This is the first match-up article in a series comparing the NRL all-time greatest teams, today pitting the Brisbane Broncos against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Both these clubs have been extremely successful winning 14 premierships between them, Manly have eight to Brisbane’s six.
I will compare both these team’s strengths to determine who would win in a hypothetical match.
There are a few ground rules I want to go through before we get into the teams:
1. The fixture match-ups were determined randomly online.
2. Assume every player is playing at their peak and in their prime.
3. Only consider how they played for that club, e.g. Johnathan Thurston won’t be included into the Bulldogs team as he was a bench player and didn’t play as well.
4. The winner will be determined by myself however which teams acclimates most votes will be a huge factor in the decision.
5. I will post this on fan forums of both teams sites to see their perspective and their reasoning.
Now onto the good stuff – these are the team I named during my series.
Brisbane Broncos
1. Darren Lockyer
2. Wendell Sailor
3. Steve Renouf
4. Justin Hodges
5. Michael Hancock
6. Kevin Walters
7. Alfie Langer
8. Shane Webcke
9. Jerrod Walters
10. Glen Lazarus
11. Gorden Tallis
12. Brad Thorn
13. Corey Parker
14. Shaun Berrigan
15. Tonie Carroll
16. Gene Miles
17. Petro Civoniceva
State of Origins: 305
Internationals: 306
Strengths
– Lazarus and Webcke form one the greatest prop combinations ever.
– Alfie Langer of the best halves ever, the small but talented halfback’s running game behind those forwards will be very difficult to defend.
– Outside backs. Renouf one of the greatest try-scorers ever, Sailor a powerful winger who walks on top of opposition, Hodges’ left foot step and palm made him one of the best centres of his time.
– Backrow. The aggression and rage of Tallis, uncanny offloading ability of Corey Parker, and class of dual international Brad Thorn makes for an incredible forward pack.
– Darren Lockyer, what else can be said, one of the greats of this era, his ball skills and Footy IQ made him constant threat in attack.
Manly- Warringah Sea Eagles
1. Brett Stewart
2. Graham Eadie
3. Bob Fulton
4. Jamie Lyon
5. Michael O’ Connor
6. Cliff Lyons
7. Geoff Toovey
8. Roy Bull
9. Max Krillich
10. John O’Neil
11. Terry Randall
12. Steve Menzies
13. Malcolm O’Reilly
14. Des Hasler
15. Paul Vautin
16. Anthony Watmough
17. Alan Thompson
State Of Origins: 160
Internationals: 216
Strengths
– Their forward pack may not be the most skillful but they may be the most aggressive pack ever assembled, they are fiery and will beat teams physically.
– Support play and blistering speed of Brett Stewart will thrive on offloads and be a threat whenever the ball is in his hands.
– Halves pairing of Lyons and Toovey, they compliment each other well, Toovey’s running game with Lyons’ ball playing ability.
– Graham Eadie although playing wing, he will still be dangerous in attack he was a game breaker, breaks plenty of tackles and set up many tries.
– The centre paring with Jamie Lyon who was the best centre in his prime he could set up his outside man like no other. Bob Fulton an Immortal who had used his footwork and his superhuman speed to break defensive lines at will.
I’d like to see who you think will win in a hypothetical match, I have highlighted the strengths of these teams – now let the debate begin.
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
Rowdy at his peak would definitely get a look in
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
three knees
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
Yep, 172 first-grade games with hardly a mistake, 64 tries (Tom Mooney scored 83 in 163 games and made the 1990 version of the greatest-ever team, for comparison), and still under-rated. Thanks for confirming, champion. No, I'm not related to Craig Hancock.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Manly adjustments Dale Shearer at Fullback. Kerry Boustead on the Wing. Phil Blake at Halfback Les Boyd at Prop Noel Cleal and Ben Kennedy on the bench.
