959), Michael Cleary (1962), Johnny King (1966), Kerry Boustead (1971), Eric Groth snr (1982), Wendell Sailor (1994), Matt Sing (1995), Mat Rogers (1998), Lote Tuqiri (2001), Jarryd Hayne (2006) and Brett Morris in 2009.
Centres
Harry Wells (1952), Dick Poole (1955), Reg Gasnier (1959), Bob Fulton (1968), John Cootes (1969), John Brass (1970), Michael Cronin (1973), Steve Rogers (1973), Mal Meninga (1982), Gene Miles (1982), Michael O’Connor (1985), Andrew Ettingshausen (1988), Laurie Daley (1990), and Mark Gasnier in 2001.
Five-eighths
Brian Clay (1957), Arthur Summons (1961), Jimmy Lisle (1962), Phil Hawthorne (1970), Johnny Peard (1975), Wally Lewis (1981), Brett Kenny (1982), Terry Lamb (1986), and Brad Fittler in 1990.
Halfbacks
Tommy Raudonikis (1971), Steve Mortimer (1961), Peter Sterling (1982), Allan Langer (1988), Ricky Stuart (1996), Geoff Toovey (1991), Andrew Johns (1995), Johnathan Thurston (2006), and Cooper Cronk in 2007.
Locks
Johnny Raper (1959), Ray Price (1978), Wayne Pearce (1982), and Bradley Clyde in 1989.
Second rows
Jack Rayner (1948), Les Cowie (1948), Norm Provan (1954), Kel O’Shea (1954), Ron Lynch (1961), Dick Thornett (1963), Arthur Beetson (1966), Ron Coote (1967), Bob McCarthy (1969), Paul Sait (1970), Noel Cleal (1985) and Sam Thaiday in 2006.
Props
Roy Bull (1949), Noel Kelly (1959), Kevin Ryan (1963), John Sattler (1967), John O’Neill (1970), Bob O’Reilly (1970), Craig Young (1990), Les Boyd (1978), Steve Roach (1985), Glenn Lazarus (1990), Paul Harragan (1992), Shane Webcke (1998), Petero Civonicea (2001), Paul Gallen (2008) and Anthony Watmough in 2008.
Hookers
Ken Kearney (1052), Ian Walsh (1959), Fred Jones (1968), Max Krilich (1978), Ben Elias (1985), Royce Simmons (1986), Steve Walters (1991), Danny Buderus (2001), and Cameron Smith in 2006.
Looking forward to your selections.
Eckythimble
Guest
Nice efforts everyone, I make best of teams in soccer, basketball, cricket, union and league across multiple countries and this is the actual best Oz league team to date: 1. Langlands 2. Irvine 3. Gasnier 4. Rogers 5. Inglis 6. Fulton 7. Thurston 13. Raper 12. Coote 11. Provan 10. Beetson 9. Smith 8. Hall
Eckythimble
Guest
You'd surely drop Cronin for Gasnier, not Rogers. Gasnier and Rogers would be the ideal Australia centre pairing - the King and Prince of centres respectively.
matth
Guest
Yes he was a freak. I'd put him and Rowdy Shearer as two of the most naturally talented ball runners I've ever seen
matth
Guest
I see what you've done there :-) Now try going back the other way: - not in any order of position Russell Fairfax Michael O'Conner Wally Lewis Ricky Stuart Ray Price and now I'm struggling
matth
Guest
The criteria was post war, otherwise those two plus Frank Burge and Duncan Thompson would all come into consideration.
matth
Guest
Cam Smith, the token Queenslander. in the 70's that used to be Johnny Lang's job
Niall
Roar Pro
I wouldn't pay much attention to the listing of each player's height. I met Paul Gallen (listed at 5'11) a couple of years ago, I am 5'9 if I'm being generous to myself and there is no way he was taller than me.
Jason Hosken
Guest
Idris listed at 195cm in 2015 NRL media guide.
Rellum
Roar Guru
You should probably try reading the whole comment instead of just the team, you know....if you have the time.
