Andrew Johns or Wally Lewis, who is the better player

[Wristy McSlashalot]

OK its been done countless times, but after browsing threads in the SOO forum I'm tempted to ask the question, who is/was the better rugby league player?

Its hard to answer because of the differences in training and conditioning, and additionally the rules of the game that differentiate the eras of Wally and Joey

Who has the better football brain? I'd say Joey, but its very close.

Who is the better leader? Again its close but I'd say Wally

Who has the better all-round skills? Again, its hard to say but if Wally was playing today with the strength, fitness and conditioning that is the norm for modern NRL players I'd say Wally would just nudge out Joey

 

[Rod]

Ok, I'm obviously biased here (as most people are in this forum), and also I have not seen Wally Lewis play a lot of games, but I'm gonna have to give the edge to Joey. He is in my mind the complete player and I have never seen a player influence a game the way he can.

But you're right, its different eras and theres no doubt the game is different. Me and my mates were actually talking about this yesterday between Lockyer, Lewis, and Langer so I'm basically gonna fence-sit and say:

6. Lewis
7. Johns

 

[RABK]

Leadership wise Lewis, not many are close to lewis in this regard.

Natural ability, Johns. Probally the most gifted player to ever lace a boot.

Footballing brain, tie.....both genuises.

This is a graph they were rated against eachother using. Bear in mind it's based out of 90 for a half....so when Joey get's a 9 for speed they mean for a half he is very fast etc.

If you rate them against eachother in every facet of the game, i think you will find Johns to be the better, more complete player. Very close though.

 

[thuganomics]

Both were great players. Too hard to say who was better then the other, I'll sit on the fence.

 

[gregstar]

lewis

but johns is the best player of his era

 

[Lego_Man]

Poll please.

Oh yeah, Johns.

 

[RABK]

One thing though, Lewis looked rather sh*t when playing for the Broncos and Seagulls, it would have been interesting to see if he could have dominated 12 seasons of first grade, not just the 2 or 3 games of origin a year were he wa splaying with the best side of that era most the time. Big question mark there and you can't argue that.

And no, The QLD was nowhere near the level of the current NRL.

 

[Azkatro]

Lewis. When you compare the two at their best Lewis was more impressive IMO. Remember this bloke captained Australia to a complete whitewash of England in 1986, along with the Origin domination. Wally had a jaded club career and wasn't exactly nurtured like Johns has been molly-coddled in Newcastle his whole career.

 

[Jono078]

Johns is the best player I have ever seen.

I have only seen highlights of Lewis.

I cant compare, but Johns is the best player I have seen. Kicking, passing, vision. The way he carries, has to be said... An average all round team is amazing.

At rep he played alot of Hooker, that doesnt help him, but he stepped up this year and 2003. Went into this Tri Nations with a bit of a crook knee which I think he suffered in round 26.

 

[bender]

It is a common theme that most people who say Johns, havent seen Wally play.

Johns is very, very good, but not in Wally's class (definitely not an insult). Johns' only advantage is in the goal kicking area. The change in the games rules is something which is a big advantage. Johns makes an awful lot of mistakes compared to WAlly Lewis. That is the nature of the game, nowaday. His game wouldnt have been suited as well to the rules of Wally's day.

Wally knew exactly what was needed and made decisions accordingly and in order to try to win the game. If he had to spit in someone's face, he would, if had to confront mark Geyer, he would, punch steve roach, tackle Brendon Tuuta, pull off a last ditch intercept, find the touchline, step, outrun the backline. Whatever needed to be done, he would know it, and more often than not, he would do it. His skills of stealing the ball, striking in the play the ball etc are all skills that Johns just doesnt have (for obvious reasons).

In every single major game whether Origin, Test or finals game, Wally had a blinder or near blinder. Compare this to johns, who only recently was dominant in Origin and who was often (at least 20-30% of the time) outplayed in major games by his opposite number. Wally was just that bit better than Johns.

 

[innsaneink]

Who fkn cares, they were/are both pretty good.

BTW RBK, where'd you come across that graph?

 

[thuganomics]

I think it was in the Telegraph in 2001?

 

[RABK]

It's from the tele a couple of years ago.

*Edit 2003 i think Jono

 

[greeneyed]

It is no contest, Lewis clearly. That "graph" is garbage.

 

[greeneyed]

I have seen both players, by the way, over their entire careers.

 

[RABK]

Care to explain why....at their absolute peak judging on their ability as a half i see it has fairly accurate.

Only problem i have with it is Lewis should be ahead in captaincy but well behind in kicking game. Defense should be equal too.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Lewis..He was an inspirational player..He lead and QLD & Australia followed. Johns death-stares and screams at his own players when they make a mistake. He doesn't have the same leadership qualities. Lewis would pull off the big plays when they were needed all the time.

 

[Saint 60]

Wally was simply great in SoO...but because NSW didnt see much of him until he was about 29 when the Broncos entered the comp...we didnt get to see to much of his career unfortunately ---
Gene Miles who from what i saw was another one who was aging at this time..and forgotten regularily...but my op he was better than Meninga as a centre -
Pity the Broncos were not founded earlier so we could see a lot more of them...

Johns has not finished his career yet - couple of years to go yet
lets hope its injury free...cause he is dam good lol

 

[Misty Bee]

Johns by daylight.

Lewis was good, but lacked Johns skills. Both were equal in strength. Johns is superior in his passing game, his step, his kicking. Lewis had a great long kicking game. Johns has a great kicking game with everythnig.

Lewis needed an excellent half to fed him the ball in space - eg Langer or Sterling. Johns doesn't need a pivot.

Johns never got punted by his club, either.

This thread should rally be Johns v Sterling.

 

[northwest9]

john is the greatest player to ever play the game. maybe a small exageration, but i do belive he is better than lewis, and still has time in the game to go further in front