Best of the past 25 years 1986-2011

[typicalfan]

Ok I have a few to consider that may be worth noting.

Brent Webb
Richard Villasanti
Awen Guttenbeil
Feleti Mateo

Wiki was a prop in his time at NZ so I think he should be up front in place of Seu Seu and pick either Guttenbeil or Mateo. The rest are just considerations.

Priddis > Kerrod Walters
Berrigan > Hancock. CCM winner and better bench option than a specialist winger
Swap of Thaiday and either TC or Darren Smith

Sam Backo ahead of Tom Learoyd Lars
Perhaps an option to take Dugan out, put Mullins to the bench and Chicka Ferguson to the wing. A lot of the Raiders players have utility value making it easy to pick some positions.

Utai maybe for Halligan apart from that maybe Andrew Ryan is a tad unlucky.

Dykes, Covell, Davidson, Treister and McKenna all could be considered for spots.

Could argue Todd Carney ahead of Freeman but can see why it would be unpopular, Carney probably had the most dominant season in 2010 in the tricolours jersey since Fittler 04.

Gold Coast is good I do think Harrison should be in the starting side maybe ahead of Mini but that is semantics really.

I would take Michael Robertson ahead of Hoppa, big 2008 Grand Final and a good club man. Ballin on the bench would be good as well.

I would take Crocker ahead of Hoffman at the Storm and King over Bai, always thought Bai was overrated.

Cowboys a good side Fien a bit unlucky maybe as he was good in 2004.

Eels strong, maybe Buettner on the bench but good nonetheless.

Panthers, Galuvao for Ross, Michael Gordon would be putting pressure on the wingers and Carter unlucky.

For the Maggies swap Ken and Kevin and you are pretty much set.

Good work

 

[typicalfan]

Also I think the top 8 mentioned is pretty spot on but I would swap Penrith and the Easts around.

I think the Panthers forward pack is where the big gap emerges plus a better 7.

 

[gypsy]

There's a YouTube video of tuiakis tries during his career. Many of them no other winger would have scored, not even vatuvai. He was just an absolute machine. Was voted the best winger in the world for a reason in 2009.

Was just dangling the hook, he was a good winger no doubt.

 

[Noa]

You were waaaay to kind to the 86 Eels. They where a team on its very last legs.

Good work though.

 

[Loudstrat]

Cronin and Price retired in 86, but Kenny, Ella and Sterlo has stacks of great footy left in them.

Trade Cronin for Lyon, find a spot for Mark Laurie and pick Aaron Raper at hooker and then you might be closer to the mark. Need to consider Hodgeson, Schifcofske and possibly Andrew Ryan as well.

 

[timka4]

Nice work, wish we could somehow see these teams, with these players right now in a comp. would be amazing to watch.

 

[Nightward]

Brisbane Broncos

1 - Darren Lockyer
2 - Lote Tuqiri
3 - Steve Renouf
4 - Justin Hodges
5 - Wendell Sailor
6 - Kevin Walters
7 - Allan Langer
13 - Sam Thaiday
12 - Brad Thorn
11 - Gordon Tallis
10 - Glenn Lazarus
9 - Kerrod Walters
8 - Shane Webcke

14 - Petero Civoniceva
15 - Michael Hancock
16 - Darren Smith
17 - Tonie Carroll

Coach - Wayne Bennett
Some of these teams might be wrong i might of missed some glaringly obvious player i feel like i have from the Roosters three quarter line. Teams are by there old names too Eastern Suburbs, Auckland etc.

Wally Lewis is a pretty serious omission.

1. Darren Lockyer
2. Willie Carne
3. Steve Renouf
4. Justin Hodges
5. Chris Walker
6. Wally Lewis
7. Allan Langer
8. Shane Webcke
9. Kerrod Walters
10. Glenn Lazarus
11. Gorden Tallis
12. Trevor Gillmeister
13. Tonie Carrol
14. Petero Civoneceva
15. Sam Thaiday
16. Corey Parker
17. Shaun Berrigan
Coach: Wayne Bennet.

Everyone remembers Chris Walker for the much-publicised Sydney meltdown and failures, but in his prime and under Bennet's tuteage, he was lethal. Yeesh. Thinking about Carne/Renouf and Hodges/Walker operating off Langer/Lewis... the mind, she boggles

Most others speak for themselves. Berrigan was a hard one to leave out as he fulfilled every role asked of him to exacting standards over the years, but that versatility was what kept him out of top spot as well; he was never really in any one position long enough to demonstrate he was more than merely very good at it. By Bennet's own admission he should have listened to Shaun about his brother Barry sooner and believes he would have made a top-flight hooker; even when his body was beginning to falter and without a full NRL career he was up there with the Broncos' best. Ah, what might have been.

Parker is probably the only other selection that would require a defence; I believe he is heavily under-rated and warranted a return to the Maroon jersey many seasons ago. He started as a prop and delivered a performance even Webcke admired, but has transformed into a machine-like back-rower since then. He might not terrify defences like Tallis, but he turns up again and again and again, and like Webcke will fight to the last for victory no matter how remote the prospect actually is.

