50 Best buys in NRL history

[Penrose Warrior]

Agreed. No way Thurston can be number 1 until he wins them a title.

Quite stupid he got top spot really.

I can see your logic, but there's also counter-arguments as to why he's the best signing. He wasn't a regular starter at the Dogs and became the No.1 halve, if not player in the game. The Cows would be a rabble without him - he's got them into big matches where they'd be fighting for 12th-13th without him. He's stayed loyal despite big money offers to go elsewhere/overseas.

Guys like Surgess, Graham, Lyon, GI etc were already superstars when they were signed. JT wasn't.

Cracks me up that Shillo made it one spot ahead of SBW. I'm one of SBW's biggest detractors but how you can rate him that lowly based on his involvement in 2013 is insanity. And did the writer not read over the list and go 'mmmm Shillo/SBW...nah I'll at the very least swap those around'

Steve Price deserves to be a lot higher as well. I know it's home fan bias but his impact in Auckland was immense.

 

[Sleep]

No idea how Thurston got the top spot. Sure, he has performed admirably at SOO and Australian level but his club, as a whole, has not performed to expectations.

The article is about best NRL buys. NRL teams buy players, not SOO and national teams.

Seems like whoever wrote this article overlooked this point.

I can remember countless finals games (hell, look at the match last year) where Thurston played his ass off and was hands down light years ahead of every other player on the park. He literally could of done no more to help his team win.

If his team doesn't play up to par but he's given it his all and loses to a better side you can't put the blame solely on him. He's dominated at every level and has been the best player in the game for a long time. I'd say he was fairly placed number one.

Burgess was a great buy, but that team was already stacked. Plus longevity wise he hasn't even come close to Thurston. I would of put Lyon at number two. He's been outstanding ever since he's gotten to Manly.

 

[bluey]

Thurston has been good but he has won a grand total of ZERO premierships. You cannot be number 1. Would put him in the top 5-6 but not number 1. Sam Burgess and Lyon are easily the top 2.

I am sure he came off the bench for the Doggies 2004 and won one

 

[The Charlatan]

Agreed. No way Thurston can be number 1 until he wins them a title.

Quite stupid he got top spot really.

On the bench in 2004 GF. Bench or not, he still has a premiership to his name.

 

[Johnnie Red]

Matt Rogers was a pretty decent signing for the Titans...I thought he might have cracked the list

 

[WellsNZ]

Hoffman spends several years at the Storm, disappears to the UK for a year then comes back to them, great buy.

 

[Johnnie Red]

I am sure he came off the bench for the Doggies 2004 and won one

Winning a premership on the bench with the Dogs doesn't make him a good signing for the Cowboys. His Bulldogs premership doesn't help fill the cowboys trophy cabinet.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Craig Frawley - Raiders 2004-2005

 

[Bulldog Force]

5.Scott Prince (Tigers, 2004-06)

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/50-buys-10-1/

:lol:

Benji Marshall was the reason the Tigers won the GF in 2005. What happened in 2004 and 2006 when Benji suffered season-ending injuries? What did the great almighty Prince do then? Nothing, except ensure the Tigers finished outside the top 8!

 

[dogz08]

tigers still haven't really replaced him yet but.. maybe brooks

 

[Nice Beaver]

I can see your logic, but there's also counter-arguments as to why he's the best signing. He wasn't a regular starter at the Dogs and became the No.1 halve, if not player in the game. The Cows would be a rabble without him - he's got them into big matches where they'd be fighting for 12th-13th without him. He's stayed loyal despite big money offers to go elsewhere/overseas.

Guys like Surgess, Graham, Lyon, GI etc were already superstars when they were signed. JT wasn't.

Cracks me up that Shillo made it one spot ahead of SBW. I'm one of SBW's biggest detractors but how you can rate him that lowly based on his involvement in 2013 is insanity. And did the writer not read over the list and go 'mmmm Shillo/SBW...nah I'll at the very least swap those around'

Steve Price deserves to be a lot higher as well. I know it's home fan bias but his impact in Auckland was immense.

Yeah I understand the counter argument and guess its just an opinion.

Look I rate Thurston the best player in the NRL, but I just don't think he can be regarded the best buy until he delivers a premiership.

Of course he has lifted the Cowboys and they would be a rabble without him (well assuming they did not buy another superstar with his cash if he wasn't there).

But at the end of the day the Cowboys bought Thurston to win a premiership. They haven't.

And yes he was not the superstar when they bought him that he is now. But everyone knew his potential and he was highly sought.

Not bagging the bloke, just think number 1 should be someone who has brought change to a club and won them a comp.

Personally, I think the cultural change and attitude that Ben Kennedy brought to Manly cannot be spoken about highly enough.

He's my number 1.

But once again.....all opinion!

 

[wests1]

Awesome to see Gareth Ellis on the list. He was such a goer. Won our player of the year three years running and then was injured in his last. God we missed him in 2012 when we started the season as favourites.

 

[lockyno1]

Agreed. No way Thurston can be number 1 until he wins them a title.

Quite stupid he got top spot really.

Exactly. As I said no issue with him being in the top 10, marquee buy for the Cowboys, but come on what has he done? 1 GF appearance is pretty pedestrian for a 'number 1'. Lyon has made how many GF's again? He would be my number 1 and by a fair margin too. You have to make GF's to be in the top 2-3.

 

[TheFrog]

Actually my gut feeling is Brad Fittler signing with the Roosters for 1996 will be close to number 1. It pretty much helped put the Roosters back on the map and saw them make and stay in the finals up until he retired at the end of 2004.

Pre-NRL.

 

[maple_69]

Which guy has had the greatest impact on their respective club?

Thurston was bought as a very promising half playing on the bench at a good club and became the best half in the world, best player in the world for long stretches and has been talismanic for the Cows for a decade now.

Lyon was a Blue, a Kangaroo, an important part of a grand final losing team and has become an important cog in an all round bloody strong side. Outstanding signing but I personally wouldn't consider him as pivotal to Manly's success as Thurston to the Cows.

Kennedy could be argued for as he had a profound positive impact on the club as well as Burgess.

Anyway its all opinion.

I think Preston Campbell for the Tits deserves to be on the list somewhere. He brought a soul to that club that has disappeared since he retired.

 

[firechild]

Burgess and Lyon are streaks ahead of the rest. Burgess was pivotal to the culture change at Souffs where they had an inbuilt losing culture. Lyon has played in 4 grand finals with 2 premierships, 1 as captain since joining Manly. He's won 2 Dally M captain of the year awards and several Centre of the year awards, his impact on the team cannot be questioned.

Thurston is a great player, certainly among the best, if not the best in the game. But, without a premiership or even a GF appearance at the Cows, it's hard to consider him among the best buys.

 

[THE CHAMP]

thurston grandfinalist in 05

 

[roostersrule2]

Thurston is easily number 1.

He's been the best player in the world for years now.

 

[firechild]

thurston grandfinalist in 05

Of course. Don't know how I forgot about that one.

 

[firechild]

Thurston is easily number 1.

He's been the best player in the world for years now.

Being the best player doesn't necessarily make him the best buy. A dud club like Parra or Canberra could pay massive overs and get Smith and Thurston at 1.5mill each per year, leaving 23 bog average players to fill the squad. The side would be anchored to the foot of the table for the entire time, making neither player a good buy. An extreme hypothetical but the point it, being the best player doesn't inherently mean they are the best buy. Results are what make some buys better than others. A player of lesser ability is a better buy if they lift the players around them. Unfortunately Thurston doesn't really do that.