When deciding between the great players of our game and the greatest players of all time there is one statistic that sets them apart – rugby league IQ.
While it is difficult to calculate and record, it is no less important than the more measurable statistics such as tackles, run metres and so on.
Rugby league IQ relates to those one percenter plays that decide close games. Not the flashy flick passes that are on highlight reels for weeks on end, but the subtle kick to the corner on the last when your side is ahead by two with a minute left.
Let me give you an example. Benji Marshall versus Johnathan Thurston. This seems like a chalk and cheese comparison for some, and others will call it ridiculous. Why?
Because one is on the verge of immortality and the other has just got his career back on track after several years in limbo.
Comparing these two players, you have Marshall, the flashy all or nothing player that will be remembered for his 2005 Grand Final flick pass to lead the Tigers to victory over the aforementioned Thurston. Marshall is arguably a more skilful half based solely on what he can do with the football in hand.
The Marshall step is something the kids grew up watching week in week out from the mid-2000’s. However, Marshall’s downfall has always been what he does at the end of sets and games (granted he has been far more controlled this season).
Too often did Marschall take the showy option instead of giving the ball back to the opposition and asking them to win the game from their end of the field. If you were to place Marshall on a table between 1 and 10 he would fall somewhere in the middle with regard to rugby league IQ.
Thurston, on the other hand, has built his career on one percenter plays. He just always seems to be where the ball is, whether it be with the run of play or against it. His ability to take control of games with the right last play option is the sole reason why he will become an immortal.
The best example of Thurston’s brilliance was a Monday night game several years ago. Eels fans will no doubt remember the game I’m talking about. Semi Radradra went on a rampage in the first half, putting the Eels ahead by roughly 20.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
In most circumstances and against almost any other team in the competition, this would have been enough. However, Thurston came out and played almost the perfect half of football and turned a halftime deficit into a victory.
This is but one example of his complete dominance of the game, relying solely on his ability to read the game and make the right decision. While Marshall would fall into the mid-range, Thurston would score a perfect 10 on the rugby league IQ scale.
While comparing two players may not emphasise how important a high score is to a team or the game, we can look at Origin Two last year. New South Wales went into the halftime break 16-6 up with all the momentum in their favour. Yet they eventually went down 18-16 in the final minutes of the game.
This came down to poor last tackle options and errors. Unlike Thurston and Cooper Cronk (also a 10), the NSW halves combination of Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney failed to control the game. They continually kept the ball in play by failing to find the sideline or running it on the last.
This was NSW’s eventual downfall. They would go on to lose the series despite being one-nil up and having control of the second game.
While there are many factors on a rugby league field, this one that sets teams up for success or failure. The one area where a player can constantly grow, and the reason why it takes time for younger players to find their feet in the NRL.
Jeffrey Lebowski
Guest
Also people always credit the start of the Maroons dynasty to Lockyer when he dived on the loose ball but it was JT who started attacking the blues line creating half chances then cracked it with his show and go to put Tate away. Game 2 of that series was the first game he took over from Lockyer as the primary playmaker and what do you know we win games 2 and 3. He then stepped away from it to allow Cronk to come in and his left channel provided Inglis and Boyd with spots 1 and 2 on the all time leading try scorers list. His channel provided the maroons dynasty with over 2/3 of the tries.
Jeffrey Lebowski
Guest
JT also produced the best half of rugby league that’s ever been played. Down 30-0 in a major semi against the Roosters he singlehandedly dragged the Cowboys back to 30-30 with 10 to go and should of laid on the match winner but Lui bombed it. He laid on everyone of the Cowboys tries.
Jeffrey Lebowski
Guest
Go back and look at the knights team Joey played with where he had Buderus who was the best ever hooker before smith his whole career. JT has played with a team that’s always carried a few too many speed bumps. Also the Cows were knocked out 3 years in a row controversially. Disregarding conspiracy theories the psychological toll would have been huge and he still lifted his team to the top. He’s hands down a better half than Johns. Also considering he played his entire career where wrestle slowed the game to a crawl and he was the only half who could open up defences so regularly. He would have been even better in any other era.
Nat
Roar Guru
Ok, who? His 1st Dally M, he takes NQ to a GF, His last in '15 and they win. 07 Dall M, Finish 3rd and Prelim final. ' 14 Dally M, finish 5th and Semi Final. In fact, in the 11yrs (excluding 2017) they missed the finals 3x. Name another playmaker with that type of success?
theHunter
Guest
A teams success gives the personal awards more weight. It shows that the players performance enhanced a greater number of people to success. If you don't think Team success shouldn't be used for analysis than Hayne should be classed as way better than Slater or Lockyer since he has more Player of the Year awards despite only making the Grand Final once and the other was when Eels never even made it to the finals. JT is a good player but only thrives when he has the right people around him. On his own he performs but he has never inspired his team to a Grand final. That's one thing I think all great players and immortals should possess.
theHunter
Guest
I am not a Knights fan, people who love JT tend to think that anyone who thinks his not a deserved immortal must be a John's fan or a knights fan which I am not.. "He's a half. A half can be successful without team success but a team cannot be successful without a quality half leading the team" So he is just a half who has more success without team success? Is that what you are saying? He is painted to be the best halfback in the World, but his successes with a team is bettered by many other players.
