Will EvansFriday previews / Top 10 best players to miss Top 100 of the century
August 28th 2008 13:29
Two fascinating clashes commence Round 25 tomorrow night – and the intrigue lies in very different areas.
Wests Tigers v Cronulla at Leichardt
-Both clubs have a lot to play for, and it has little to do the NRL ladder. The Sharks are assured of a top-4 place for the finals, but will be hellbent on putting the Greg Bird drama aside and keeping their gallant, no-frills quest for the title on track. On the other side of the fence, many Tigers players may be playing for their futures after coach Tim Sheens and star hooker Robbie Farah launched a bristling broadside at the underperforming squad, declaring there would be changes for next year. Leichardt Oval will no doubt provide an electric atmosphere for what should be an emotion-charged match. The Sharks should have too much class for the down-on-confidence Tigers. A feature of Cronulla’s side is their continuity – no player in their starting lineup has appeared in less than 15 matches this year, while five players have turned out in all 22 games thus far.
Sydney Roosters v South Sydney at SFS
-This match could make or break the Roosters’ season. They have been woeful over the past few rounds, and a loss tomorrow night could send them tumbling out of the top-4. Even more startling is the fact that if they also lose next weekend against the hot Dragons, they will more than likely finish the regular season seventh and face a sudden-death clash with Manly or Melbourne. Souths pose a big danger given their recent form – a thrilling upset of Manly a fortnight ago, before sticking with the on-fire Raiders for an hour last week. An extra bit of spice in this match is provided by the last meeting between these clubs – Craig Wing was sidelined for half of 2008 after the now-infamous ‘prowler’ tackle by the Roosters’ Riley Brown. I’m tipping a thriller, with the Roosters to find form and get home in a tight one – possibly golden point.
-Just a little something I have noticed in the print media, and a little in television too, is that teams and clubs are referred to as ‘it’ or ‘its’. For example: ‘The Roosters are in a bad form slump. It has lost its last three games.’ It sounds a bit impersonal and mechanical to me – I prefer ‘they’ or ‘their’. Now, maybe I am guilty or bad grammar using these terms, but I reckon it sounds better. Your thoughts?
TOP TEN PLAYERS WHO MISSED OUT ON THE TOP 100 PLAYERS OF THE CENTURY
1. Ricky Stuart – The lynchpin of one of the greatest sides of the modern era. Possessed one of Rugby League’s best kicking and passing games and dictated matches like few players could.
2. Danny Buderus – Dominant hooker of the decade until usurped by Cam Smith over the last two seasons, but still just a hair’s breadth between them. Inspirational skipper for Newcastle, NSW and Australia.
3. Gorden Tallis – One of the most destructive forwards of all-time, Tallis could blow a game wide open and struck fear into the opposition. Skippered his club, state and country.
4. Michael O’Connor – Graceful centre/winger and one the finest attacking players of the modern era. Was chosen at No. 51 when a similar list was compiled by Rugby League Week in 1992.
5. Petero Civeoneceva – Not far behind Roach, Lazarus and Webcke in the top echelon of modern-day front-rowers. Mr. Consistency.
6. Les Boyd – His career was overshadowed by his short fuse and consequent lengthy suspensions, but Boyd was a destructive back-rower with wonderful ball skills. Key member of the ’82 Invincibles.
7. Ben Elias – Revolutionised the role hookers would occupy in the modern game with his halfback-style play. The key man of Balmain’s last golden era.
8. Steve Menzies – Brilliant tryscoring backrower who developed into one of the games best defenders. Remarkably durable, Menzies occupies second on the all-time premiership tryscoring and appearance lists.
9. Kevin Schubert – Chosen as hooker in the team of the 1950s in an era that included Noel Kelly and Ian Walsh.
10. =Cliff Lyons – A player of incomparable ball-playing wizardry. Unlucky not to play more Tests and Origins, but probably played his best football for Manly after his rep career was over. Won two premierships almost a decade apart.
=Bob Lindner – 25 Origin appearances stamped him as a Queensland great, and he was Australia’s lock until his retirement in 1993.
=Craig Young – The game’s dominant prop in between Arthur Beetson’s peak and the emergence of Steve Roach. Captained St. George to the 1979 premierhsip.
=Geoff Toovey – One of the smallest players in the game’s history, Toovey is a perennial contender for ‘toughest-ever’ lists. A tenacious defender and inspiring general from halfback. Captained Manly to win the ’96 grand final with a fractured eye socket.
=Greg Hawick – Respected and versatile, Souths’ Greg Hawick was named five-eighth of the 1960s.
Hopefully this list will spark a bit of debate – give me the players you thought should have been there. I thought the top 100 pandered to the game’s ‘golden era’ of the 1950s-1970s a bit too much, hence so many modern greats getting the nod for today’s top 10.
