Roar Guru
Joined February 2019
21.3k
Views
23
Published
448
Comments
Life Long Brisbane Rugby League supporter, first Redcliffe and now Broncos. also a mad cricket follower and casual everything else follower.
Published
Comments
Continuing our list of teams to contest the Alphabet Cup, we head to the I team.
Continuing our list of the great alphabet team, we now have the H Team. There is some tremendous try-scoring power here orchestrated by two smart halves – if the forwards, led by one of the toughest, can hold their own.
Following the F Team, our attention now moves to the G Team.
For the next instalment in my series on the Mythical Alphabet Cup we visit the F Team.
Of all the all-time great alphabet team, Team D was a surprisingly hard to fill, but with a creative backline full of five-eighths and with a tough pack, they might cause some problems.
What could possibly follow an act like the ridiculously strong B Team?
Following on from last time – The A Team were an entrée, we now move onto the main course – the B Team.
It’s hard to win a flag without a standout halfback to control the game and deliver on the coach’s plans.
Having set the ground rules for team selection in my earlier article, here are the representatives for the ‘A’ team.
As most of you who have spent any time on the internet know, we all love a good list. And as the precious few of you who have read any of my articles know, I love delving into a bit of rugby league History.
In the last three years Matthew Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft, Aaron Finch and now Marcus Harris have all made their debuts at the top of the order for Australia, all in an era when our top six has been in relative flux and batting collapses have become more common.
Boy that Day five in the first test was a beauty! No one other than fans of test cricket can understand how exciting it can be when to the outside observer absolutely nothing is happening.
During last week’s test match Joseph Manu set up one of the great tries with a ridiculous one-handed, held up, double pump, outside to inside pass.
Sack the linesman, sack the ref, blow up the Bunker, fire the CEO, disband the Commission, and even – heaven forbid – let Phil Gould run everything.
Queensland put in a might performance in an Origin classic on Wednesday, but it won’t stop the next Australian team being dominated by the new generation Blues.
With the retirement of Billy Slater at the end of a losing Origin series, it’s time to acknowledge the end of an era.
I recently had the good fortune to stumble across an Origin ‘Classic’ from the early 90s. As I watched I realised that NSW at the time had one heck of a side.
Following on from last time, where we looked at the ultimate rugby league exponents of the running and passing game, this time we look at kicking, game management, defence and general.
And he said it when they’ve won the game, so he couldn’t be accused of sour grapes.
Bennett: Ruck speed has become the worst it has ever been
Inglis was super wherever he played but in this team he can have most influence at fullback. I actually had some centre’s to choose from
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
Good one, funny ‘cause it’s true
Disappointment continues as Storm’s forecasted decline nears decade without fruition
Hi Larry, I don’t remember coming across him I confess.
Wests Brisbane has a handy side in the mid 70’s I believe. I think one of that team actually make an alphabet side further on.
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
Maybe so. It’s amazing he scored all those tries playing for a weaker side. Imagine if he had played for St George or Souths.
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
I think numbers 1 to 6 are more than handy, but their forwards are very light on.
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
Big call Stevo. Before my time so I’ll have to take your word for it.
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
Probably should have given him an honorable mention, although I tend to save it for rep players who miss out
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
By the way my lists so far to allow easy comparison is stuck in editing at the moment but I expect it will be released soon
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
I’d also say that no one ever measured a guy like Larry Corowa over 100 metres.
I think there are a couple of reasons for our sprinting stocks dropping away.
1. In the amateur world you could be a sprinter and play some football. These days you pretty much decide at 14 and specialise.
2. There is so much more money to be made in the football codes, our best natural athletes don’t necessarily do athletics. You’d have to be one hell of a sprinter to get rich in Australia. And there would only be one at a time.
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
I loved the way Jason Smith played. The whole game slowed around him.
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
Yep that’s true. Can’t say I had any posters of the Ives brothers on my wall.
Funnily enough most of the others are of fairly recent vintage. Made it easier.
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
Which centre do you drop? Idris to provide bench impact?
Inskip had some good years at Wynnum, but GI will have more influence from fullback maybe and you want your best player heavily involved.
As for the halves, Ikin played a bit of 7 but really they are both five eighths so I’d be happy either way. I made Izzard 6 simply because he was the better runner of the ball (and better player I believe), so I just did his write up first!
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
Simply put wingers now are not built for out and out speed. They need bulk to bend the line from kick returns and to hold their line when going for the corner. There are still some speedsters of course but not to that level.
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
The Iro’s were personality players too, as was Izzard for that matter. In fact this side has a lot of charisma. GI, Idris, Inu on the bench, and of course the fastest of them all.
There is nearly 400 club career tries in their first two names.
I doubt David Lord will be reading my articles anytime soon. Which is actually a shame because the old codger probably would have a few stories to add
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I
So why do you think you will get a bigger crowd by starting the lowest price at $30?
Start saying goodbye to watching NRL at suburban grounds
But the lowest prices now are what? Real question, pretty sure the ticketing prices are different here in Brisbane.
Start saying goodbye to watching NRL at suburban grounds
I might put up a pick your top eight and then release mine, something like that
Rugby league history: The all-time great alphabet teams – Letter I