50 Best buys in NRL history

[firechild]

You guys think a premiership is required to equal a good signing

Not a single person has suggested this. In fact everyone agrees that he would be on the list, almost certainly top 10. However the point being made is that he cannot be the best signing until he delivers a premiership for the cowboys. What Lyon and Burgess have done for their clubs far surpasses what JT has done.

 

[macnaz]

Ellery Hanley - 1988 Balmain.

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

Has anyone mentioned Jason Smith? After he was done in Super League, when Canberra snapped him up? I know our mind automatically goes to youngsters when we hear these sorts of things, but for me that was one of the best buys at least of that decade, he put in two great seasons before retiring and I bet they picked him up for a bargain too!

Hes #49

 

[oldmancraigy]

What about Jason Taylor for the Eels in 2001?

He made a HUGE difference for that team. Sure, he wasn't the best player on the team or anything, but he certainly held the reins for the best attacking team in history. Was sorely missed the following seasons.

Ok, so he was crap in the 2001 GF and cost the Eels the match, so he might not be top 10? But I would've thought he'd make the top 50 list SOMEWHERE.

 

[JJ]

Earlier - but Peter Kelly and Chris Mortimer were huge for the Panthers, I think.

(Paul Dunn also)

 

[Mr Alfonso Saitungpaipau]

Dunno

 

[hunters]

Tony Williams to the Dogs was a tremendous signing for Manly.

 

[kia ora storm]

Brian Norrie for Storm...average player but consistent and did not miss many games.

 

[The Beaver]

Mark Bryant and Glenn Hall for Manly. Both consistent and didn't miss many games.

 

[The Beaver]

Luke Williamson for Manly. He didn't miss many games and played at a standard which didn't change much over time.

 

[Nice Beaver]

Brian Norrie for Storm...average player but consistent and did not miss many games.

Mark Bryant and Glenn Hall for Manly. Both consistent and didn't miss many games.

Luke Williamson for Manly. He didn't miss many games and played at a standard which didn't change much over time.

The list is 50 best signings in the NRL, not good value for money signings.

 

[morley101]

I would make Ben Kennedy's move to Manly as the most important signing in their recent history. He changed their culture.

 

[The Beaver]

The list is 50 best signings in the NRL, not good value for money signings.

Slow Beaver?

 

[Nice Beaver]

Slow Beaver?

Clearly you are, I just didn't want to be rude and mention it.

 

[Panther Pete]

Preston would be close to Panthers best ever signing either him or Priddis

What about Girds???

 

[Frankus]

Well Girds was an injury prone young kid from Illawarra when he signed with us. Turned out to be a great player for us but would not have been considered an established first grader when he joined.

 

[Mr Alfonso Saitungpaipau]

Justin Smith to the cowboys perhaps?

 

[Canard]

Justin Smith to the cowboys perhaps?

What a gun Justin was.

Never forget him.

 

[JJ]

What about Girds???

Yep, Girdler, or the aforementioned Mortimer/Kelly, who really helped the young talent develop an edge - I lean towards the earlier pair

 

[veggiepatch1959]

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.

Thurston isn't in the same ballpark as Andrew Johns who lifted the Knights to two premierships with a bunch of relative plodders.