While going through this process of compiling rugby league’s alphabet teams, there have been a number of players desperately unlucky to miss out on their respective squads – so I thought I would pick a Best of the Rest side.
Then I realised there were a number of players desperately unlucky to miss that side, so I picked a second Best of the Rest line-up, reasoning that I had combined the U, X and Zs so there were two team spots available. And even then I have unlucky players, but I’ve got to stop somewhere!
Here’s how the two Best of the Rest teams line up.
Best of the Rest team No.1
1. Gary Belcher (goal-kicker) – 15 Tests. Dally M Fullback of the Year 1987, 1989 and 1990. ‘Badge’ missed out to Keith Barnes.
2. Eric Harris – 11 games for Queensland, 391 tries for Leeds in the UK in 383 games. Member of Leeds’ greatest ever team. ‘The Toowoomba Ghost’ missed out to Harold Horder and Valentine Holmes.
3. Matt Gidley – 17 Tests. Missed out to Reg Gasnier and Tom Gorman.
4. Chris Close – 3 Tests. ‘Choppy’ missed out to Les Cubitt and Mick Cronin.
5. Michael Hancock – 14 Tests. Dally M Winger of the Year 1989. Missed out to Harold Horder and Valentine Holmes.
6. Alan Thompson – 8 Tests. Missed out to Johnathan Thurston.
7. Des Hasler – 13 Tests. Dally M Lock of the Year 1991. Missed out to Arthur ‘Pony’ Holloway.
8. Adrian Morley – 47 Tests (UK). Missed out to Mick Madsen and Nate Myles.
9. Dr George Peponis (captain) – 8 Tests. Missed out to Sid ‘Sandy’ Pearce.
10. Gary Parcell – 8 Tests. Missed out to Steve Price and Norm Potter.
11. Hugh McGahan – 32 Tests (NZ). Golden Boot Winner 1987. Dally M Second-rower of the Year 1987. Missed out to Gene Miles and Bob McCarthy.
12. Jim Paterson – 8 Tests. Missed out to Norm Provan and Sid ‘Joe’ Pearce.
13. Greg Bird – 17 Tests. Missed out to Sam Burgess.
14. Noel Cleal – 8 Tests. Dally M Second-rower of the Year 1984 and 1986. Missed out to Arthur Clues and Bradley Clyde.
15. Sam Backo – 6 Tests. Dally M Prop of the Year 1988. Missed out to Arthur Beetson and Roy Bull.
16. Kevin Schubert – 19 Tests. Hooker. Missed out to Cameron Smith.
17. Tim Brasher – 14 Tests. Dally M Fullback of the Year 1996. Missed out to Keith Barnes.
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Best of the Rest team No.2
1. Brett Mullins – 8 Tests. Dally M Fullback of the Year 1994. Missed out to Frank McMillan.
2. John Ferguson – 3 Tests. Dally M Winger of the Year 1985 and 1988. ‘Chicka’ missed out to Dan Frawley and Dennis Flannery.
3. Johnny Greaves – 12 Tests. Missed out to Reg Gasnier and Tom Gorman.
4. Paul Sait – 16 Tests. Missed out to Darren Smith and Dale Shearer.
5. Larry Corowa – 2 Tests. Missed out to Brian Carlson and Jimmy Craig.
6. Dennis Pittard – 5 Tests. Rothmans Medal 1969 and 1971. Missed out to Tim Pickup.
7. Michael Morgan (goal-kicker) – 12 Tests. Dally M Halfback of the Year 2017. Missed out to Chris McKivat.
8. Rex Mossop – 12 Tests. ‘Moose’ missed out to Mick Madsen and Nate Myles.
9. Royce Simmons (captain) – 10 Tests. Dally M Hooker of the Year 1994. Missed out to Cameron Smith.
10. Jason Stevens – 18 Tests. Missed out to John Sattler and Ray Stehr.
11. John Cartwright – 7 Tests. Dally M Second-rower of the Year 1991 and 1992. Missed out to Arthur Clues and Bradley Clyde.
12. Dud Beattie – 15 Tests. Missed out to Frank Burge and Harry Bath.
13. Greg Pierce – 8 Tests. Cronulla Team of the Half Century. Missed out to Wally Prigg.
14. Brad MacKay – 12 Tests. Lock. Clive Churchill Medal 1993. Missed out to Steve Menzies.
15. Darius Boyd – 23 Tests. Dally M Fullback of the Year 2010. Missed out to Keith Barnes.
16. Bob Craig – 7 Tests. Lock. NSW Sports Hall of Fame. Champion swimmer, represented NSW in soccer and Australia in rugby union. Missed out to Ron Coote.
