Appreciation of all things Alan Tongue

[IAmDancingHomer]

I have no idea if a thread like this has been made about him before, so appologies.

While not a Raiders fan I cannot go past liking this guy. He is the type of player other players want to play with. While he is not the most tallented back rower in the game, he certainly makes up for this in heart and a superior work rate. Would not look out of place in a blues jumper next year, but I don't think he will get the nod.

I just admire a genuine worker and anyone who has played along side such a player will know thay are gold.

Thoughts?

 

[azzah72]

I enjoy watching him play, just a great Toiler, hard worker and an excellent club man by the look o fit.

 

[Patorick]

Couldn't believe that no try call against him today. He deserved it to be sure.

Yeah good hard, tough player.

A more skillful Owen Cunningham dare I say.

 

[skeepe]

Couldn't believe that no try call against him today. He deserved it to be sure.

Yeah good hard, tough player.

A more skillful Owen Cunningham dare I say.

Hinchcliffe was in front when he kicked it, and he was the guy that gathered the ball, so no try. But bugger fairness, Tonguey deserved it no question. He is an absolute star, and in all honesty, all bias aside, is the quintessential Origin player. Whilst a lot of what he does may go unnoticed, he makes a huge difference to the players around him. He's as inspirational as they come, and he makes everyone he plays with rise to a higher level.

Alan Tongue, we salute you.

 

[Non Terminator]

Always had an appreciation for Alan Tongue, other than being a fellow redhead, he puts himself on the line more than 95% of players, one of the best Raiders in the 2000's era easily.
He's a tough bloke, always good to watch.
Maybe 2009 will see a noticing in him, especially if he keeps this rate of form up.
Maybe we'll see him swap the green for blue.

 

[bartman]

He goes alright.

Although if I hear Chief Harragon make another tongue joke on the footy show

 

[El Diablo]

average at best

 

[Timbo]

I think its true what guys like Tallis and Belcher have said in commentary - were he a Queenslander, he'd have 12 origins by now.

He's the kind of guy Queensland always pick - maybe not the most natural talent or flair, but he gives 150% every time he's on the field.

He will, sadly, never get a run for NSW. He's not the kind the Blues pick. I think it's a travesty he's never been given a Country Origin jersey (having him at 18th man last year was a joke).

 

[Loz]

He's not just a great player, he's also a top guy in general. Very approachable and an absolute sweetheart (I can say that, I'm a chick).

Proud to be mates with Tonguey.

 

[Scott]

NSW would be a much better team with him in the back row. TBH, he should have been there ahead of Mason, Gallen and Hoffman!

 

[IAmDancingHomer]

NSW would be a much better team with him in the back row. TBH, he should have been there ahead of Mason, Gallen and Hoffman!

He is a workhorse and NSW needed one, Hindmarsh was the same. Just a mule that would go all day and never stop. NSW should pick a back row full of workhorse type players next year and have their impact guys on the bench.

 

[Eels Dude]

He's a great clubman. It's obvious he's Canberra through and through.

Great article about him in the Sun Herald yesterday for those that are interested.

 

[Ridders]

NSW would be a much better team with him in the back row. TBH, he should have been there ahead of Mason, Gallen and Hoffman!

he can't do any worse than hoffman

 

[perverse]

i agree, if he were a queenslander he would have played a lot of origin football by now. the bloke deserves all the wraps that he gets.

 

[tiger_nick]

in all seriousness, how is dallas johnson better then alan tongue? johnson always gets wraps and has played for australia. i see them as virtually the same player, with tongue probably offering slightly more in attack.

 

[Special K]

Johnson is a good comparsion for Tongue. I'd take Tongue over him but gee Tongue is over hyped on this board.

 

[Chachi]

A grade champion.

 

[Raider_69]

Agreed on the topic of Johnson V Tongue
Johnson put simply is a poor man's alan tongue, tongue does everything DJ does except getting KO'ed and he offers substancially more in attack

As for appreication for alan tongue, its simple, the bloke is a champion and will go down as a raiders legend. Not the most talented bloke but i would not trade him for any player in the competition, not inglis, not thurston... no one.
If he was a QLDer no doubts he'd have played 10+ Origins by now but as stated above he is not the type of player NSW pick, which is probably why they are staring down the barrell for 4 consecutive SOO series loses. He's the toughest player in the game IMHO

 

[God-King Dean]

How he hasn't played for City/Country is beyond me.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

I'd just like to take this opportunity, given it's slightly on topic, to bag Dallas Johnson.

Johnson is in the bottom 5% of forwards in the whole NRL for talent, yet he has played for Australia. It's ludicrous.

As a player I admire him for his heart and effort, but he's a below average first-grader who makes no impact in any way and makes every rep side going. If there's a less effective attacking forward in the game, either his name is Logan Swann or I've never seen him.