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Adrian Megale’s NRL dream team

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Roar Guru
16th July, 2019
19

Having a dream team is like having a dream band.

You can pick members from all eras and different teams but at the end of the day, it’s never going to happen.

I can even show you my dream band to simply make a point:

Lead vocalist: Freddie Mercury (Queen)
Lead guitarist: Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
Rhythm guitarist: Stevie Ray Vaughan (Double Trouble)
Bassist: Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
Drummer: John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
Pianist: Tony Banks (Genesis)

That’s never going to happen considering only one of them is still alive but moving on now let’s focus on my dream team. This is a team from many different eras. Most of course from the 1980s-2010s but I like to go back a bit.

Enough procrastination, let’s begin.

Fullback – Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
Billy the kid burst right on the scene in his debut match all the way until he finished his career following the 2018 grand final.

His quick speed, cool calm wit under pressure and ability to turn defence into attack was very notable during his career. He even added in the playmaking ability into the fullback role asserting himself as an extra option.

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With 190 tries to his name in the course of 319 games, Billy the kid showed why he’s going to be legend for the times.

Billy Slater

Billy Slater of the Storm (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Wings – Ken Irvine (North Sydney Bears and Manly Sea Eagles) and Harold Horder (South Sydney and North Sydney)
Ken Irvine – Here you see the highest try scorer in the history of the game with 212. Now most tend to say that all records are made to be broken, but I think this one may be an exemption to that phrase.

He achieved this by his speed and ability to get in the open when the ball was passed to his centre partner so he could score them easy as you please. This man didn’t just fight to score 212 tries, he earned every bloody one of them.

Harold Horder – The original ‘Wonder Winger’ of the game with his brilliance to score 152 tries in just 136 games saw him as the dominant winger from his debut in 1912 all the way to his retirement in 1924.

He played two years with Brisbane Firsts (1925-26). He scored 20 points in the 1922 grand final, which to this day is the record. Despite just one game in 1912, he still scored a try on debut and burst through the scene the year after with 13 tries in 12 games then 19 tries in 13 games in 1914.

Centres – Reg Gasnier (St George Dragons) and Mal Meninga (Canberra Raiders)
Reg Gasnier – Puff the Magic Dragon played in the last six of the 11 grand finals St George won on the trot. His speed as a centre made him very hard to catch if he made a linebreak and he was one of the most popular Dragons during his career and even more so after.

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He earned his Immortal status for damn sure. 127 tries in 125 games.

Mal Meninga – Big Mal was a terrifying centre and heaven forbid you try to tacking the speeding bulldozer while flatfooted – he’d floor you to next week.

His speed, power and defensive effort showed exactly why this recent Immortal of rugby league has a spot on my team. In the first State or Origin game at old Lang Park, Queensland won 20-10 but both teams scored two tries each – but Big Mal kicked 7/7.

Five-Eighth – Darren Lockyer (Brisbane Broncos)
The Brisbane and Queensland legend was brilliant during his years. From being a fullback to a permanent five-eighth, Lockyer showed why he put his foot forward for Brisbane as arguably their greatest player of all time.

He was an integral part of their last four premierships and captained Brisbane to their latest one in 2006, in which he lifted the trophy with the retiring Shane Webcke. A legend like no other for Brisbane. Plus I think many of us can do his voice.

Halfback – Andrew Johns (Newcastle Knights)
The greatest player of all time. He didn’t just define the game for a halfback, he defined the game and changed it.

Did he flip the table? No. He picked it up, chucked it out the window and re-designed it his way.

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His brilliance as a playmaker saw him set up and score some legendary tries, including the last gasp-try for Darren Albert in the 1997 grand final, leading to the Knights defeating Manly 22-16.

I’m surprised after 22 years he hasn’t been arrested for it. He stole the damn match!

He captained Newcastle to their 2001 premiership, defeating runaway minor premiers Parramatta Eels 30-24. In 249 games, he has made more of an impact than just about anyone who’s played 300 or more games.

Despite an injury-riddled career, he truly showed why he’s just the greatest player of all time.

Andrew Johns for the Knights

Andrew Johns (AAP Image/Action Photographics/Grant Trouville)

Props – Arthur Beetson (Balmain Tigers, Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels) and Paul Harragon (Newcastle Knights)
Arthur Beetson – One of the greatest attacking forwards of the game, Big Artie well known for his raw power and his lethal offload.

He was just as good as a second rower as a prop and showed no fear every time he took a hit up.

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He captained the Roosters to their 1974 premiership win over Western Suburbs then followed up the year after with a 38-0 thrashing of St George Dragons, which was at the time the biggest win in a grand final.

He even scored a try in both those wins. He’ll also be permanently identified with the birth of State of Origin.

Paul Harragon – The Chief was well known amongst us Newcastle Knights fans as a fearsome forward, great captain and powerful leader.

His size and power was hard to compete with at the time as he was always fearless with his hit ups and wanted to prove his dominance.

He also knew how to get his team in the right mindset so they can put up a fight and take it down the wire. Maybe that’s what happened for Newcastle to come back in the 1997 grand final and win it.

He was their captain. Speaking of which, despite Andrew Johns being my favourite player of all time, Paul Harragon is my skipper.

Second Rowers – Gorden Tallis (St George Dragons and Brisbane Broncos) and Steve Menzies (Manly Sea Eagles and Northern Eagles)
Gorden Tallis – The Raging Ball wasn’t just a player, he was mercenary and pretty much played like a hitman ready to kill.

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The ruthless style he brought to the playing field really showed some promise during his playing days particularly when he rag dolled Brett Hodgson and chucked him right over the sideline. That is something everyone who saw it will never forget.

I believe his brutal style was a big part in Brisbane’s premierships from 1997, 1998 and 2000.

Steve Meznies – One of the greatest workhorses to ever step on the footy field, he scored 180 tries in 349 games. His hard work ethic played off to his teammates and showed why Manly (even in the few years after he left) were such a top team from the late 2000s – early 2010s. From 2007 – 2013, Manly made four grand finals with two wins including the 40-0 smashing of Melbourne, which is the record grand final win.

That was his last game for them, in which he scored his 180th and final try.

Hooker – Danny Buderus (Newcastle Knights)
Another hard working player, Buderus showed his effort paid off by being the most capped Knights player of all time.

He always had a solid effort in defence and great combinations with his halves proved just why he’s one of the greatest dummy halves ever.

His combinations with Andrew Johns not only paid off for them as a duo, it paid off for whoever they played for whether it was Newcastle, New South Wales or Australia. With 61 tries to his name, he’s the third highest try scoring hooker of all time.

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Danny Buderus (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay)

Lock – Frank Burge (Glebe and St George Dragons)
Big Chunky Burge was known for his big runs and destructive hit ups. Burge was another fearless forward who liked to score tries, including when he scored a record eight in one match.

For a long time, he was ineligible to become an Immortal due to the rule of any players prior World War 2 couldn’t do so, but thank God that rule is gone.

Interchange
– Phil Blake (Manly Sea Eagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs, North Sydney Bears, Canberra Raiders, St George Dragons and Warriors)
– Mark Geyer (Penrith Panthers, Balmain Tigers and Western Reds)
– Glenn Lazarus (Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm)
– Shane Webcke (Brisbane Broncos)

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