My view is that the side must consist of players who won a minor premiership or premiership. Coulda/woulda/shoulda doesn't make the grade, at least for this exercise. You have to allow for the difference in the fitness and games styles of each era as well. No doubt Brian To'o would smash Mackay and Smith from the 91 team, but we should focus on their impact on the team and the game in general at that time. With that said, here is my pick:
Wesser - The best compliment I can give Wesser is that Edwards cannot do what he did in 2003 where he literally lit up the backline. I think to this day, he is still the fastest Panther over 40m. If Edwards continues his current form into another grand final, then he will secure this spot.
To'o - To'o does everything Mansour does, only better and with fewer mistakes. Mackay and Smith from 91 were good finishers, but that is all. To'o is a warrior.
Lewis - Brilliant footballer and better than Mackay Smith, Crichton, Rooney and Mansour. If May continues his current trajectory, Lewis may lose this spot and that is a huge compliment to May.
Girdler - One of the finest footballers ever to wear a Panthers shirt. Looked like Elvis, built like a tax accountant yet somehow could break tackles and was always in the right place at the right time. Imagine if he had the physical gifts of Crichton?
Fittler - Only a genius plays a grand final at 18 marking the man mountain Meninga and manages to hold his own.
Brandy - Poetry in Motion. He got the team to two grand finals and read the game better than any other Panther. With Cleary's emergence as an organising half, he would play as a running five eighth, playing head's up football and providing some serious tactical kicking options. He had a great passing game and To'o and Lewis will be in danger of getting a bad back from bending down to score tries. Campbell and Laui were good, but not Brandy's class.
Cleary - Proved me wrong. He hasn't let his lack of creativity hold him back, he has continued to grow his game. Still not the most creative but his defence, kicking and work rate make him an elite halfback.
JFH - Dunn, Ross, Clark, Walker, Clinton can only marvel at the work rate, toughness and skills of this man. Legend. Good players, but the Fish is the man.
Martie Lang - A kamikaze with the heart of a lion. Fearless, nails hard and with a high work rate he would be a perfect compliment to JFH.
Api - I agonised over this. Priddis was a CM winner in 03, he was just brilliant. But Api has been brilliant for three years straight and has delivered all season long. Royce was a rock. A man who would take a bullet for the team. A true leader, but he can't do what these two can.
Geyer - Every team needs a nutter who will not take a backward step. Geyer is that man. I had the privilege of watching most of his Panther's games and I can tell you he was a lazy bugger, but no more so than Puletua or Kikau. But, he was more skilful than Cartwright, Kikau, Puletua, Galavauo, Waterhouse, Capewell and Martin. He could pass like a half and he read the game well. But the deciding factor is his aggression. He would absolutely have loved taking on Tallis, JWH and other hard men who have come along. In his infamous SOO appearance he literally intimidated the entire QLD team. Light the fuse and stand well back.
Kikau - This year he has really improved as a player and his defence is now a strong feature of his game. Puletua was too lazy to make my team. Kikau is much more consistent. I loved John Cartwright, but you have to recognise the impact Kikau can have on a game. No other back rower can offer that except MG.
Yeo - No other player is even remotely close to taking this spot. Izzard? Good player but nah. Van Der Voort? Nope. Waterhouse is the closest, a genuine world class lock in his prime but he just doesn't have the ball playing skills to match Yeo. Sattler? Ball playing was good, but defence and running game just not in the same class. We are so lucky to have him in our team.
The bench
Gower - a brilliant utility who is also hard as nails. He can cover lock, hooker and the back row at a pinch.
Cartwright - Always gave 100% and was a great ball playing back rower. He did all the dirty one percenters while Geyer was deciding who he was going to smash.
Waterhouse - Great backrower/lock or prop. Definitely not a centre!
Clinton - Great work rate and energy. Happy to run into a brick wall and get obliterated. Will do a lot more work than Ross, Dunn, Clark or Leota.
Just counting through the team we have:
91 Team - Brandy, fittler, Geyer, Cartwright
03 Team - Wesser, Lewis, Girdler, Lang, Gower, Waterhouse, Clinton
21 Team - To'o, Cleary, JFH, Api, Kikau, Yeo
This year may mean the team changes. Edwards and Martin may improve their standing.
