Back in 2008, as part of the Centenary of League celebrations, the ARL brought together a panel of 130 experts and selected their Team of the Century.
Including the eight immortals of the game (although oddly with two on the bench), the Team was almost universally acclaimed and showcased the incredible talent in the game over its first 100 years.
Nearly a decade on, we are (maybe? surely?) coming to the end of an unprecedented period of success for Queensland in State of Origin. In addition, the NRL has defied shoulder charge bans, bunkers, slaps, blockers and even Cronulla winning a premiership to continue bringing superior athleticism to the toughest game on the planet.
Many players during this past ten years have been trumpeted as freaks of nature and future immortals. Given we will all be dead and gone before the Team of the Bicentenary is announced, let’s have a look at the early front runners and see if any of them would have a case to knock off the current greats of the game.
Fullback: Clive Churchill. Contender – Billy Slater
A tough one to start with. Clive Churchill was one of the original Immortals. The ‘Little Master’ won five premierships with Souths and played 37 Tests for Australia. He changed the role of the fullback with his attacking prowess and reading of the game.
‘Billy the Kid’ is widely considered the best since Churchill and there has been a serious conversation that he has become the best fullback of all time. A fixture during Queensland’s record-breaking run, he has also been an integral part of the Melbourne Storm’s Big 3. He has played over 300 games and scored 177 tries for the Storm as well as playing 25 Tests for Australia.
Verdict: I never saw Clive Churchill play but in his era he was undisputedly the best player in the game. I’ll stick with the ‘Little Master’.
Wingers: Brian Bevan and Ken Irvine. Contenders – none
While wing play has changed tremendously over the years and the amazing leaping tries in the corner are now commonplace, I can’t think of a single winger in the last decade to come close to these two.
Bevan crossed for 757 tries in English club football when the standard was as good or better than the Australian game. 757 tries, that’s no typo.
Ken Irvine was arguably the fastest player to play the game, once clocking 9.3 seconds over 100 yards and he still holds the try-scoring record for the Australian Rugby League at 212, as well as a combined 63 tries for Australia and NSW.
Verdict: Bevan and Irvine have no peers.
Centres: Reg Gasnier and Mal Meninga. Contender – Greg Inglis
Reg Gasnier was the Prince of Centres and an original immortal. Often considered the most naturally gifted player to have played the game, Gasnier had blinding acceleration and a brilliant swerve. He was instrumental in St George’s run of 11 premierships during the 1950s and 60s. He is a lock for this side.
Big Mal is the only player to have gone on four Kangaroo Tours and he captained the last two. He played 46 Tests for Australia and 32 State of Origins for Queensland during their first dominant period.
A truly terrifying spectacle in full flight, he also could knock goals over as one the of last of the toe poke style of kickers. Mal was an integral part of the Canberra Green Machine, which became one of the greatest club combinations of all time.
But then there is Greg Inglis. Inglis became Queensland’s southern-most superstar at a young age and has swept all before him ever since. GI was a champion centre for Melbourne but also won the Clive Churchill medal for best on ground in a grand final at five-eighth.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
He started for Queensland as a great winger and has dominated at full back as part of the team that broke Souths’ great grand final drought. With 31 tries from 38 Tests for Australia and a highlights reel to die for, there is an argument that Inglis could knock Big Mal from his perch.
Verdict: Greg Inglis is Mal Meninga 2.0 and takes the spot.
Five-eighth: Wally Lewis. Contender – Darren Lockyer
The King was made an immortal in 1999 after an amazing representative career. From the very first game in 1980 Lewis was State of Origin. His long passing and vision revolutionised the game and his eight man of the match awards in State of Origin remain a record that is unlikely to be broken. Lewis played 34 Test matches, 24 as captain, including leading the 1986 undefeated Kangaroo Tour.
If Lewis was the King, then Lockyer became the Prince. The only player to win the Golden Boot for the world’s best player in two different positions, the Champion fullback became a superb five-eighth and captain.
Legendary for his ability to pull out the clutch play when required, Lockyer holds the record for most Tests, most games as captain and most tries for Australia. Under his leadership in 2006 Queensland started their State of Origin dynasty. Lockyer also won four premierships with the Brisbane Broncos.
Verdict: So very close, but I’d have to take The King.
Halfback: Andrew Johns. Contender – Johnathan Thurston
Andrew Johns changed the game of rugby league with his unprecented kicking in general play. He won two premierships with a Newcastle team that he dragged over the line through sheer talent and force of will. The complete player, Johns held the NRL point-scoring record of 2176 at the time of his retirement.
JT played 36 consecutive State of Origin Matches and has been the common factor for the entire Queensland reign of terror. JT has been blessed with a devastating ‘show and go’, a superb kicking and running game and an iron will. In 2015 he led North Queensland to a premiership to round out his resume. And he holds the record for most points for Australia.
Verdict: JT by a whisker.
So, Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston take spots from two greats of the game in Mal Meninga and Andrew Johns.
Next, the forwards and the bench.
pete
Guest
Clive Churchill was the best Australian player of his era, but definitely not the best player.
Donno
Guest
Can’t agree with Inglid over Maninga. Not only should he hold his spot he should be an immortal. Hard between Johns and Thurston except Johns had brutal defence. Like Lewis he could change a game with a big hit. Puts him slightly ahead of Thurston.
