I want to somehow discover who the greatest playmaker in both codes are and today’s flavour is the NRL.
A playmaker for this article’s purpose is anyone who wore the 6 or 7 jerseys (although some could argue there is a skinny accountant-looking bloke who wears 9 in Melbourne that could enter this discussion).
I will present six names and let the comments decide who is the ultimate playmaker in the history of the NRL.
In no particular order, the nominees are:
Allan Langer
Alfie has a strong case for being the best player in the entire decade of the 1990s.
Impossible to contain, Langer’s tricky footwork, strong kicking game and his knack for reading the game put him ahead of many of his competitors.
A multiple premiership-winner, Clive Churchill medal winner, Dally M Medal winner, and an all-round legend, Alfie’s reputation speaks for itself.
Andrew Johns
The 8th immortal is arguably the best halfback to ever play, doing things others could only dream of.
As outrageously skilled as he was with his kicking, passing, vision, and attacking prowess, his strength was definitely his defence. One of the best defensive 7s ever, Joey pushed his way to many honours, such as three Dally M Medals, multiple premierships, a Clive Churchill Medal, and a brace of Golden Boot awards.
Known for his antics off the field as well, when it was time to turn it on, Joey was always ready to win!
Andrew Johns (Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Darren Lockyer
Starting his career at fullback, then making the transition to five-eighth in 2004, Lockyer possessed one of the greatest skillsets in NRL history.
He amassed a huge 355 first grade games, 36 Origins, and a whopping 59 Test matches.
Lockyer’s calm nature oozed class into whichever side he played in, and he commanded respect and led from the front. The ultimate match winner!
Johnathan Thurston
The scrawny kid from Sunnybank in Queensland left the Bulldogs to pursue an opportunity in North Queensland and never looked back.
He had supreme vision, loved his signature show and go, was a great attacking kicker, and just an all around competitor.
JT’s highlight will forever be winning the 2015 grand final – the Cowboys’ maiden premiership. He has done it all, multiple premierships, a record four Dally M medals, multiple Golden Boot Awards, and a Clivey to go with it.
Will be a future Immortal, no doubt.
Peter Sterling
One of the best minds when it comes to rugby league, Sterlo was a whiz in the blue and gold.
An outstanding organiser and a sharp playmaker, Sterlo blossomed under Jack Gibson when he arrived at Parramatta. Hampered by injury, Sterlo still managed two premierships, two Dally M Medals, and is the inaugural Clive Churchill medal winner.
Wally Lewis
It is pretty hard to discount a bloke they call ‘The King’.
Tough, robust, competitive and a visionary of the game, Lewis could do it all. He has already been named by many as the greatest to ever play.
Arguably the greatest Origin player of all time, the King was absolutely fearless, and his attacking prowess would win games on the regular for whomever he was playing.
My honourable mentions are Cooper Cronk, Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Brad Fittler, Brett Kenny and Terry Lamb.
But as for the six in the conversation, who is the greatest of all?
3 R M
Guest
Wally with hair well most of it.. thinning at 22 .exploding through thick defensive traffic with the show and GO on the fifth on his own twenty then a few sets later steps into the forwards and scores on the opposite side from 30 out i always say how good he was but you forget how really good he could be.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Fair enough... I’m all ears if someone wants to say Kenny is a better player than Lewis. I’d disagree but I’d love to hear the rationale It’s just objectively untrue that Kenny DOMINATED Lewis at Origin and as far as I can tell, it’s based on nothing more than the teams’ win/loss record I’ve never heard anyone put a case forward other than NSW 8, Qld 4...
Morshead
Roar Rookie
Peter Sterling?
Morshead
Roar Rookie
thanks Mushi. perhaps a clumsy attempt but was trying to make that point.
Morshead
Roar Rookie
Definitely subjective but both views hold equal merit.
Morshead
Roar Rookie
Hard to argue.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Kenny was a great player and NSW had a far better W/L record with Kenny v Lewis at 6 but the idea that was because Kenny dominated Lewis is a myth based solely on that W/L record...