 

[dangerousdave]

Dont agree 100% but still mate, this is a great thread and was a good read. Took me back

 

[dangerousdave]

Ohhh didnt realise you were after a top 8.

In no order.

Brisbane
Newcastle
Canberra
Parra
Illawarra
Balmain
Manly
Canterbury

 

[carcharias]

On the sharks
Preston played maybe 1 game at 5/8.

If that.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Also I think the top 8 mentioned is pretty spot on but I would swap Penrith and the Easts around.

I think the Panthers forward pack is where the big gap emerges plus a better 7.

The forward pack would be our big strength - Morley, Salvatori, Fitzy, Ricko, Crocker, the great Hughy McGahan. What a bunch of warriors.

Also for the Roosters i would have gone:

1. Anthony Minichiello
2. Brett Mullins
3. Andrew Walker
4. Justin Hodges
5. Matt Sing
6. Brad Fittler (c)
7. Kevin Hastings
8. Adrian Morley
9. Simon Bonetti
10. Craig Salvatori
11. Hugh McGahan
12. Craig Fitzgibbon
13. Luke Ricketson

14. Jason Cayless
15. Bryan Fletcher
16. Michael Crocker
17. Craig Wing

 

[Tommy Smith]

Oh and it would definately be a Broncos-Raiders GF IMO. With the Raiders just coming out on top i reckon.

 

[Jason Maher]

Why do the Steelers, St. George, Dragons, Wests, Balmain, and Tigers teams all seperately, yet consider the Titans and Seagulls as one club? How does that work?

 

[Loudstrat]

Anjado, what was your criteria for selection: Players who played the best from 1986 onwards, or the best overall players whose careers included 1986 onwards?

For Parra, I think you went the latter. My interpretation would have been for the former. Mick Cronin played a handful of games in 1986 -including his classic GF - finale, and Price and Grothe's best days - possibly Ella's, were behind them.

Its your call, just wondering.

A few controversies - Big call going Cronk at half over Kimmorley. He basically won them the 99 comp in the back half of the GF as a young player who took the game by the scruff of the neck in a way that I havent seen done since - and rarely before.

Good job though. Although one glaring error. John Monie would be Parra's coach, not Brian "guaranteed to f*ck up a good team in a grand final" Smith.

 

[themacemaceman]

For the souths Team David Boyle would have to be in the team. He played a fair few origins from memory (even made the twelth man tape...."boyle trying to squeeze the pus out but he can't").

Also Joe Thomas, Jim Sedaris ,Terry Hill maybe even Brian Fletcher maybe should be in the team.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

North Sydney Bears

1 - Matt Seers
2 - Brett Dallas
3 - Michael Buettner
4 - Ben Ikin
5 - Les Kiss
6 - Greg Florimo
7 - Jason Taylor
13 - Billy Moore
12 - David Fairleigh
11 - Gary Larson
10 - Mario Fenech
9 - Mark Soden
8 - Martin Bella

14 - Gavin Jones
15 - Adam Muir
16 - Peter Jackson
17 - David Hall

Coach - Peter Louis

Pretty much spot on. Maybe Josh Stuart or Steve Trindall for David Hall, though that's debatable.

 

[Dragon_psa]

For the Warriors, I'd probably have Phil Blake in at number 6 ahead of Maloney, and Brent Webb at fullback. I'd also include Bartrim in the St George Illawarra side.

Apart from that, bloody good work.

 

[Cee 7]

Souths best 1986-2011
1. Craig Wing
2. Nathan Merritt
3. Greg Inglis
4. Terry Hill
5. Tim Brasher
6. Phil Blake
7. Craig Coleman (vc)
8. Ian Roberts
9. Mario Fenech (c)
10. Mark Carroll
11. Les Davidson
12. Dave Taylor
13. Sam Burgess

14. Luke Stuart
15. David Boyle
16. Bryan Fletcher
17. Darrell Trindall

Coach: George Piggins

 

[girvie]

Best off-season thread for many years. A great read, thanks.

 

[firechild]

1 - Brett Stewart
2 - Dale Shearer
3 - Michael O'Connor
4 - Jamie Lyon
5 - John Hopoate
6 - Cliff Lyons
7 - Geoff Toovey
13 - Des Hasler
12 - Glenn Stewart
11 - Steve Menzies
10 - Ian Roberts
9 - Mal Cochrane
8 - Mark Carroll

14 - David Gillespie
15 - Anthony Watmough
16 - Nik Kosef
17 - Terry Hill

Coach - Bob Fulton

Back row is Menzies, Gartner, Kosef, no questions. Stewart gets a spot on the bench. (Hasler at lock? Are you kidding?)
Hasler gets the utility spot on the bench so that pushes Hill off.
Wingers would be Shearer and Robertson.
Tough to pick the fullback as Ridge was brilliant but no complaints with Stewart at #1.
Some good options at centre with blokes like Matai and Hill but certainly Lyon has been one of the best in that position over the last 25 years and O'Conner deserves a start.
Halves are spot on.
It's tough leaving some quality back rowers out but Watmough and Kennedy wouldn't make the side IMO.