Tommy Smith said:
Oh and before one of the "anti-Freddy brigade" reply (im probably already too late) i want to point out that Johns, Lockyer and Daley are magnificent players. Certainly three of the greatest i've had the PLEASURE of watching. And regardless of how i rate Fittler besides these great players, one thing i certainly will never do is discredit them. Some of you should do the same. Just ebcause you think so and so is better than Freddy why the bloody hell does that mean you have to discredit him. Someone who's been playing for nearly longer than some of you have lived i bet. Just give him his dues as i do with Daley and co.
Tell me where I said Fittler was overrated. Never had, in fact I am more likely to defend someone saying he isn't. I always had the conception he was a burnt out player in the late 90's and prior to 2002, he would be hidden in games. The Roosters premiership coincided with Brad Fittlers retirement from rep Footy, that was the reason you became so "dominant" because he wasn't burnt out after origin. Now whether you agree or not is up to you.
And Fittlers GF performance was championship material, the best Rooster out there along with Peter Cusack. He was VERY dominant in the first half and did things at a very upbeat pace, it would rank as a top 5 club performance he has played. I rated Daley over Fittler because he handled week to week footy better and played a brand of football more suitable to pressure games, Bob Fulton said he was the best player to coach not the most skillful player he has seen, there is a difference, and for a time in the SL war Laurie Daley was snubbed and therefore could have been a factor. I DID NOT say overrated at all , you are showing a lack of actually reading the posts I make, I just thought Lockyer and Johns in Particular have done things as a whole that other players couldn't do
Johns for example has anyone you know of been able to Banana kick AND kick goals at 80% AND tackle with such venom AND captain Australia AND Dominate SOO "not as much as Wally but as much as any wearing blue"
Lockyer has an array too including Goalkicking play organisation, his hands must have done more work in attack than any other player in the comp 2004, he had players however who fell into the habit of expecting him to do things.