This is the eighth and final article in a series naming each club’s best team of loyal stalwarts. Not necessarily just one-club players, but those who turned out for the club over a long period and helped build its success and culture.
Today, I look at the Canterbury Bulldogs, one of the greatest clubs of all time, and the Gold Coast Titans, the competition’s newest club.
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs entered the competition in 1935, have won eight premierships from their 18 grand final appearances, and have finished minor premiers on seven occasions.
Some 819 players have worn the famous blue and white since day one, with one of those players notching up over 300 games, 12 with 200 games or more, and 64 who have played over 100 games for the club.
The following team of stalwarts is selected from those players with 160 or more games.
1. Luke Patten – 225 games
He was an outstanding fullback, both in attack and defence, and a key member of their 2004 premiership-winning team.
2. Hazem El Mazri – 317 games
He holds the Bulldogs’ records for most games, most tries and the most points scored. He is a one-club Bulldogs legend in every respect, and the greatest goal kicker of all time. He was a premiership winner in 2004.
3. Andrew Farrar – 186 games
He was an uncompromising competitor who combined powerful running with rock-hard defence. He twice won premierships with the Bulldogs.
4. Josh Morris – 217 games
He was one of the best all-round centres of the modern game, who scored over 100 tries for the Bulldogs.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
5. Chris Anderson – 230 games
He was small by today’s standards, but a winger with great speed and positional sense. He was a Bulldogs favourite who completed the rare double of winning a premiership with the club in 1980 as a player, and then as a coach in 1995.
6. Terry Lamb – 262 games
A prolific point scorer and possibly the greatest support player ever, Terry Lamb won two premierships with the Bulldogs.
7. Steve Mortimer – 273 games
He was the Bulldogs’ favourite son and a legend who embodies everything good about the club. Mortimer spent 13 years at Belmore, and won three premierships, two as captain.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
8. Eddie Burns – 215 games
He spent 16 years in the Canterbury front row, an incredible performance in an era when a rugby league front row was a battle ground. Burns was a one-club legend who made his first grade debut as a 19-year-old in Round 3 of the club’s inaugural season in 1935, a game in which he was sent off, and was part of their premiership-winning teams of 1938 and 1942.
9. Fred Anderson – 197 games
He was one of the best hookers of his era when winning the ball in the contested scrums was vital to a team’s success.
10. Steve Price – 222 games
He was one of the best front rowers to go around during the 1990s and he won a premiership with the club in 1995. He captained the team in their victorious 2004 season, but missed the grand final through injury. Bulldogs bench player, Johnathan Thurston, gave his premiership ring to Price after the match.
11. Steve Folkes – 245 games
He was a club legend and four-time Bulldogs premiership winner as a player and once as a coach. Folkes wasn’t the biggest back rower going around but he was certainly one of the most feared defenders.
12. Andrew Ryan – 218 games
He was a hard-working and relentless forward who was one of the best in the game in the 2000s. He captained the team in their 2004 grand final win.
13. Josh Jackson – 218 games, and counting
He is a big-hearted player and inspirational current club captain who just never gives up.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
14. Corey Hughes – 213 games
He was a versatile player who could play dummy half, second row and in the halves. He won a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2004.
15. Bill Noonan – 161 games
He was a no-nonsense and extremely fit front rower who never took a backward step.
16. Darren Britt – 168 games
He was big, tough and almost the complete package for a front rower. He was part of the Bulldogs’ premiership-winning team in 1995 and a long-time club captain.
17. Darren Smith – 185 games
A versatile player equally at home either in the centres or the back row, Smith was a fine attacking player and a prolific try scorer.
Some notable players who were omitted were work-horse Aiden Tolman, tough centre Chris Mortimer, halves Craig Polla-Mounter and Brent Sherwin, and the Hughes boys, Mark, Gary and Glen.
Gold Coast Titans
Just a young club when compared to the Bulldogs, the Titans only joined the NRL in 2007, and are yet to win a premiership.
