Greatest fullback of all time.

[Big Pete]

Churchill.

Was a cut above every player of his era and was capable of things that were before their time.

Of the players I've seen, I'd go Slater.

Nobody I've seen has been able to break a game open as consistently as Billy has. His work both on and off the ball is on point and he's carved out an amazing career of himself, the best I've seen of any fullback personally.

However, there's been some great fullbacks over the years. Minichiello, Badger, Hayne, Ridge etc. one name I'd throw into the hat is Brett Stewart. At one point, he was every bit as good as Billy and despite the setbacks he's been one of Manly's better players over the past few years. I think he's the best exponent of the second man play in the game and his defence doesn't get enough wraps. I wouldn't call myself a fan, but his name deserves to be mentioned alongside all the others.

 

[Gina Minehart]

No.

Yes

 

[JJ]

Christian Cullen

 

[TheDalek079]

Christian Cullen

Not as good as George Nepia or JPR Williams

 

[hineyrulz]

Christian Cullen

Blacks a fake>>>>>>>>> Christian Cullen.

 

[Twatface Magee]

Anybody not voting for good old Puigy isn't taking this poll seriously enough.

 

[thorson1987]

Nope, before churchill fullback was seen as purely a defensive position to one where it become a position to focus the attack around.

You don't want to get into this argument. You wont win.

MU knows his shit when it comes to historical league players.

 

[alien]

Churchill wins this hands down though.

i wish i could go back in time and watch him play. even watching him on some video footage would be cool.

 

[alien]

Shannon Gallant

mighty mouse!

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

There have been several people who have praised Darren Lockyer as a possible greatest ever full back. What these advocates seem to have forgotten is Lockyer's poor record in defence. He simply could not tackle the bigger men. That puts him well behind Billy Slater.

 

[Bronco18]

There have been several people who have praised Darren Lockyer as a possible greatest ever full back. What these advocates seem to have forgotten is Lockyer's poor record in defence. He simply could not tackle the bigger men. That puts him well behind Billy Slater.

Lockyer deserves a shortlisting (Mullins ahead of him, really?) but you're on the money with defence. Slater IMO upped the standard for fullbacks in defence, he could always get himself under he ball when an opposing player goes over the try line.

 

[roostersrule2]

On Churchill, I never even went close to seeing him play. Hell I was born after he died but from what I've heard people who did watch him play is that fullback was a purely defensive position until he came along and made it an attacking one.

It's usually Locky/Slater that get credited with making it a third half position.

Not really trying to argue a point it's just what I've heard.

 

[HowHigh]

I honestly can't cast a legit vote and neither should at least half (?) the people here that never had a chance to watch the first 4 on the list

If I'm voting for what I've seen then Billy Slater..

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

I honestly can't cast a legit vote and neither should at least half (?) the people here that never had a chance to watch the first 4 on the list

If I'm voting for what I've seen then Billy Slater..

I saw all but Churchill and Puig-Aubert play.

Sidestepper Langlands, who is rightly an Immortal, and who also played centre for Australia because of a glut of full back talent during his time, was the best full back I had seen until Russell Fairfax started performing miracles for Eastern Suburbs in the 1970s. I regarded Russell as a freak who was underrated because of a career diminished by injuries.

Billy Slater has obviously raised the bar for everyone who preceded and who will succeed him.

 

[TheDalek079]

i wish i could go back in time and watch him play. even watching him on some video footage would be cool.

you could go back to watch the 1952 Grand Final. Wests V Souffs. But who would you be supporting?

 

[some11]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[God-King Dean]

If Lockyer didn't move to fullback, it would barely be a debate

 

[God-King Dean]

you could go back to watch the 1952 Grand Final. Wests V Souffs. But who would you be supporting?

:lol: rekt

 

[_snafu_]

you could go back to watch the 1952 Grand Final. Wests V Souffs. But who would you be supporting?

 

[kit66]

On Churchill, I never even went close to seeing him play. Hell I was born after he died but from what I've heard people who did watch him play is that fullback was a purely defensive position until he came along and made it an attacking one.

It's usually Locky/Slater that get credited with making it a third half position.

Not really trying to argue a point it's just what I've heard.

By who ? There were ball playing fullbacks running around before those two were even born. I wouldn't say either of them have changed the way the game is played ( or the way a fullback plays ). They're both incredibly talented players though, no question.

Langlands was the best I've seen play. Slater is probably the closest to that. I always loved watching Gary Jack and Tim Brasher play as well and Graham Eadie ( begrudingly - I hate Manly ) must have been a nightmare to play against not to mention tackle.