Wests Tigers v Cronulla at Leichardt
-Both clubs have a lot to play for, and it has little to do the NRL ladder. The Sharks are assured of a top-4 place for the finals, but will be hellbent on putting the Greg Bird drama aside and keeping their gallant, no-frills quest for the title on track. On the other side of the fence, many Tigers players may be playing for their futures after coach Tim Sheens and star hooker Robbie Farah launched a bristling broadside at the underperforming squad, declaring there would be changes for next year. Leichardt Oval will no doubt provide an electric atmosphere for what should be an emotion-charged match. The Sharks should have too much class for the down-on-confidence Tigers. A feature of Cronulla’s side is their continuity – no player in their starting lineup has appeared in less than 15 matches this year, while five players have turned out in all 22 games thus far.
Sydney Roosters v South Sydney at SFS
-This match could make or break the Roosters’ season. They have been woeful over the past few rounds, and a loss tomorrow night could send them tumbling out of the top-4. Even more startling is the fact that if they also lose next weekend against the hot Dragons, they will more than likely finish the regular season seventh and face a sudden-death clash with Manly or Melbourne. Souths pose a big danger given their recent form – a thrilling upset of Manly a fortnight ago, before sticking with the on-fire Raiders for an hour last week. An extra bit of spice in this match is provided by the last meeting between these clubs – Craig Wing was sidelined for half of 2008 after the now-infamous ‘prowler’ tackle by the Roosters’ Riley Brown. I’m tipping a thriller, with the Roosters to find form and get home in a tight one – possibly golden point.
-Just a little something I have noticed in the print media, and a little in television too, is that teams and clubs are referred to as ‘it’ or ‘its’. For example: ‘The Roosters are in a bad form slump. It has lost its last three games.’ It sounds a bit impersonal and mechanical to me – I prefer ‘they’ or ‘their’. Now, maybe I am guilty or bad grammar using these terms, but I reckon it sounds better. Your thoughts?
TOP TEN PLAYERS WHO MISSED OUT ON THE TOP 100 PLAYERS OF THE CENTURY
1. Ricky Stuart – The lynchpin of one of the greatest sides of the modern era. Possessed one of Rugby League’s best kicking and passing games and dictated matches like few players could.
2. Danny Buderus – Dominant hooker of the decade until usurped by Cam Smith over the last two seasons, but still just a hair’s breadth between them. Inspirational skipper for Newcastle, NSW and Australia.
3. Gorden Tallis – One of the most destructive forwards of all-time, Tallis could blow a game wide open and struck fear into the opposition. Skippered his club, state and country.
4. Michael O’Connor – Graceful centre/winger and one the finest attacking players of the modern era. Was chosen at No. 51 when a similar list was compiled by Rugby League Week in 1992.
5. Petero Civeoneceva – Not far behind Roach, Lazarus and Webcke in the top echelon of modern-day front-rowers. Mr. Consistency.
6. Les Boyd – His career was overshadowed by his short fuse and consequent lengthy suspensions, but Boyd was a destructive back-rower with wonderful ball skills. Key member of the ’82 Invincibles.
7. Ben Elias – Revolutionised the role hookers would occupy in the modern game with his halfback-style play. The key man of Balmain’s last golden era.
8. Steve Menzies – Brilliant tryscoring backrower who developed into one of the games best defenders. Remarkably durable, Menzies occupies second on the all-time premiership tryscoring and appearance lists.
9. Kevin Schubert – Chosen as hooker in the team of the 1950s in an era that included Noel Kelly and Ian Walsh.
10. =Cliff Lyons – A player of incomparable ball-playing wizardry. Unlucky not to play more Tests and Origins, but probably played his best football for Manly after his rep career was over. Won two premierships almost a decade apart.
=Bob Lindner – 25 Origin appearances stamped him as a Queensland great, and he was Australia’s lock until his retirement in 1993.
=Craig Young – The game’s dominant prop in between Arthur Beetson’s peak and the emergence of Steve Roach. Captained St. George to the 1979 premierhsip.
=Geoff Toovey – One of the smallest players in the game’s history, Toovey is a perennial contender for ‘toughest-ever’ lists. A tenacious defender and inspiring general from halfback. Captained Manly to win the ’96 grand final with a fractured eye socket.
=Greg Hawick – Respected and versatile, Souths’ Greg Hawick was named five-eighth of the 1960s.
Hopefully this list will spark a bit of debate – give me the players you thought should have been there. I thought the top 100 pandered to the game’s ‘golden era’ of the 1950s-1970s a bit too much, hence so many modern greats getting the nod for today’s top 10.
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