Since day one, 168 players have represented the club, with 17 notching up more than 100 games. The following team of Titans stalwarts is selected from players with more than 70 games for the club.
1. Preston Campbell – 103 games
He was a freakish and versatile player who was probably at the wrong end of his career when he arrived at the Titans as a 30-year-old, but was still capable of the extraordinary. He was part of their inaugural team and a fan favourite.
2. Anthony Don – 152 games
He was a top-class winger and prolific try scorer who was a club legend during his nine-year stint with the Titans. He holds the record for the most tries scored for the club.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
3. Luke O’Dwyer – 102 games
Equally at home in either the centres or the back row, O’Dwyer was a strong performer for the Titans in his seven-year stint with the club.
4. Mat Rogers – 77 games
He was a classy outside back and a member of their inaugural team who made the move to the Gold Coast after an outstanding five-year stint in rugby union.
5. David Mead – 147 games
He was a deceptively quick outside back and a prolific try scorer who began his career with the Titans in 2009 and is still going strong today.
6. Greg Bird – 129 games
He was a polarising and sometimes controversial figure who was one of the best and hardest players in the game during his career. He performed at his best when wearing either a NSW or an Australian jersey.
7. Scott Prince – 124 games
An outstanding player and prolific point scorer, Prince was there on day one for the Titans and led them for the six years he was with the club. He holds the record for most points scored for the Titans.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
8. Ryan James – 144 games
A strong front rower with a happy knack for scoring tries, James put his body on the line for the Titans for ten seasons.
9. Nathan Friend – 121 games
A clever hooker, Friend played the best football of his long career while at the Titans, and played off the bench in their inaugural team.
10. Luke Douglas – 117 games
Douglas was a big unit and an iron man, notching up his 117 games for the Titans in just four seasons. Always a hard worker, he gave great service to the Gold Coast.
11. Mark Minichiello – 173 games
He was a hard-working second rower and Titans legend who was part of their inaugural team and still holds the record for most games for the club.
12. Kevin Proctor – 94 games, and counting
He is a big, rangy, international second rower who has been one of the club’s best over the last few seasons.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
13. Ashley Harrison – 117 games
He was a top-class lock forward, and one of the best players ever to wear a Titans jersey, who was underrated throughout his career and unlucky to never win an Australian jersey.
14. Nathan Peats – 70 games
He was a top-class hooker when he went to the Titans and was renowned for his tough defence. He just needed that extra yard of pace to go to the next level.
15. Brad Myers – 75 games
A big and mobile forward, Myers struggled with injuries at times, but when injury free, was one of the Titans’ best performers.
16. Nate Myles – 75 games
Although prone to the odd negative headline, Myles was a tough and relentless forward who got the job done, and was a Queensland Origin favourite.
17. Matthew White – 125 games
A big unit, White based his game on consistency and getting through the tough stuff for his team.
Some of the other Titans players with 70-plus games for the Titans who were not named in this side include speedy fullback William Zillman, the enigmatic Ashley Taylor, current big boppers Jarrod Wallace and Moe Fotuaika, and goal-kicking ace Kevin Gordon.
How would these teams fare in a fantasy match-up? It is not a fair contest really, given the Bulldogs’ greater time in the big league and greater talent pool to draw on. The Dogs win, simple as that.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
And some opt not to read the story at all but rather jump straight to the comments section instead... of course, I never do that with your stories, Tony. :silly:
Tony
Roar Guru
Thanks. Some people can't read, while others read but can't comprehend.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I'll answer for Tony (as I too made the same mistake)... "The following team of stalwarts is selected from those players with 160 or more games." The criteria was 160 gamed of more for the Bulldogs/Berries. Garry Dowling played 113 games (1971–1978) for the Bulldogs, while Les Johns played 103 games (1963–1971) for the Bulldogs (Berries).
Moyno
Roar Rookie
Why has the great Bulldog Les Johns been overlooked as fullback, or the very durable Gary Dowling? Both gave sterling service to this club.Luke Patten wouldn't hold a candle to either of these! Also missing in action is George Taylforth a club stalwart in the 60s and champion goalkicker like 1990s star Hasem el Masri. Can't believe the no of omissions from the stalwart list!!
