Billy Slater - greatest ever fullback?

[POPEYE]

In my 50 years of watching the game Slater is definitely the best allround fullback I've seen. Some have been slightly better at one thing but none as good as most things he can do.

Les Johns was the next best specialist fullback imo but I won't argue the point as far as second best goes

 

[Valheru]

I can’t judge Churchill, Langlands etc. because i never saw them play.

Slater definitely has a claim for being the best of the last 20 years but I really do think that people seem to easily forget how good the likes of Minichiello and Lockyer were at fullback in their prime. IMO Slater would have played a lot less for Australia than he has had Minichiello not suffered from those injuries. Whether Slater is better than Minichiello is a matter of opinion but I think it is close.

 

[betcats]

He is the best ive seen but ive only been paying attention since superleague.

 

[gUt]

Nah That Bloke From My Club was better...

 

[Mr Angry]

He is no Matthew Ridge.

 

[DC_fan]

Forget the best fullback ever. We should be asking is he the best player ever?

 

[Jason Maher]

He comes up with far too many clangers to be the best.

 

[perverse]

he's the best fullback i've seen... and right up amongst the very elite in all positions. i'm not enough of an old fart to start making calls like best ever, though.

 

[mongoose]

He comes up with far too many clangers to be the best.

This is a crap argument, he does far more good than bad. The storm would be a much lesser team without him. The storm would have been towelled up by us in round 1 if slater doesn't play.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Forget the best fullback ever. We should be asking is he the best player ever?

I'll field this one. No, not even close.

 

[CliffyIsGod]

This is a crap argument, he does far more good than bad. The storm would be a much lesser team without him. The storm would have been towelled up by us in round 1 if slater doesn't play.

Manu comes up with more good than bad, he's still a liability.

Slater does make some clangers.

 

[Jono078]

Since I started watching league I consider Minichiello the best fullback in his prime.

But Slater has played in his prime for a few years more than Mini was able to, unfortunately due to injury.

It's tough to say Slater has been better, but I think it's true. He's also played in a dominant team which enhances his credentials a tonne.

Tough to say, but I wouldn't argue against it really.

 

[firechild]

Since I started watching league I consider Minichiello the best fullback in his prime.

But Slater has played in his prime for a few years more than Mini was able to, unfortunately due to injury.

It's tough to say Slater has been better, but I think it's true. He's also played in a dominant team which enhances his credentials a tonne.

Tough to say, but I wouldn't argue against it really.

Playing in a 5 million dollar team against teams worth 4 million doesn't really increase his credentials. If anything it lessens them. How dominant would Slater have been playing in an average team?

 

[Jono078]

Playing in a 5 million dollar team against teams worth 4 million doesn't really increase his credentials. If anything it lessens them. How dominant would Slater have been playing in an average team?

Well that's what I meant. Who knows how he would have looked if his team was on a level playing field.

He had so many star players around him so it would have taken the attention off him a bit. Whereas if they weren't over the cap he would have been more of a focus for the opposing teams during that period.

 

[roarr]

One thing that doesnt get on his youtube highlights reel is his pretty amazing positional play. It's pretty much down to his speed (even as a 29? year old) but I notice it especially when I see him play live. He covers ground so well and gets to kicks on the full or quicker than every other fullback.

I wont get into the best ever debate but I will say he is pretty f**king good. Probably on par with motu tony's time at the broncos.

 

[Bazal]

From those I've seen, Lockyer is the best (and also the best player I have seen). Stewart is better than Slater too IMO, he's just not been able to string games together like Slater has over the past few years and I think people have kind of forgotten how great he can be. Slater is next, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Minichiello at his peak, Mullins, and Belcher. So he's still not exactly doing poorly for himself

We have had a ridiculous number of fantastic fullbacks over the past 10-15 years though...

 

[Elektrik Shock]

Lets just say there is no player over the last decade i'd swap him for.

 

[Jason Maher]

There's also a number of playerd you wouldn't swap for him: Dugan, Hayne, Boyd, Minichello, Hunt, Bowen.

 

[Butters]

There's also a number of playerd you wouldn't swap for him: Dugan, Hayne, Boyd, Minichello, Hunt, Bowen.

:lol:

 

[Dummy Spit Johns]

Best fullback=LOL!:lol:

Grub=Winner!