Birdy
Guest
Wall TB I can't believe the research you do. I find picking these teams entertaining but so frustrating eg langer to me is the most dangerous player in history with ball in hand but I can't pick him over JT or johns and you could possibly throw in sterlo and that's not even going back to billy smith. So much talent in our game.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
JH, You're right. The stats I read about Frith some time back were obviously wrong. There was also Matt Parsons and Paul MacNicholas who both hit 200cm and I see Jamal Idris at 199cm. Would that be right ? He doesn't look THAT tall.
silvertail19
Guest
Didn't see Churchill, Johns or Thornett play (so can only go from records and stats) but the rest whilst some where exceptional in attack - Slater Inglis and Eadie and others exceptional defensively - Jack and Belcher I believe as an all-round fullback Stewart rates higher. He's the best defensive fullback I have ever seen, No one ever gets past him or over the top of him. Can't 'say that about the likes of Slater, Eadie et al. He doesn't commit howlers and testimony to his brilliance in attack is the number of tries he has scored and the number of try assists later in his career. Severely under-rated player. And no Barry Its Johnny King although in the 63 grand final Jason King might have been useful in the mud.
matty matt
Guest
so an all QLD team, your picture avatar doesnt give much away. you should be barred from the roar for suggesting beckett
langerthebronco
Guest
This is my Kangaroo Dream Team (2000-2015 period) 1:Slater - the best FB I've seen 2:Hayne- Naturally talented 3:Inglis - Same as Hayne 4:Hodges- he's very good right centre 5:B Morris - His Kangaroo try scoring rate is second to none 6:Lockyer (C)- The President 7:Johns - The General 8:Webcke -Haven't seen anyone better than him since 2006. 9:Smith- Best #9 for me 10:Civo- very good forward 11:Tallis- He'll make sure reffs get it right 12:Hindmash-bring the calming influence to 11 & 13 13:Gallen - He is very Good despite what QLD think. 14:Shaun Berrigan- my favourite all time bench player. Starting HB at Origin, starting Hooker in Grand final, Starting Centre with Kangaroos. He deserves a bench 15: Ogre 16:Ben Kennedy 17:Matt Scott Notable commissions HB:Alfie&JT 5/8: Barret & Freddy Utility: Karmicheal Hunt
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Can I have a go? The first GF I remember was Souths v Manly about 71 or 72 (hardly anyone calls them Souths anymore - how come?) so I will only choose from then and must be in Mr Lord's list 1. Wombat (Eadie)- the first fullback/battering ram 2. Kerry Boustead - put Origin on the map 3. Fulton - towelled up my Sharks in their first ever GF 4. Big Mal - no question 5. Eric Grothe - I saw him field a kickoff against Sharks and ran it back for a try swotting defenders like insects 6, Wally - he is the king after all 7. Turvey Mortimer (ahead of Sterlo then Alfie) (PS I don't use the modern numbering system) 8. Wayne Pearce The 2nd rowers on the list that I am familiar with look light on. I thought Beetson was a prop and Cleal a centre. But I did see these two 9. McCarthy 10. Ron Coote 11. Brick with eyes (Lazo) I can't pick modern day hookers because they don't hook 12. Max Krilich 13. Harrigan (Craig Young close but too many forward passes) Unlucky to not be on the list: Peter Jackson, Steve Renouf and John Lang
Johnno
Guest
Michael O'Connor was damn good too
Tripehound
Guest
I know where you're coming from Mike, but I always remember watching Wayne Pearce on the 82 tour, club games as well as the tests, first time I'd ever seen him and he was absolutely outstanding and for that alone he would make my side every time.
Rod
Guest
I agree with Sheek the list of players to choose from in league compared to union is impressive. I guess you need to work out the balance of the side. I'll go with players I enjoyed playing the Game. 1)Inglis 2)Grothe Snr 3)Kenny 4)meninga 5)Hayne 6) L Daley 7Johns 13) Lewis 12)Clyde 11)Coote 10)Beetson 9)Cam Smith 8)Lazarus 14)B Fittler 15)Tallis 16)Petro 17)JT
CW
Guest
Five eighth was the most difficult position to fil. There was plenty to choose from. Terry Lamb. Trent Barrett, Lockyer, Lewis and Kenny. I was tossing up between Lockyer/Kenny/ Lewis. Three very good five eights. All different. Kenny was the most brilliant of the three. He could have played anywhere in the backline. Lewis and Locky were the better creators.
MikeTV
Guest
Hard to disagree - although you have 3 front rower forwards on the bench. I'd probably drop Wayne Pearce, move Les Boyd to 2nd row, move Glen Lazarus from the bench to the starting front row, then have another back on the bench, maybe Andrew Ettingshausen.