john neeson
Guest
Bozo, Beaver and Les always the first three picked for Manly. Wombat and Rowdy Shearer at 1 and 2. Les and Ian Roberts the props and Crusher off the bench. In fact you could pretty much name two Manly teams that would flog the Broncs.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Oh mate, I've always thought Berrigan was one of the most underrated players I've ever seen. I would have definitely picked him over Thaiday. From a physics perspective, his running style was almost perfect - was really good at lowering his centre of gravity, which when coupled with his awesome anaerobic capability, made him very hard to tackle - despite being a small bloke. His move to hooker a couple of months before the 2006 GF is what I reckon sealed Brisbane's fate that year. One of the reasons the Broncos underachieved (in my opinion) between 2000 and 2006 was due to them not having a dynamic (not static) hooker in the middle of the park. Shame for Broncos fans during those years that Berro never liked playing there...because I reckon Brisbane could have probably won two more titles. Interesting that Berrigan got the Clive Churchill that year too... It always seemed to be Webcke, then Civoniceva, then Thorn...then two passes wide to Lockyer (who was always ridiculously overmarked because they never had a hooker or natural first-receiver to spread the defensive line. Everyone always knew where the pill was going).
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I would have liked to see Lewis there but as was said, his career was winding down by the time the Broncos came in. As well, maybe Tuquiri in place of Hancock. For manly, Irvine has to be on one wing and I would play Eadie at fullback, maybe Stewart on the bench. Fulton and O'Connor in the centres and Mooney (or even Hanigan) on the wing. I don't think Toovey should be a walk up start when you consider players like Hassler, Mayes and Junee.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Good to see Lewis' exclusion. He was great in 88, not quite as great in 89 but still very very good, then he went downhill fast in 90 due to attitude and injury ultimately being forced to leave due to cap issues. Including him would open the door for guys like Folau and Tuquri etc. Tbh Lockyer should probably be 1 and 6 though I could understand not wanting to put the same player in multiple positions. Not terribly convinced with Berrigans inclusion over guys like Tallis and Thaiday. Is 14 specifically for a utility?
East Bound & Down
Guest
Jesus those Walters are prolific breeders , there's another one "Jerrod".
no one in particular
Roar Guru
had mates that that played first grade, and all but one say Michael Hancock was the toughest player to tackle
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Wombat at fullback. Plently of alternatives for the wing - Boustead, Irvine, Shearer, Ribot Watmough wouldn't get a run ahead of Ben Kennedy, Ian Roberts, Noel Cleal, Cement Gillespie, Spud Carroll, Les Boyd Change the Manly team accordingly, and with no King for Brisbane, and I'll be on Manly. If we are playing 1986 or 1996 style rugby league they win comfortably. 2006 or 2016 rugby league Brisbane will get up
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Funny - I remember waiting in anticipation for months over the summer of 97-98 to see these two in round 1. I thought they were the best two teams in each comp (despite cheering for Newcastle in the ARL side of things). Still remember a very impressive try by Hancock that night. Old Mick was one of the earliest examples of wingers being used as forwards that we see so often these days.
Peter
Guest
I'd play Stewart on the wing with his speed and put Eadie at fullback. As good as O'Connor was, he was a centre who only played representative wing because there were better centre options and he had good speed so to pick him in front of Ken Irvine, probably the greatest Aussie winger ever, on the wing? What drugs are lot you on? Who is Malcolm O'Reilly? Poor journalism there. It was and always has been Malcolm Reilly. Wally Lewis was at the end of his career when the Broncos started and Kevin Walters was far more successful at 5/8 for the club. There could be an argument for Lockyer at pivot, but he's a better fullback option than Colin Scott, Paul Hauff, Julian O'Neill, Willie Carne and Darius Bennett....er....Darius Boyd.
Fiddlesticks
Guest
Craig Hankock- maybe a job as a comedian in your future
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
You're playing Graham Eadie and Michael O'connor out of position instead of Ken Irvine? Um, no. Eadie is the fullback, and Manly's had enough flying wingers - Tom Mooney, the always under-rated Craig Hancock, not to mention Rocket Rod Jackson (OK, maybe not) - not to need a transplanted centre on the wing either. O'connor or Lyon next to Bozo in the centres? Hmmm, good question. Snake Stewart is versatile enough to come off the bench (sorry Thommo).
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Wombat on the wing - gimme a break
Rob
Guest
I'm a Manly supporter but for the Broncos surely Wally Lewis should be 5/8?