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Back in 2000, the Daily Telegraph published ‘100 years of Rugby League’ throughout weekly newspaper articles, and then condensed it into an excellent book. The title was misleading as rugby league had only existed in Australia for 92 years, but the Murdoch press has never been a slave to attention to detail.
Nevertheless, it remains one of my favourite books. It included the news headlines of each decade, the best matches, clubs, teams of each decade, how each NRL club began its life, and player position physique comparisons 70-80 years apart. It was very well put together, including the 100 best players of the century as well as the greatest Kangaroos XIII until that time.
The best Kangaroos team up until 2000 according to the Daily Telegraph (their ranking in brackets):
Clive Churchill (1), Harold Horder (12), Reg Gasnier (3), Graeme Langlands (2), Ken Irvine (10), Wally Lewis (6), Peter Sterling (14), Duncan Hall (26), Ian Walsh (25), Arthur Beetson (18), Norm Provan (32), Frank Burge (16), Johnny Raper (5).
Wally Lewis and Artie Beetson. (AAP Image/Gillian Ballard)
Other players in the top 20 to miss selection were: Dally Messenger (4), Bobby Fulton (7), Vic Hey (8), Dave Brown (9), Brian Carlson (11), Brian Bevan (13), Mal Meninga (15), Wally Prigg (17), Duncan Thompson (19) & Ron Coote (20).
Brad Fittler, then a decade into his career, was ranked at #24, while Andrew Johns, only half a dozen years into his career, was ranked lowly at #82.
In 2003, Big League magazine came up with something entirely different and refreshing. They chose an ultimate Kangaroos touring team of 28 players, consisting of 15 backs and 13 forwards.
The backs were: Clive Churchill, Harold Horder, Reg Gasnier, Mal Meninga, Ken Irvine, Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns, Graeme Langlands, Eric Grothe, Dave Brown, Dally Messenger, Brian Carlson, Bobby Fulton, Peter Sterling & Darren Lockyer.
The forwards were: Duncan Hall, Ian Walsh, Arthur Beetson, Norm Provan, Ron Coote, Johnny Raper, Noel Kelly, Steve Walters, Ray Stehr, Bob McCarthy, Frank Burge, Wally Prigg & George Treweek.
Our final look-back brings us to 2008 when Australian rugby league celebrated its centenary by selecting its Kangaroos, New South Wales & Queensland Teams of the Century (TOTC).
The Australian team was: Clive Churchill, Ken Irvine, Reg Gasnier, Mal Meninga, Brian Bevan, Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns, Duncan Hall, Noel Kelly, Arthur Beetson, Norm Provan, Ron Coote, Johnny Raper. Bench: Dally Messenger, Graeme Langlands, Bobby Fulton, Frank Burge.
Reg Gasnier (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Already we can see some changes in thinking. Kelly is now regarded as a hooker, while Meninga, Johns & Coote have been elevated into the top team. Burge is an excellent forward reserve, covering prop, second row, and lock, having played each position extensively.
I have no idea why Bevan was chosen. Although a great player, he spent almost his entire career in England and never represented the Kangaroos.
NSW TOTC: Clive Churchill, Ken Irvine, Reg Gasnier, Graeme Langlands, Dally Messenger, Bobby Fulton, Andrew Johns, Frank Burge, Sandy Pearce, Glenn Lazarus, Norm Provan, Ron Coote, Johnny Raper. Bench: Dave Brown, Steve Rogers, Wally Prigg, Roy Bull.
Again we see changes in thinking. Pearce, Lazarus, and Bull have been elevated into the top NSW team at the expense of Walsh and Stehr, who made the Ultimate Kangaroos just five years previously.
Queensland TOTC: Darren Lockyer, Denis Flannery, Mal Meninga, Tom Gorman, Cec Aynsley, Wally Lewis, Allan Langer, Duncan Hall, Noel Kelly, Mick Madsen, Arthur Beetson, Brian Davies, Bob Lindner. Bench: Jimmy Craig, Gene Miles, Duncan Thompson, Herb Steinohrt.
Queensland of course, do things their own way. Especially by choosing two wingers, Flannery and Aynsley, that those south of the border hadn’t given any credence to whatsoever. Reading their bios, they both deserve their places.
Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston, despite being around already for nearly six years, obviously hadn’t hit their straps yet.
This brings us to the present. Using the 2008 Kangaroos TOTC as our guide post, what personnel changes would we make to bring the team up to date? That is, up til 2022?
The two players I just mentioned, Smith and Thurston, would come into the starting XIII for Kelly and Johns. I would also replace Bevan with Messenger, the former having never represented the Kangaroos. Also, after much thought, I would bring Dave Brown in for Meninga.
Thurston and Smith( AAP Image/Darren England)
No position has changed as much as hooker. However, we need to take on trust that Smith is such a talented individual that if he had to learn the basics of scrummaging & striking for the ball, he would be able to do it as well as the best. As for preferring Thurston over Johns and Brown over Meninga, it’s like arguing over several strands of hair.
So this is the Kangaroos Team of the Century, brought up to date in 2022: Clive Churchill (c-NSW), Ken Irvine (NSW), Reg Gasnier (NSW), Dave Brown (NSW), Dally Messenger (NSW), Wally Lewis (Qld), Johnathan Thurston (Qld), Duncan Hall (Qld), Cameron Smith (Qld), Arthur Beetson (vc-Qld), Norm Provan (NSW), Ron Coote (NSW), Johnny Raper (NSW).
This is the second XIII TOTC: Billy Slater (Qld), Harold Horder (NSW), Mal Meninga (Qld), Graeme Langlands (c-NSW), Greg Inglis (Qld), Bobby Fulton (NSW), Andrew Johns (NSW), Ray Stehr (NSW), Noel Kelly (vc-Qld), Glenn Lazarus (NSW), Bobby McCarthy (NSW), Frank Burge (NSW), Wally Prigg (NSW).
A 3rd XIII would be generously laden with Queenslanders: Darren Lockyer (c-Qld), Denis Flannery (Qld), Mick Cronin (NSW), Steve Rogers (NSW), Brian Carlson (NSW), Vic Hey (NSW), Allan Langer (Qld), Herb Steinohrt (Qld), Sandy Pearce (vc-NSW), Mick Madsen (Qld), Brian Davies (Qld), George Treweek (NSW), Bob Lindner (Qld).
I’ve tried to be as honest as possible with these selections. While comprehensive, they are by no means definitive, but it’s been fun. The only diety who knows for sure is God, but he, she, it, or forever interchangeable, isn’t telling!
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