To make this easier for myself, I will give you my ALL TIME FAVOURITE 13, I repeat FAVOURITE, not BEST, yes, Brisbane may just dominate the team:
1. Darren Lockyer: The best fullback I have ever witnessed, an absolute marvel who is on his way to an 'immortal' type career I believe. Does everything effortlessly and now he is excelling in another position, we could just see the best of Lockyer over the next 3-4 years.
2. Wendell Sailor: Dell' was a physical speciment who was the best winger in Rugby League before leaving for a career in Rugby. Size, speed and a try scoring machine, Dell's flare and wannabe' American sportstar antics were awesome to watch and to this day still though he ain't backing it up like he once did.
3. Steve Renouf: The 'Pearl', the 'Prince of Centers', an attacking machine who didn't play as many test matches as I would of liked due to injury at selection time. Whilst his attacking brilliant is often mentioned in comparison to greats like Irvine, Gasnier etc., it must be said, Renouf was a brilliant defensive center.
4. Laurie Daley: Yes, out of position as he was a five-eight, but he played there early in his career and I just can't leave him out. He was the thorn in our side for so many years as a Raider and Blues legend, but the passion, the toughness and skill moulded him to one player I had a love-hate relationship with.
5. Tim Brasher: Did he ever let any team he played for down ? Played forever it seemed and was just one of those players I loved to watch where I thought he was a GREAT fullback and would rank higher if given the opp' to play there his whole career. Was endorsed by the great Garry Jack.
6. Kevin Walters: Little Kevvie played in a tough era for a five-eight. He played with the Lewis, Daley, Fittler to name a few and when on song, he matched with all at some stage. His partnership with Alfie is still missed by myself, his leadership in 2000 when we won the comp with Walters at half was inspirational.
7. Allan Langer: My favourite ALL TIME player and childhood hero. Say what you like, this guy was an out and out champion captain his club to 4 GF's, captaining his state and country, Dally M winner, Rothmans medal winner, Clive Churchill winner...still the guy I have at half in my All Time Greats team, he lifted us to victory so many times on his own it bordered embarassing. I can't speak highly enough of the little general.
13. Brad Fittler: See Laurie Daley. Replace Raiders with Panthers and Roosters adding perhaps the best leader of men I have seen in the modern day game. The game is poorer next season without him.
12. Jason Smith: This guy had it all, ball skills of a world class five-eight, run like the games best backrower, kicking game inside his half of a brilliant half, hit like the AXE Gillemeister and at one stage ranked as perhaps the games best player. Will be awesome to see him back in the NRL plying his trade.
11. Gordan Tallis: The Raging Bull was just that for most of his career, the neck injury has certainly in ways dented his game over the last 3 seasons which had to be expected. When at his best, no one was more intimidating nor as damaging as a runner.
10. Glen Lazarus: The brick with eye's was the cornerstone for whatever team he played winning premierships with 3 clubs. You always felt confident when seeing the big fella run out to play in a big game for the Bronco's...if only we had him in the maroon jersey !
9. Steve Walters: How quickly some forget how GREAT this guy was at the dummy-half position. Unfortunately, he never played for the Bronco's and truth be known Kerrod was great for us when there, but Walters was just this pit bull who I loved watching play except when he was teeing off on the Bronco's.
8. Shane Webcke: The brick with eyes version 2.
Notables: Tony Hearn, Bob Lindner, Dale Shearer, Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns, Garry Jack, Garry Belcher, Trevor Gillmeister, Jim Dymock, Dean Pay...I can go on forever.
Cheers