Ken
Guest
U never saw Churchill play and you choose him above slater who you have seen play ?, that's makes no sense at all
Rob
Guest
TB, in a balanced discussion you look and the good and the bad. In selecting dominant players you look at records on the field. I question awards because they are opinion based like Fafita not receiving CC in 2016 and JT winning it 2017. DM's are similar because they are all about ball players but forget about players like Lazarus, Petro, Harrigan, and Webke. Longevity is a big factor or you can start arguing Ewan McGrady, Sandow, and Phil Blake are the best. You obviously love Joey as you have begged people to not bring up his questionable drug use. I have refrained from that because it any easy (cheap) shot. Are you insecure about people putting some facts on the table. Head to head with Joeys. Stuart won( 5-1), Toovey (5-1), Lam (8-2), Langer (6-5), Sherwin (4-3),JT 2-2, Joey has better stats against. Kimmorley lost (7-6), Jason Taylor(11-2),Stacey Jones Test matches included(11-4), Orford (9-2), Field(9-1). To be the greatest you dominate your peers of that era as Sheek said. Langer and Stuart were very competitive at (11-14).
elvis
Guest
Don't forget Meninga won 2 BRL premierships as well as his 3 NSWRL ones.
Pickett
Guest
I'm glad to see some love for Kenny. My favourite non Rooster player of all time. Shaded only by Wally as best 5/8 imo. Also played his best in the big matches. Lockyer was the Joe Montanna or Rugby League. The ultimate clutch player. Jack Gibson said he loved players who would win you the game if you're down by 10 with 10 minutes to go. He would have loved Lockyear.
Griffo
Guest
Watch 'Crash' Craddock's interview of Jeff Thomson. He talks about bowling to 70 year old Bradman with no pads and wearing formal attire still carting everyone to the boundary.
Griffo
Guest
So they're like a good cup of coffee...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Well said.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Thanks Rossco, your are correct. Until. Jack Raynor retired, Churchill was captaining his country but not his club.well spotted.
rossco
Guest
One comment on the opening article: I don't think Churchill captained Souths. Jack Rayner was captain-coach until 1957 so maybe Clive captained in his last year, 1958. However he did captain Australia as the article says.
KBG
Guest
hard to argue with a bloke so down on lewis because he clearly just doesn't understand. sure, he could be a bit lazy but ask the nsw origin sides that continuously went home with their tails between their legs if he was lazy when it counted. or perhaps they handed out man of the match awards to him for fun (8, i think?). if you mean that he could have been even better, i won't argue against that, but that hardly diminishes his status as a legend. as for ella, undoubtedly a terrific player, but there is a quote from andrew slack - "anyone who thinks mark ella was a better player than paul mclean either never saw mclean play or doesn't understand rugby". given he played with and against both of them, he'd have some idea. i'd take lynagh as well. mind you, if you had to end up with ella, hardly the worst thing in the world.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You've got every right to rate Langer and JT and whoever like ahead of Johns. That wasn't my point. The fact that you constantly rubbish and downplay Johns' achievements is poor. You can talk up Langer, JT, etc based on their achievements alone and without denigrating Johns. If someone started a conversation with "Langer couldn't tackle, got dropped from test footy twice for Stuart twice, got sacked by Bennett, no long kicking game, only won comps because of the team he was in, blah, blah, blah" you'd (rightfully) discount them as a fool. You're doing exactly the same thing with Johns. Fittler didn't win more premierships than Johns. Thurston hasn't captained state or country either. Lewis got dropped from test footy. So did Langer. Inglis, Slater and Cronk (and dozens of others) have played plenty of rep footy 'out of position' including off the bench. Your criticisms of Johns' are redundant and can be applied to heaps of players without diminishing their greatness.
Rob
Guest
Barry, I respect your opinion. On lots of topics you are correct. You are correct in saying I don't care if you think I rate Johns below Langer or JT. Like you I'm one eyed. Johns is a fantastic player and he put QLD to the sword a few times. I rate Fittler above Joey because he played 100 more games, won more premierships/.finals, Captained State and Country and was part of a very successfull NSW era. If Joey was so good why wasn't picked at half over Toovey in 1995 when Stuart wasn't playing. They were beaten by Adrian Lam and co. His Origin game in game 1, 1998 was that bad it cost NSW the game and the series. For clutch plays and rising to the pressure JT has him covered in my opinion. Thurston FG in the 2015 GF. and Origin 2 is what makes him better than Joey in my opinion. Along with 50+ more games and a hell of a lot more Rep jumpers.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Thank you Rossco. Great comment.
Matt H
Roar Guru
'None of these guys hold a candle to today's remote controlled cyborgs.,
rossco
Guest
Having seen both play I unreservedly say Churchill was the best. Smaller than Slater he was mercurial in his running and the ultimate team player. His defence - also a strong point for Slater - was amazing. I saw him standing near the 25 metre line take on a charging Herb Narvo, twice his size, who was clear of all other players and take him down with a front-on, ball and all tackle that seemed to make the earth shake. His position of wingers was uncanny and he sometimes played as an extra five-eighth. A pleasure to watch. It's interesting to note that Clive's widow has said Slater is the best she has seen, after Clive of course. I concur!
Dave_S
Roar Rookie
Plus the 3 tackle rule...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha...brilliant! Wow - the dim dark days of 2017. Couldn't have Matt Scott, he was tiny. Front towers these days weigh 185kgs he'd get smashed. Those were the days before bionic implants. They couldn't get dropouts to travel 140 metres in the fly.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You probably don't care but you lose credibility by constantly rubbishing Johns. Whether Lockyer or Langer or JT or whoever is better is certainly up for debate and your point about Johns being rushed in as an immortal is well made. But Johns was a great player and is certainly up to his neck in any of these best ever discussions. As they all are. If someone came into this discussion with you just absolutely rubbishing Lockyer or Langer and completely downplaying all his achievements you wouldn't take them seriously. I'm sorry to say mate that's happening to you with the one eyed rubbishing of Johns.