The game is better because of all the Australian, PNGers and Pacific Islanders playing the game. Is there a need for Melbourne apart from providing another team for Queenslanders to support?
What is the Sydney thing? My Collingwood friend once asked me if I would be following the Sydney Swans. I told him I'm St.George and I don't like the other Sydney teams. If I had to rank them Id put Souths, Canterbury and Cronulla as my top three teams to beat. Melbourne is pretty high on the list because they nearly always beat us.
Although I didn't see John Raper until 1964 I would say he was the greatest tackler. He tackled low, conserving his own energy, and brought his opponent down hitting the hard ground. He always walked off with a dirty jersey while his opponents trudged off. As an attacking player he was a good team player in a great team. It was pre salary cap days when the players were semi-professional .
How about you name one person who made such ridiculous comments.
Your'e so big on punters substantiating their comments well how about you name one person who said those ridiculous things.
Yeah the cap aspect is an odd line to take.
But the "deserve" judgment of the receiver is common across society. You get into rights vs ethics at that point
Well when you see what Alfie did very early against a very good player in Sterling then retired and returned against Johns at the peak of his career is pretty special. Alfie (259 games) scored 100 tries 18more than Johns (250 games) and I know Alfie laid a pleather of tries on for those around him. Cronk (372) for 101 tries and Thurston (323) 90 tries played substantial more games. Ball in hand the most dangerous of the 4 halfbacks was indisputably Allan Langer? The other 3 are a about even ball in hand only Cronk did it longer with more success at every level?
Yet all three (in all liklihood unless it turns out Smith has a fritz cellar with 12 young women in it) were lay down immortals.
Though it's really funny to have johns/Lewis (just pure unadulterated talent) in the same sentence as Smith.
They are doing the same thing in basketball right now LeBron vs Jordan. Fun exercise but fact remains both are better at what they do on their worst day than I am on my best day
Sydney medias' Smith derangement syndrome is in overdrive this week and seems to be spreading faster than a case of nitts at a pre-school. If Melbourne win on Sunday, these are the same Muppets who will expect and demand access to the players after the game. They also seem surprised when he doesn't return their calls.
Absolutely...it’s a fun discussion over a few beers. How valid do the results need to be? If someone thinks Smith is the GOAT then good-o...
These days I’m more interested in hearing why someone thinks a certain player is the best, rather than trying to change someone’s mind
The main thing that gets my goat (terrible pun intended) is when people make daft uninformed unsubstantiated sweeping statements like “Smiths only good because the refs let him get away with everything” or “Johns was only good cause he took drugs” or “Lewis only played three games a year” etc
You can but not in a fashion that will provide valid results. You've got different information and parameters making a true comparison incredibly difficult.
But it's a debate that will always happen and it's tough to be insulted by it. I can see why many will give it to him and can see why others balk
That’s an invalid argument .
Only the clubs are subject to the cap, not the NRL or the clubs.
The purpose of the cap is to prevent clubs from enticing players to play for them by paying them more money than other clubs can. Since the gift was not contingent upon Smith playing for Melbourne rather than another club, it is irrelevant to the salary cap.
Not that idiots like Kent and Galen would understand that.
Smith is no doubt a great player (whether he played 400+ games or not). However, in my opinion he isn't the GOAT. That's my opinion. If I was picking an all-time QLD origin team, the first player picked would be Wally. Smith would be in there but I'd probably lock in about 3 or 4 others before him (Mal, Thurston, Lockyer). Actually, I'd be more than happy to have Steve Walters ahead of him in the team which would have other great kickers and organisers (Wally, Lockyer). In a team like that, Boxhead Walters' sheer toughness and metres from dummy half might be more needed anyway. And that's just selecting an all-time QLD origin team - not an all-time Aussie or world team. Don't get me wrong, I fully respect and rate him but I rate a good few others ahead of him. I may be wrong but I don't think people will be raving about him in 10 years time. I hope I don't attract abuse for daring to express such an opinion and "blasphemy". I do get a bit dismayed when I read over and over that "he's the best ever" - stated as though it's a fact not to be doubted and not just an opinion.
Agreed and cannot understand it. Most other sports cherish their legends. Can't help but think it is the parochial Sydney thing again. Listened to triple M on the app for three hours this week. First time. Was amazed, and not in a good way...
Just another cog in the NRL360 "Belt Melbourne at every opportunity" brigade. Really offensive to watch his unending tirade against such a great side and such a great player. If you can't enjoy greatness then you shouldn't be watching the game, let alone commentate on it. Crawley's vitriol against the Storm over a long period of time has been incredibly unprofessional and yet another reason why I can't watch the show any more. It's like hating Manly (and, yes, to my shame I used to be one), Brisbane and Eastern Suburbs because they're too successful. You've got to at least extend them all a grudging admiration and admit the game is better of because of them. But getting personal like Crawley does is beyond the pale. It's fine to disagree that Smith is the best of all time, but at least be respectful about it!
