Rugby league rookie cup: The class of 1995

With four new teams in the comp and the Super League War breaking, first-grade debuts were handed out as easily in 1995 as sin-binnings are these days.

And this team of ’95 debutants is an apt reflection of the lopsided 20-team premiership, with huge gaps in quality, and plenty of fresh faces from the four new clubs: the Warriors, Cowboys, Crushers and Reds.

Although 1995 represents the year rugby union turned professional, a stack of debutants crossed over from the 15-man code — enough to fill this team’s entire bench, in fact.

But let’s kick off with the most famous graduate from this rookie class.

Fullback: Darren Lockyer (captain)
Cameron Smith is the only player in the modern era to compile a CV that rivals Darren Lockyer’s accolade-littered career, which began at the Broncos in 1995. Two excellent halves mean Lockyer is best used at the back in this team.

Wingers: Mat Rogers and Nathan Blacklock
As the 13-man game welcomed an influx of union converts, this duo of eventual defectors also began their points-packed league careers. Mat Rogers followed his legendary dad Steve into the Sharks’ colours and Nathan Blacklock got his start at the Roosters before excelling at the Dragons.

Centres: Adam MacDougall and Ben Ikin
Who knew that Adam MacDougall also made his top-grade bow at the Chooks before moving to Newcastle? He’s joined here by Gold Coast’s Ben Ikin — the embodiment of ‘Fatty’s Nevilles’, who sprung that unlikely upset in the epic ’95 Origin series. Ikin had played just four games for the Seagulls before lining up for the Maroons in Game 1.

Gold Coast teammate Stuart Kelly, Newcastle livewire Owen Craigie and Cowboys stalwart Paul Bowman are all unlucky to miss.

Ben Ikin (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

Five-eighth: Stacey Jones
Two great halfbacks debuted in 1995: Stacey Jones and Brett Kimmorley, and their accomplishments speak for themselves. The Kiwi great’s 12 first-grade appearances at five-eighth qualify him to wear the number six in this side.

Halfback: Brett Kimmorley
Coming through just behind Andrew Johns at Newcastle, Brett Kimmorley is the Stuart MacGill of rugby league. But Kimmorley flourished when he escaped Johns’ shadow, and even kept ‘Joey’ out of the sky-blue number seven in NSW’s dominant 2000 series, despite the Knights great collecting back-to-back Dally Ms the two seasons prior.

Props: Shane Webcke and Craig Smith
Brisbane’s Shane Webcke picks himself, while Kiwi enforcer Craig Smith — he of knee-lifting infamy — completes the front row. The Rabbitohs rookie was one of 17 debutants for South Sydney in 1995 — more than all four expansion clubs, incredibly.

Hooker: Syd Eru
The Warriors’ 18-Test Kiwi Syd Eru edges Sharks stalwart Dean Treister to the number nine jersey.

Second row: Tony Grimaldi and Lance Thompson
Tony Grimaldi — who played a single game for St George before converting into a Canterbury clubman — joins Red V teammate Lance Thompson in a backrow bigger on heart than rep-level quality.

Lock: Travis Norton
Travis Norton grew into the most successful of South Queensland’s 13 first-gamers, tallying 207 games at the Crushers, Bulldogs and Cowboys, as well as four Origins in maroon.

Bench: John Kirwan, John Timu, Peter Jorgensen, Darren Junee
It’s a little cheeky to select four accomplished rugby union internationals on the interchange bench of a so-called rookie team, but what would a representative rugby league side be without controversial eligibility criteria?

All Blacks John Kirwan (Auckland) and John Timu (Canterbury), plus Wallabies Peter Jorgensen and Darren Junee (both Sydney City), make up a decorated bench. Crushers giant and ex-Wallaby Garrick Morgan would have been a useful addition, if he’d enjoyed a smoother code hop.

Coach: Tommy Raudonikis
Stock up on the Winnie Reds and fill the fridge with Resch’s, Tom Terrific has commandeered the clipboard. The Wests coach will love having two world-class halfbacks at his disposal, as well as a fullback with an even raspier voice than he has.

Verdict
If this team contested a league-union hybrid game, they’d wipe most sides off the park. But this imaginary contest is being played under league rules, leaving a world-beating backline paired with a workman-like backrow.

That said, any side containing Lockyer, Jones and Kimmorley will win more games than they lose, so expect to see the class of ’95 deep in September.

Next cab off the rank is 1996 — a world-class team in every sense.