Cliff Lyons

[Engine]

Im a tigers fan but I think people forget just how skillful halves like Cliff Lyons were.
I was watching the 1997 grand final when people took ball skills like Lyons for granted. He just has the softest hands.
There are no halves like that going around today with those same hands. Funny enough, I think Dave Taylor has soft hands as well based on some of the things he has done this season.

 

[innsaneink]

Rod Reddy was a great ball player, John Sutton is another....lost art.

 

[Engine]

I agree with John Sutton in regards to soft hands. Back in the late 80's, nearly every half had soft hands. League has progressed in most areas, except for creative ball playing.

 

[Engine]

Thing is....if Cliff Lyons was a 20yo in todays competition, he'd prob be picked for Australia (Lockyer is a better athlete with a better kicking game but Lyons vision was just as good and he had better hands)..

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

even at 35 Lyons was awesome ,what a great player

btw its good to see forwards not turn there back in tackles,just take it straight and hard

 

[ElectricEelMan]

I forgot how big of whingers Manly were ... re-watching the 1997 GF reminded me of this.

 

[Scaven]

I forgot how big of whingers Manly were ... re-watching the 1997 GF reminded me of this.

We will see how you are tonight moron.

 

[Red Bear]

I agree with John Sutton in regards to soft hands. Back in the late 80's, nearly every half had soft hands. League has progressed in most areas, except for creative ball playing.

My theory is that it is partly due to the ball. The old leather hands were heavy etc. had to use soft hand. The synthetic ones are so easy to pass that they just fire the ball out no matter what the situation

however enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tHsJ0zgw6Y

 

[ElectricEelMan]

We will see how you are tonight moron.

What?
I am not playing tonight you idiot
I was referring to the Manly players you moron
Namely Toovey who would whinge at anything and everything

 

[caspersparks]

What?
I am not playing tonight you idiot
I was referring to the Manly players you moron
Namely Toovey who would whinge at anything and everything

Toovey got studded in the face that game, i'd be pissed off aswell (i'd like to see that happen in 2days game)...

anyways, cliff lyons will ALWAS be my favorite player of all time.. no question.

 

[Eelementary]

What do you mean by "soft hands" - the ability to pass/offload the ball with skill and finesse, or the ability to hold onto/catch the ball?

If it's the latter, I recall the match-winning try against Newcastle earlier this year where Daniel Mortimer copped a terrible pass near his boot laces, caught the ball and chipped ahead in one motion, before passing to Fui to score.

 

[macavity]

best game ever.

 

[gong_eagle]

Cliffy will always be 1 of my most ever fave players

 

[Nuke]

How did so many of us -myself excluded- get to be watching the 1997 Grand Final today? Was it on Foxtel or something?

 

[mrbishi]

cliffy, a true champion of the game! its just a shame he didnt really get the chance to shine at rep level, the vision, the ball skills, my all time favourite, not only manly, but all of league!