Mushi
Guest
There is no greater failure in sporting analysis in my mind than using a crude benchmark of team success to assess a specific individual.
Nat
Roar Guru
(successful - bloody autocorrect)
Nat
Roar Guru
You have well over simplified there NOIP. But if that was your team, you would be highlighting a consistent top 8 team when very very few (only 1 I believe) can claim that record over such a long period.
Nat
Roar Guru
He's a half. A half can be success without team success but a team cannot be success without a quality half leading the team. Surely as a Knights supporter you understand that.
theHunter
Guest
Nat those Dally M awards are individual awards. Hayne has more than Lockyer or Slater, does that make him better than both of them? Of course not. How can a great 'consistent', 'IQ 10' not play or lead his team to more Grand Final appearances is my question? If he is better than every other half, Soward shouldn't have won a Grand Final, Pearce and Maloney shouldn't have won a Grand Final or Maloney and Townsend shouldn't have gone in to the Finals either. The team around him brought him to (eventually) his second Grand Final. Individually he has never inspired his team to a Grand Final. 2005 was Bowen's year and 2015 was Morgan, Feldt and Coote's year which was enforced last year by making it themselves. JT is overhyped in my opinion.
theHunter
Guest
2010: they would have gotten the wooden spoon but due to Storms breach of the cap they finished 15th All other teams challenged dynasty teams and not just JT. Besides are you telling me that he is not 10 out of 10 enough to atleast have led his team to multiple Grand Finals??? Hayne did that with Eels with an average team and we all know how Hayne can be inconsistent, Soward and co. did it for Dragons but we know what followed later on in his career, Bulldogs played a GF and so did Warriors during the period you say was "against dynasty type teams". If JT is consistent in his one percenters how can you explain how this one-off superstars were able to surpass him during this "dynasty period". Ennis, Barba, Pearce, Maloney, Cronk, Smith, Slater, Greg Inglis, Lockyer have had more Grand Finals in less than the time it took JT for two Grand Finals but there is no hype on them as much as there is for JT being a GOAT. This GOAT mostly stems from his Rep achievements because his club achievements are not as great as people like to make them out to be. He was consistently beaten for 10 years by (according to this article's ratings) average halves but because he was part of a dynasty in a rep team with other great players he is considered to way, way better than everybody.
Nat
Roar Guru
You're rough Hunter. Along with 4 Dally Ms, 7 positional Dally M, Dally M Captain of the Year. 2 Golden Boots. None of those are based around rep duties and no one else has achieved anywhere near that.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
In the 12 seasons since losing to the Tigers in the GF the Cowboys average finishing position is 7.83. The epitome of mediocrity. Injuries aren't to blame for that record
Michael
Roar Rookie
Four Dally M's two either side of his career. Hasn't missed the finals since 2010. Playing without the greatest team by his side. The backs he has around him this year and for the past few are terrible. Front row isnt great at the moment either. Backrow is decent. Two Grand Final wins, three appearances. Playing a large part of his career against dynasty type teams. Melbourne and Manly dominated for years. He had plenty of success at club level.
Michael
Roar Rookie
I'll have think and see if I can come up with something. Haha. Would likely involve a video session where players are asked to identify essentially "what would happen scenarios.
theHunter
Guest
An NRL Legend or is to be in the NRL Hall of Fame. He deserves that. All this hype especially on JT is basically his contribution to the Maroons dynasty. Maroons is a rep team for a rep game, he has rep players helping him win those games. Clubland is where the true character or where his "IQ" strength is tested since now he is playing with the average players beside him. Other great players show longevity in successes and JT only has that in Rep games. His successes in Clubland is nothing compared to the other greats of this game and people want him as an immortal because his greatest achievements are playing along side other rep players doesn't make sense.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Don't disagree about the value of game IQ, but at the risk of being a wet blanket, there is no "IQ stat". i thought I was going to read how you had come up with a formula to measure it..
Nat
Roar Guru
To play devils advocate, if we discount the Melbourne 09 Premiership, surely the player has that wiped as well. Interesting though, as per another article today, with all his clubland success, would Jimmy be considered a club legend at any club?
Nat
Roar Guru
I should've prefaced that Pearce comment with 'hilariously'. We all know how good Billy is.