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The game is better because of all the Australian, PNGers and Pacific Islanders playing the game. Is there a need for Melbourne apart from providing another team for Queenslanders to support?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Are they increasing the number of juniors playing the game or are they just providing a second Brisbane team for the Queensland market?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
What is the Sydney thing? My Collingwood friend once asked me if I would be following the Sydney Swans. I told him I'm St.George and I don't like the other Sydney teams. If I had to rank them Id put Souths, Canterbury and Cronulla as my top three teams to beat. Melbourne is pretty high on the list because they nearly always beat us.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Although I didn't see John Raper until 1964 I would say he was the greatest tackler. He tackled low, conserving his own energy, and brought his opponent down hitting the hard ground. He always walked off with a dirty jersey while his opponents trudged off. As an attacking player he was a good team player in a great team. It was pre salary cap days when the players were semi-professional .
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
How about you name one person who made such ridiculous comments. Your'e so big on punters substantiating their comments well how about you name one person who said those ridiculous things.
mushi
Roar Guru
Yeah the cap aspect is an odd line to take. But the "deserve" judgment of the receiver is common across society. You get into rights vs ethics at that point
Rob
Guest
Well when you see what Alfie did very early against a very good player in Sterling then retired and returned against Johns at the peak of his career is pretty special. Alfie (259 games) scored 100 tries 18more than Johns (250 games) and I know Alfie laid a pleather of tries on for those around him. Cronk (372) for 101 tries and Thurston (323) 90 tries played substantial more games. Ball in hand the most dangerous of the 4 halfbacks was indisputably Allan Langer? The other 3 are a about even ball in hand only Cronk did it longer with more success at every level?
mushi
Roar Guru
Yet all three (in all liklihood unless it turns out Smith has a fritz cellar with 12 young women in it) were lay down immortals. Though it's really funny to have johns/Lewis (just pure unadulterated talent) in the same sentence as Smith. They are doing the same thing in basketball right now LeBron vs Jordan. Fun exercise but fact remains both are better at what they do on their worst day than I am on my best day
Ken
Guest
can you imagine kelly scrumming against Nelson Solomona , who's been boxing for the last few years , he would break Kelly in half .
Snoopy011
Guest
Sydney medias' Smith derangement syndrome is in overdrive this week and seems to be spreading faster than a case of nitts at a pre-school. If Melbourne win on Sunday, these are the same Muppets who will expect and demand access to the players after the game. They also seem surprised when he doesn't return their calls.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Absolutely...it’s a fun discussion over a few beers. How valid do the results need to be? If someone thinks Smith is the GOAT then good-o... These days I’m more interested in hearing why someone thinks a certain player is the best, rather than trying to change someone’s mind The main thing that gets my goat (terrible pun intended) is when people make daft uninformed unsubstantiated sweeping statements like “Smiths only good because the refs let him get away with everything” or “Johns was only good cause he took drugs” or “Lewis only played three games a year” etc
mushi
Roar Guru
You can but not in a fashion that will provide valid results. You've got different information and parameters making a true comparison incredibly difficult. But it's a debate that will always happen and it's tough to be insulted by it. I can see why many will give it to him and can see why others balk
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
That’s an invalid argument . Only the clubs are subject to the cap, not the NRL or the clubs. The purpose of the cap is to prevent clubs from enticing players to play for them by paying them more money than other clubs can. Since the gift was not contingent upon Smith playing for Melbourne rather than another club, it is irrelevant to the salary cap. Not that idiots like Kent and Galen would understand that.
Mike B
Guest
Smith is no doubt a great player (whether he played 400+ games or not). However, in my opinion he isn't the GOAT. That's my opinion. If I was picking an all-time QLD origin team, the first player picked would be Wally. Smith would be in there but I'd probably lock in about 3 or 4 others before him (Mal, Thurston, Lockyer). Actually, I'd be more than happy to have Steve Walters ahead of him in the team which would have other great kickers and organisers (Wally, Lockyer). In a team like that, Boxhead Walters' sheer toughness and metres from dummy half might be more needed anyway. And that's just selecting an all-time QLD origin team - not an all-time Aussie or world team. Don't get me wrong, I fully respect and rate him but I rate a good few others ahead of him. I may be wrong but I don't think people will be raving about him in 10 years time. I hope I don't attract abuse for daring to express such an opinion and "blasphemy". I do get a bit dismayed when I read over and over that "he's the best ever" - stated as though it's a fact not to be doubted and not just an opinion.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
The difference is my bank and I don't operate under a salary cap
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
Alfie owned the whole NSW team at 35 in origin...
Vivalasvegan
Roar Rookie
Agreed and cannot understand it. Most other sports cherish their legends. Can't help but think it is the parochial Sydney thing again. Listened to triple M on the app for three hours this week. First time. Was amazed, and not in a good way...
Vivalasvegan
Roar Rookie
Spot on. What a peanut...
Renegade
Roar Guru
Cam Smith would be the first player picked in any side.... Cronk and GI may not even be the first picked until their position.
Trevor Whitton
Guest
Just another cog in the NRL360 "Belt Melbourne at every opportunity" brigade. Really offensive to watch his unending tirade against such a great side and such a great player. If you can't enjoy greatness then you shouldn't be watching the game, let alone commentate on it. Crawley's vitriol against the Storm over a long period of time has been incredibly unprofessional and yet another reason why I can't watch the show any more. It's like hating Manly (and, yes, to my shame I used to be one), Brisbane and Eastern Suburbs because they're too successful. You've got to at least extend them all a grudging admiration and admit the game is better of because of them. But getting personal like Crawley does is beyond the pale. It's fine to disagree that Smith is the best of all time, but at least be respectful about it!