Best prop in the comp

[Jack_Napier]

Gee the sharks fans are touchy when you rate someone over their star bench prop. Clearly you think the only tough part to a props game is defence. I was more talking about him being a starting prop. Has fifita ever started a game?

 

[Rhino_NQ]

matt groat

 

[NAS]

Matthew Scott- massive motor, but also has skills as well. The work he does is always top quality.
James Graham- As good as Scott, but with the odd dumb moment in him. You saw it in the GF.
Sam Burgess- you might say he's a better second rower, but that doesn't mean he's not also a dominant prop when he's playing there.
James Tamou- He's a big tough skilful bastard. If there's one part of his game I don't like, it's this reversing hit up he does (he runs backwards into defences sometimes).
Luke Bailey- some may disagree with me here, but when you look at this fella's stats, the minutes he plays and the quality of the work he does, he must belong in this class of player.
Ben Matulino- Of the new brigade, he's the one with the most upside.
David Shillington- malinged for many years, he's now worthy of his place in these rep sides. Led Canberra very well this year.
Tim Grant- The thing I like most about this bloke is his willingness to take the hardest hit up in the set, again and again. First hit up of the kick off. Hit up of a set start. this bloke gets it done. he's a year away from his best form, but will be in Green and Gold before too long.

 

[Godz Illa]

No contenders from the last 3 premiers? Says something about the true value of "great" props perhaps.

 

[Special K]

Gee the sharks fans are touchy when you rate someone over their star bench prop. Clearly you think the only tough part to a props game is defence. I was more talking about him being a starting prop. Has fifita ever started a game?

Actually it was interesting a fair few of those games from matulino were from the bench and from fifita starting(prop and 2nd row). I'm not going through the games again but look it up, you'd be surprised as I was from the minutes.

I just think it is funny that view Fifita as just an impact player when he is more of a worker then most props. He is quality for a 23 year old prop

edit - I'm not knocking Matulino btw I'm just saying Fifita has improved big time.

 

[RWB]

How so?

Here are their stats from the last ten games(cbf going back further)

Fifita

Minutes: 52.5
Runs: 15.7
Metres: 134.8
Tackle Breaks: 4.4
Tackles: 32.3
Offloads: .5

Matulino

Minutes: 46.7
Runs: 15
Metres: 139.4
Tackle Breaks: 2.3
Tackles: 17.6
Offloads: 1.2

Seems pretty fairly split between the two. People think Fifita is just an "impact" guy but he was awesome for us this year.

There is a difference between starting the game as a prop compared to coming off the bench against a tired forward pack. Whilst they both had great finishes to the season these stats need to be put in some context. Fifita still has a lot to prove. Overall I thought Matulino had comfortably the better season.

 

[madunit]

Scott, Tamou, McGuire, Woods, Gibbs, Grant, Bromwich are the pick.

Gibbs is the best defensive prop in the world and his work in attack this year was greatly improved, so I'd definitely have him up there.

Gibbs for Origin 2013!

 

[Jack_Napier]

Actually it was interesting a fair few of those games from matulino were from the bench and from fifita starting(prop and 2nd row). I'm not going through the games again but look it up, you'd be surprised as I was from the minutes.

I just think it is funny that view Fifita as just an impact player when he is more of a worker then most props. He is quality for a 23 year old prop

To be fair I underestimated the season fifita had, I have no doubts he'll fulfill the potential but from what I have seen from both of them I rate matulino higher. All good, they'll both be fair players in a few years time.

 

[WaznTheGreat]

James Tamou by the length of the Townsville straight

 

[chrisD]

lol @ people rating Graham.

 

[RWB]

Scott, Tamou, McGuire, Woods, Gibbs, Grant, Bromwich are the pick.

Gibbs is the best defensive prop in the world and his work in attack this year was greatly improved, so I'd definitely have him up there.

Gibbs for Origin 2013!

Bromwhich really hasn't achieved anything yet and was average for the majority of this season, I'm not sure how he's considered one of the best. I can think of numerous props better than him.

Whilst I agree with your comments on Gibbs to an extent, you can't justify his selection and leave out Graham & Tolman...

 

[madunit]

Tolman fair enough.

Graham had a easier job than Tolman and Kasiano and didn't really do much more than those two imo.

For almost the whole season, Graham got to come on against tired players after Kasiano and Tolman had done the hard yakka.

I'll reserve my judgement of him as an elite prop until he gets a crack as a starter.

 

[WaznTheGreat]

lol @ people rating Graham.

+1

 

[simostorm]

Bryan norrie.. what an outstanding gf he had.

 

[innerwestrabbit]

Tamou great player, just not sure if he would not be better suited as a back rower . I rate Matt Scott as a better prop, just because of the hard yakka he does both in attack and defense.

 

[RWB]

Tolman fair enough.

Graham had a easier job than Tolman and Kasiano and didn't really do much more than those two imo.

For almost the whole season, Graham got to come on against tired players after Kasiano and Tolman had done the hard yakka.

I'll reserve my judgement of him as an elite prop until he gets a crack as a starter.

Hearing someone claim Kasiano as someone who does the hard yakka is definitely a first.

I thought it was arguable that Graham was one of the best props in the game before he even came out to Australia. He's proven a proven starter at Super League level & international level.

He's not playing the usual benchies role, he plays a hard 60 mintues week in week out in the hardest Rugby League comp in the world and he's more than succeeded. 30 odd tackles and ~130m a game, not to mentioning a MASSIVE part in revolutionising the Bullldogs style of play with unparalleled ball playing ability from any front rower currently in the game.

If he'd failed in the few times he did start this year or started at International level then you might have a point but I just think when you look at how significant his role is you can overlook the fact that he's coming off the bench.

 

[RWB]

Bryan norrie.. what an outstanding gf he had.

What a good finals series he had. All the Storms props seemed to step up a gear come finals time, I was very critical of Bromwich up until the finals.

 

[skeepe]

lol @ people rating Graham.

The RLIF have laughably named him the best prop in the world.

 

[Jason Maher]

He may be a filthy pommy grub, but you can't argue he had a great year. Still think Tolman is the Dogs best prop though.

Scott and Tamou are the best two props in the comp. Makes you wonder why the Cowboys can't mount a serious challenge, given they also have the best half in Thurston, and quality right across the park.

Having said that, I wouldn't swap out any of Weyman, Hunt, or Merrin (especially Merrin) for any other props in the comp. And we have another goodun coming through in Jack Stockwell. If only we could occasionally produce a halfback like we produce front rowers.

 

[Special K]

He's not playing the usual benchies role, he plays a hard 60 mintues week in week out in the hardest Rugby League comp in the world and he's more than succeeded. 30 odd tackles and ~130m a game, not to mentioning a MASSIVE part in revolutionising the Bullldogs style of play with unparalleled ball playing ability from any front rower currently in the game.

umm didn't you say this about someone who is making 130m and making 30 odd tackles a game from the bench?

There is a difference between starting the game as a prop compared to coming off the bench against a tired forward pack. Whilst they both had great finishes to the season these stats need to be put in some context.

"Just sayin'"