The Barry
Roar Guru
You’re arguing something different to what I’m saying. I’m not saying that Kenny wasn’t a great player. I don’t argue that Queenslanders didn’t want Kenny in the side at 6 I’m saying the idea Kenny DOMINATED Lewis at Origin is a myth These are the games they played head to head at 6: Game 3 1982. Series decider. Qld won. Lewis MOM Game 2 1983. NSW won Game 3 1983. Series decider. Qld won. Lewis MOM Game 3 1984. Dead rubber. NSW won Game 1 1985. NSW won Game 2 1985. NSW won. Lewis MOM Game 3 1985. Dead Rubber. Qld won Game 1 1986 NSW won Game 2 1986 NSW won Game 3 1986. Dead Rubber. Kenny MOM 1987 Game 1. NSW won 1987 Game 2. Qld won
Graeme Docker
Roar Rookie
Cliff Lyons was better than all of them, his sleight of hand was unparalleled. Thurston 2nd. But i've only seen 80's onwards.
Rellum
Roar Guru
You know who Brett Kenny said was the best player at the time? hint, you wont like the answer.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Although I'm a Manly fan , Kenny is my favorite player. I believe he lives close by us on the Central Coast now.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Very compelling argument 40:20.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Digital disruption Mr Pickett, digital disruption.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
It does beg the question Nat, has all the fun/spontaneity been programmed out of them. In sports in general, why are there so many older sportsmen competing at such high levels? Tom Brady Fed, Dokevic, Nadal Kelly Slater Cameron Smith Improvement in sport science, medicine, dieting may be a reason for increasing longevity. Could it also be that pre-iphone athletes could play/compete what's in front of them? That they could just improvise with the wind in their hair, relying on instincts borne from playing footy with your older brothers/friends in the backyard while trying to avoid bindis, concrete grazes and trees etc - a slowly dying phenomena...
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Haha Discounts at specsavers for rose-coloured glasses.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Brett Kenny won 8 of 12 games opposed to the King at SOO level , a fairly well known stat but how did NSW go without Kenny at 5/8 ? Seven other players had a crack and played in 19 games ( excluding the 87 exhibition game) and they won 3 games. Three different Manly players won a game each Alan Thompson 1 from 5 , Cliff Lyons 1 from 5 and Hasler 1 from 2 . The rest were Lamb 0 from 5 , Chris Mortimer 0 from 1 , Brad Mackay 0 from 1 and Fittler 0 from 1 . Kenny also put a very strong Manly side to the sword in a couple of GF's and did the same to the Jets. The Poms couldn't handle him either. Probably the best try scoring strike rate of any player in Grand Finals. His record at 5/8 across all levels in the 80's is compelling.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Mark Ella? Ella is so old, last century old – you should have gone to Specsavers! He is back in the past with John Brass, Jim Lisle, Brian Clay (8 straight grand final wins, fed the ball to Gasnier – probably knew something useful), John Ballesty, some bloke named Fulton … all so ancient and unworthy! :laughing:
mushi
Roar Guru
Did Wally say Kenny was better than Wally?
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Really? I thought he had a shocker whilst watching from home so that’s a great example. I’m surprised Souths think so much more Mitchell than him, they actually played better with Allan at fullback. Reminds me of an Origin I went to in Sydney some years back, I think Belly was coaching; Ryan Hoffman and Matt Cooper were the two best players for NSW with all the work they did yet were hardly mentioned
the latte kid
Guest
It's actually not a myth. These are real stats. The QLD players have said this themselves - Wally, Gene Miles, Greg Dowling and Paul Vautin. They all loved it when Kenny was at centre where NSW did not win a single game when he was in that position. I think watching the games actually backs up the comments made by the QLD players who played against Kenny. By the same token there are QLD players like Gene Miles and Dale Shearer who do not get the recognition they deserve.