In 1979 and 1980, the Canterbury Bulldogs were known as ‘the entertainers’.
Their team from those years included the three Mortimers and the three Hughes brothers. They played an attacking brand of football that was great to watch.
The side had a great balance. A tough forward pack that did the hard yards in attack and were solid in defence, and backs that threw the ball around and scored most of the tries.
That free-flowing style can be summed up in the famous Steve Gearin try in their 1980 grand final win.
In the modern era of formula-based football, and obsession with dummy-half running and completion rates, I got thinking about assembling a ‘dream team’ of entertainers.
These entertainers would play in the spirit of that Canterbury side from long ago. A team of former NRL players from any club and any era who you would love to have seen play in a team together in their prime.
The criteria for being picked in a dream team of entertainers is easy. Picking the players is harder.
The backs would have to be prepared to throw the ball around, do chip kicks and have the flair to play what is in front of them no matter where they are on the field. To balance that out, you would need some hard heads in the forward pack to do the work up front, both in attack and defence, and who could also put some fear into the opposition.
They would need to be as entertaining as the backs, just in a different way.
I have picked one or two players out of their preferred position in the backs, purely to squeeze them in for their entertainment value, plus a few of the original entertainers in my dream team.
1. Matt Bowen
2. Nathan Blacklock
3. Jarryd Hayne
4. Steve Renouf
5. David Peachey
6. Anthony Mundine
7. Steve Mortimer
8. Kerry Hemsley
9. George Peponis
10. Geoff Robinson
11. Gorden Tallis
12. David Gillespie
13. Ray Price
But that is just my dream team. Who would you have in yours?
John Coomer
Roar Guru
The main criteria was entertainment. I'm a big fan of Brett Kenny as well, and if it was a purely football criteria, I would take him over Mundine. Mundine could play a bit too though, and he's always guaranteed to generate debate one way or the other. And for the record, I'm a Queenslander, but that didn't factor into any of the people I picked either way.
Trevor
Guest
This looks more like a NSW team with a couple of Qlanders thrown in
Trevor
Guest
Mundine over Kenny??? Because of his post try somersaults?? I thought the criteria was on how they played football.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Sorry, just realised you did name 3. None would be out of place in an entertainers line up.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Hard hitting defence in my opinion can be as entertaining as free-flowing attack
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Great players, but who is your 3rd? You said if you had to pick 3, but you've only chosen 2.
Keats
Guest
Gillespie was about as entertaining as watching"cement" dry.
Keats
Guest
For pure entertainment value , it would be hard to go past the 80's Parra backilne. If I had to choose 3 I would go for "Bert" "the Guru" and the Zip Zip . The understanding these guys had between them was incredible.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Great suggestion re Jason Smith Rellum, I really enjoyed his style of play. None of those wingers would be out of place in any "entertainers" team either.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am late to this party. Matty Bowen is fist choice without doubt. Dispite his off-field issues I would have Jason Smith in the back row as he was the most creative and skillful forward I have ever seen. Very tough too. Add to that I would be looking at Carne or Nagas or Nadruku on the wings as well. Those guys knew how to finish from distance. My own personal addition would be McIndoe of the wing. He was a joy to watch in space.
John
Guest
Absolute best thing about this clip; I've often looked for a clip of Grothe running down O'Connor at Parra Stadium in 1986 and never been able to find one. It's in the right hand column of this clip - look at Grothe's speed. O'Connor is in the middle of the field while Grothe is on the sideline and he catches him. O'Connor was no slouch either.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks, I just watched it myself, it brings back great memories of the Brett Kenny. He was a class player that's for sure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vJu2UYx3x0
Tails
Guest
Thanks for that URL address on the Groth try. What a try. Next to the Groth try on You Tube is a collect of tries by Brett Kenny. I watched it 3 times. Some skills on display there. I've even taken the N0 6 James Hardy Jersey out of the closet and is now proudly on display in the living room. John, could you put the URL address up for all of the Brett Kenny fans to take a trip down memory lane.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Saw a few minutes of a replay of a game between the Knights and Roosters today, didn't catch the year but Joey Johns did a mean kick and chase. Didn't deserve immortal status though.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Some great names there, tough to pick isn't it when you think about it. Great to see you've found a spot for "Rowdy" Shearer in your dream team too. Phil Blake is a great inclusion too, his kick and chase game was great.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
That Parra backline was sensational. I did seriously consider Brett Kenny for Number 6, but went with Mundine for the backflips. Eric Grothe was very entertaining too, who could forget this classic try? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_6loPG0TCw
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Dallas would certainly be right at home in a "hard heads" forward pack, that's for sure. Ted Goodwin is another great suggestion too.
matth
Guest
Matty Bowen Dale Shearer Phil Blake Jarrod Hayne Michael Hancock Cliff Lyons Steve Mortimer Mark Spud Carroll Kerrod Walters Arthur Beetson Paul Sironen Bradley Clyde Paul Langmack Bench / honourable mentions Steve Ella Slippery Steve Morris Alfie Langer Michael O'Conner Wendell Sailor Bob Fulton Russel Fairfax Brett Kenny Greg Alexander Mark Geyer
Tails
Guest
A bit disappointed no one from those great Para sides got a mention. To mine, Kenny was the only no 6 to ever give "The King" a real challenge, just a pity he couldn't kick the footy. Great entrainment value, with his unique style. As a sign of how highly regarded he was, they put him in the centres at test level. Pushing another entertainer to the bench, the original TC. At his best in the late 80's he was just as good as any of his Canterbury predersessors. Over all a great side and even better concept. Good to see the fans talking and reminiscing about the finer parts of the game
bigbaz
Roar Guru
How about Dallas and Lord Ted.