17. Rod Morris – 15 Tests. Prop. Missed out to Mick Madsen and Nate Myles.
And there you have the Best of the Rest teams. Will they be competitive against others in the Alphabet Cup? I’ll let you know very soon.
And who was still unlucky, even now after 26 teams have been selected?
Try Brad Thorn, Anthony Watmough, Kerrod Walters, Shaun Timmins, Mark Carroll, Andrew Ryan, Peter Tunks, Jake and Tommy Trbojevic, Karmichael Hunt, Dennis Ward, Kevin Ward, Brett Stewart, Eric Simms, Steve Simpson, Johnny Peard, Paul McGregor, Josh McGuire, Adam MacDougall, Josh Morris, Jimmy Lisle, Matthew Johns, Cliff Watson, Tommy Bishop, Terry Fahey, Terry Hill, Josh Hodgson, Johnny Hunter, Mark Harris, Geoff Gerard, Dane Gagai, Trevor Gillmeister, Kieran Foran, Blake Ferguson, Israel Folau, Daly Cherry-Evans, Damien Cook, Michael Cleary, Martin Bella, Matty Bowen, Shaun Berrigan, Willie Carne and Luke Bailey.
Most unlucky? Everyone will have their opinion, but for me it’s the fullbacks Matty ‘Mango’ Bowen and Brett ‘Snake’ Stewart. They could do things on the field that others could only dream of.
Next time: the coaches.
matth
Roar Guru
He was a gun no doubt. Very unlucky not just with injuries but with the timing of when he got them.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Even with his injuries and other problems I can't think of another player in the game who has created and scored more tries than Brett Stewart. I'm not sure who comes second if I'm correct.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Good on you. Thanks.
matth
Roar Guru
He is totally the fullback for the E Team and is one of their top three players https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/03/19/rugby-league-history-the-all-time-great-alphabet-teams-letter-e/
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I can’t remember whether you mentioned Wombat Eadie at fullback.
matth
Roar Guru
Close but not quite … there is an R coach who won four premierships in five years. And he was enough of a leader to captain his club side ahead of the Australian captain and arguably greatest player of all time.
Aussie D
Guest
My guess would be Could and Glossop assistants to one Jack Gibson, so it would be down to Ron Willey or Warren Ryan. At a guess I would say Warren Ryan as I can't think of any other standout contenders for the R team.
matth
Roar Guru
And add Tuqiri to that. I agree with your sentiment and none of these guys missed out to any modern players, except Hancock to Valentine Holmes, and I’m pretty conflicted about that. Each of the players you mentioned were in very strong letter teams and missed out to players in the Hall of Fame. But they are all unlucky, especially Matt Bowen, where I picked Belcher, Brasher and Mullins Agra’s of him in these sides , but he was desperately close.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Thanks for replying, Matth. Like others, looking forward to the Coaches.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Mango and Carne would be some of the first players I would pick personally from who I have seen. Badge was of the highest quality, same with Brasher and Mullins. The 80's 90's had some amazing outside backs. I can't think of a single winger in the last 20 years that I would clearly put above Carne, Handcock and Sailor.
matth
Roar Guru
They all at least get a job, but only one of the four get a head coaching position.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
I'm just 'spit-balling' here matth but I think Ron Willey, Ted Glossop, Warren Ryan, and Phil Gould would have to be in the coaches/assistants section! (....the fact that they have an association with the mighty Canterbury-Bankstown has nothing to do with it!) :)
matth
Roar Guru
Coaches should be out tomorrow or Monday
matth
Roar Guru
Each letter gets a coach and two assistants (where there are enough coaches to choose from), so yes some teams get a leg up and the B’s are an obvious one. They have 5 or 6 all time great coaches to choose from.
matth
Roar Guru
Yep I thought about it but once I decided to do two teams I didn’t have the space. If you go to Rugby League Project and search their name you’ll get a season by season list of all games they played, at least in rep footy and the NSWRL/ARL/NRL.
matth
Roar Guru
He was in the bench for the M Team so was not eligible here. These are players who missed out entirely. FYI Steve Mortimer was my favourite childhood player.
Matt
Guest
Coaches will be interesting. I think the B's might get a leg up with a staff of Bellamy and Bennett.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Thanks Matth. Always wanting more - I would have liked the years they played & their clubs listed, as in the 1st teams. Great series - truely appreciated.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Still no Steve Mortimer? Hand in your Bulldogs membership.