Iconic Moments on Fox

[T-Boon]

I disagree with this. Good defence is great to watch.

Its just wrestling and a disciplined fast straight line. Tackling isn't even good to watch anymore. There is hardly any play making on the defensive side of the ball. Though you do still see the occasional intercept, but thats it.

The main thing I thinking about when my team is defending is "just get through this without allowing quick play the balls or conceding a penalty".

Heck, "good defense" nowadays has become actually conceding penalties inside your 20.

 

[T-Boon]

I disagree with this. Good defence is great to watch.

One way you can tell modern defense is garbage is that they wouldn't dare teach it to a kid looking to learn the game these days. A ten year old would be like "what da f**k is this? I am out of here". It is a dirty little secret you don't tell the kids about until they are hooked on the game.

 

[axl rose]

I don't think Steve Walters was as good as Elias. Even as a Queenslander I say that. He (Walters) had big supporters within the game though, like Gould.

Had some supporters in high places. Bob Fulton as well was pushing for Walters to be named at Hooker in the Team of the Century. He correctly missed out to Noel Kelly. Backdoor Benny burnt plenty of bridges over the years with coaches. He would not even get a mention in these lists but it has little to do with his talent.

 

[King hit]

When I’ve watched games including Steve Walters I personally didn’t get the hype. He was a very good player but not far and away the best. Elias really did a job on him in some of those origin games.

 

[Fangs]

Hated Elias as a player. We feared him in Qld. He could turn any game. Like his charge down in the great final vs Souths in 1989.

Saw that. Unbelievable play from Elias.

 

[axl rose]

Saw that. Unbelievable play from Elias.

He and Cam Smith very similar players, don't look like athletes and absolute grubs at times (biting his own arm to get Mario sent off) but the talent to back it up.

 

[Disinterested third party]

Elias also scored a key try in the Blues first Origin series win in 1985.

 

[Disinterested third party]

Also key component of 1992 Blues. Bled all over his Mum.

 

[King hit]

Can’t go past his farewell game in 1994. Totally dominated the Maroons winning man of the match and nailed 2 field goals for good measure.

 

[Grapple]

Its just wrestling and a disciplined fast straight line. Tackling isn't even good to watch anymore. There is hardly any play making on the defensive side of the ball. Though you do still see the occasional intercept, but thats it.

The main thing I thinking about when my team is defending is "just get through this without allowing quick play the balls or conceding a penalty".

Heck, "good defense" nowadays has become actually conceding penalties inside your 20.

Yeah that's pretty much an accurate read on most fans thoughts during a defensive set i'd imagine. The only exception is a team that holds the line and defends repeat sets which can result in a forced error. That's always good to watch.

 

[King hit]

Watched Gary Freeman carving up. Forgot just how nippy the Wiz was. Ellery Hanley was other worldly. Loved watching Cliffy Lyons the other day. Easily my favourite player of that era. He was an amazing ball player. Deceptive and on point time in time out. His line break assist stats would be incredible.

I'll never forget how Cliffy ran them around in circles in the first half of the 1987 GF. Unstoppable. O'Connor dropped a pass cold when he just had to put it down over the line because Cliffy had already dummied about 6 times in the same movement. Genius with the ball.

They showed the Canberra v Easts 87 semi final this morning. The Manly players (who were already into the final) were at the game and the camera cut to them and I swear Noel Cleal was smoking a joint. I mean it could have been a cigarette but the way he was handling it it looked just like a joint. Cliffy was sitting next to him. Great stuff.

Cliff Lyons is so criminally underrated it isn’t funny. His ability to confuse defenders, find gaps in the tightest defensive lines, set up tries and to make clean breaks was up there with the very best. He was great in the 1987 grand final but I still think Kevin Ward was the best with Cliffy second. Unlucky to play in such a great era of five eighths if he was in another he might’ve been more recognised these days.

 

[Fangs]

He and Cam Smith very similar players, don't look like athletes and absolute grubs at times (biting his own arm to get Mario sent off) but the talent to back it up.

Christ how did he get the ball back? He just wanted it more. Thanks for the timestamp.

 

[Life's Good]

Cliff Lyons is so criminally underrated it isn’t funny. His ability to confuse defenders, find gaps in the tightest defensive lines, set up tries and to make clean breaks was up there with the very best. He was great in the 1987 grand final but I still think Kevin Ward was the best with Cliffy second. Unlucky to play in such a great era of five eighths if he was in another he might’ve been more recognised these days.

Only underrated by those who think Rugby League started about 10 years ago or spins on the axis created by Smith, Slater, Cronk, Thurston et al(and I am by no means having a shot at them).

 

[T-Boon]

Christ how did he get the ball back? He just wanted it more. Thanks for the timestamp.

Yeah, it was good stuff. The games I've watched the last few days there has been at least one successful charge down each game and on every kick the kicker was under a fair bit of pressure. That is another dying art.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Was Kenny better to watch than Thurston?

The only facet of the game that JT excels over Kenny is kicking.

Otherwise Kenny first, daylight on December 21 second.

 

[veggiepatch1959]

Origin?
Origins are usually the least entertaining games thanks to negative play and spoiling tactics.

Well I suppose not many Titans players get selected.

 

[King hit]

Only underrated by those who think Rugby League started about 10 years ago or spins on the axis created by Smith, Slater, Cronk, Thurston et al(and I am by no means having a shot at them).

Even people who I speak to who watched that era seem to speak only of Lewis and Kenny from that time. I live in Queensland though and for them Lewis is a god.

 

[The_Shield]

Its just wrestling and a disciplined fast straight line. Tackling isn't even good to watch anymore. There is hardly any play making on the defensive side of the ball. Though you do still see the occasional intercept, but thats it.

The main thing I thinking about when my team is defending is "just get through this without allowing quick play the balls or conceding a penalty".

Heck, "good defense" nowadays has become actually conceding penalties inside your 20.

Defence is about way more then wrestling and a straight line. There is such a thing as attacking with your defence, forcing mistakes because of relentless defence is great to watch. The defence doesn’t get the recognition they deserve most of the time as most people like to blame poor attack. Wade Graham is great at this, particularly when he’s up against Cooper Cronk.

Also how many times have we seen a big hit change momentum in a game. Even without the shoulder charge, one of the best things about rugby league is the hits. Desperation tackles to save try’s are great to watch, some of the tackles we’ve seen where blokes are stopping people from getting the ball down are incredible and just leave you thinking how the hell did he stop that. And honestly if you can’t appreciate that and just want to focus on wrestling (which honestly isn’t as bad as everyone makes out) then well I dunno

 

[Vic Mackey]

I disagree with this. Good defence is great to watch. I would much rather watch a team trying to score against a team that is great at defence then watch a team score at will because the other team can’t defend to save their lives.

It’s not hard to defend when every teams attack consists of the same shitty block plays

 

[Life's Good]

Even people who I speak to who watched that era seem to speak only of Lewis and Kenny from that time. I live in Queensland though and for them Lewis is a god.

Which is why I’m stumped that Kenny gets left behind in ‘greatest’ lists. Time & again he outplayed Lewis in Origin not too mention multiple tries in consecutive GF’s.
And then Greg Inglis gets tossed up as ‘future immortal’ and I want to put a brick through the TV.