Tony
Roar Guru
Gotta read the fine print mate
Michael_1984
Roar Rookie
The Gold Coast spine actually seems to be almost as good as The Canterbury spine - I probably would still go with the Canterbury spine but I don't think Gold Coast's spine is too far behind. However, in the other areas, Canterbury appears to have a greater advantage, and I can't see Gold Coast causing an upset - Canterbury to win the game, although the scoreline would, surprisingly, likely be a little closer than what one may first think.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"The following team of stalwarts is selected from those players with 160 or more games." Oops! I must have missed that line. :happy: Although Mason with 148 games and Graham with 135 games for the Bulldogs were not a long way off.
Tony
Roar Guru
Unfortunately, that motley crew didn't pass the 160 game cut off for this team
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Just hearing the name Bill Noonan brought back memories of the good old days or Rugby League.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Ah, the Bulldogs no. 3 & no. 6. the Crunch Brothers that won the Dogs the 1988 GF by taking Balmain's Ellery Hanley out of the game with an illegal hit that was never penalised even though Hanley copped the greatest high dog shot since Sea Eagles prop John Bucknall broke John Sattler's jaw in the 1970 GF. Hanley had to be carried off the field. In today's game both players would have been sent off and suspended for 8 weeks! The 3rd Crunch Brother is missing though, James Graham. Despite his best efforts to headbutt Sam Burgess and half the Rabbitohs team in the 2014 GF I guess the loss ultimately consigned Graham to Bulldogs oblivion. And what about Big Willy, Tony? Did you really need to Free Willy from this list? More importantly, what about David "Cement" Gillespie? I thought he would have been given a jersey as a bench replacement at the very least? Or do you need all your fingers intact to qualify for this honour? :silly:
kk
Roar Pro
Tony, I would sleep, contentedly...dreaming of bigger things to come.
Tony
Roar Guru
Or Lazy Davy
Tom G
Roar Rookie
A formidable line up for the dogs. I may have found a spot for Cement Gillespie but pretty hard to say who he’d replace. The Titans line up to me illustrates their main problem, whilst a decent line up, not many of those players were at their best when they played there. They seem to get the superannuation players looking for one last hurrah before they cash in
Tony
Roar Guru
Agree 100% with those comments KK. Wouldn't you like to see those 5 players lined up for your club.
kk
Roar Pro
Tony, Would love to see another Andrew Ryan or Darren Britt knock on Gus's door, accompanied by a young Terry Lamb. Titan wise, Ashley Harrison and Mark Minichiello were two of the best value for money players ever to lace up.
Tony
Roar Guru
Thanks HY. That's a real shame about Noonan. Great player and as tough as teak. His health issues seem to be shared by so many league players these days.
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes mate, there's a heap of them spread right across the teams. Might be worth investigating some time in the future. Eddie Burns must have been something to see to survive that long, that's for sure.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Excellent selection. So many good players for the Dogs. Bill Noonan is still alive I think, but sadly I understand that he became bewildered a few years ago and is in a nursing home. Matt Rodgers. Like so many of the individually brilliant players we see in struggling clubs ( RTS at the Warriors comes immediately to mind), we can only imagine what might have been. Sentimentally, I would have liked to see him play for the Sharks like his old man of course. But, bills to pay and kids to feed; you have to go where the money is. Great curation of players -another outstanding series.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
Wow, that Eddie Burns must have been a Trojan. One of the challenges in comparing players from 60 plus years ago to modern players is the 160 game cut off level. There was only ten teams (average) in the NSWRL comp until 1967, fewer opportunities for games. Players needed full time jobs to make a living and retirement at 26 years of age wasn’t unusual. Medical procedures on joints has come a long way and a ACL rupture was often career ending until the 1980s. All the players listed in this article deserve their place but I wonder about those forgotten old timers who never had the opportunity to reach the 160 game mark.
Tony
Roar Guru
Thanks Tim.