Is Billy Slater the best player of all time?

[morri (cWo)]

Billy Cheater

 

[Old Darlin]

my old man couldn't split raper & murphy.

he maintains murphy is the finest halfback he ever saw.

he rated raper the finest all-round talent.

at the conclusion of lewis' career, he rated wally alongside both of them.

for mine, i can't split wally & sterling.

your old man knows of what he speaks - murphy was the greatest half ever to live - and i am an aussie as well - cut australia to ribbons in 1958 and 1962 in australia - refused to tour 1966 - still won the cc final with leigh in 1971, nearly 9 years after shredding us, then again with warrington in 1974! - genius

 

[Eelogical]

King Wally would be the best footballer I have seen over 30+ years or watching league
Best fullback? That's a tough one, and one I couldn't answer with any certainty.

 

[Ulysseus]

I don't think the best player of all time would be single handedly responsible for losing a world cup...


... but thats just me

lol, please, don't dredge up that memory set.
I agree though Danish, that was quiet possibly the biggest self destruct sequence ever, particularly THAT ball that thrown back in field............................into the arms of a waiting kiwi............................... that then scored.
He was then promptly awarded player of the series..................... after displaying skill levels more akin to that of a cocaine addict.

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Hayne > Slater

 

[Mark Rudd]

Billy is the best player in the game today.

 

[Leaguelegend20]

David Milne is a better player than Slater, imo.

 

[DC_fan]

David Milne is a better player than Slater, imo.

hahahahahahahahahaha

I like it when someone adds a little humour to the discussion.

 

[effnic]

There are 2 Bretts who were better players in that position. Mullens and Stewart.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

can you be the best "player" in a team sport with different roles? Surely you can only be the best of all time in your position. How can you compare a FB to a prop to a half back?

I'm pretty sure with a weak team Johns wouldn't have looked half as good as he did (just ask Thurston!)

Did you watch Newcastle in 2005?

 

[ANTiLAG]

Did you watch Newcastle in 2005?

I did. Didn't Joey captain Newcastle to six straight defeats in their first 6 playing rounds then skive off injured then come back from to lead them to another defeat? That is Joey lead Newcastle to seven straight defeats under his captaincy. Or a season record of 8 wins-8 losses (7 consecutive losses). Real impressive stuff.

 

[Johns Magic]

I did. Didn't Joey captain Newcastle to six straight defeats in their first 6 playing rounds then skive off injured then come back from to lead them to another defeat?

In Round 6 the Knights were belting the Warriors before Johns got injured with 15 minutes to go. The Warriors scored three tries in the last 11 minutes to win by 4 points when Johns was off, if you'd watched you'd have seen that.

That is Joey lead Newcastle to seven straight defeats under his captaincy. Or a season record of 8 wins-8 losses (7 consecutive losses). Real impressive stuff.

He took 5 weeks to get over a knee reconstruction...others take two years.

He had a massive season in 2005.

 

[Jason Maher]

churchill is regarded as the best australian fullback by many - and repeated verbatim by many more without a clue - any debate concerning greatest players needs to consider those from all countries between 1895-2010 - clearly beyond most

Hard to disagree mate. Obviously I'm relying on the opinions of others, but I would be very interested to hear any nominations from the Poms or Kiwis who would rank alongside Churchill.

As for Slater, is it worth anything that Churchill's widow rates him very highly? For me, I wouldn't rate him as the best fullback I've seen (Minichello before he got injured wins that title), but I do rate him as the best broken play runner I've seen. No one makes use of a bit of space better for mine.

As for the Joey discussion, only a Queenslander with an irrational hatred of the bloke could bag him for 2005. He was tremendous in a rubbish team. And he was responsible for their late season revival that nearly lifted them off the bottom of the table after losing their first 15. Not to mention almost single-handedly winning the 05 Origin series for NSW after coming back in for game 2 (he was injured for game 1, where Kimmorley threw that infamous intercept pass to hand Queensland a win after NSW had fought back from 19-0 down, thanks mostly to Buderus).

 

[Dummy Spit Johns]

Slater is a nuffy!

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Best player in the world over the last few years, and if he keeps it up for another 2-3 years, a little bit of revisionist history (as happens with all great players) will/should have him as the best player of his era.

 

[Mark Rudd]

Billy is the best player in the game today.

this

 

[Loudstrat]

Yes, we heard you the first time f*ckface.

I love watching Slater - always have - if I can forget that he is a grub, a merkin and now a salary cap cheat. Having said that we must consider a few things:

• If Brett Stewart and Anthony Minichiello's careers were as injury free as Slaters, we would not be having this conversation,
• Half of Queensland rate cutie over Slater,
• He can't kick, and
• Many great fullbacks, namely Keith Barnes, Clive Churchill and Changa Langlands captained Australia.

Greatest Player

Alex Murphy. (and he is a bloody Pom)

Three Challenge Cup Finals (Won) as a star player with three different clubs and One Challenge Cup Final as a Coach (won)

Equates to Four Grand Finals four victories... and this bloke used to toy with us Aussies.

Cheers
Quigs

Murphy, the Poms best. Yet with your proof he's not as good as Brett Kenny with 4 GF's AND a Challenge Cup. As much as Bert was the best pivot since Vic Hey, it has to be said that Murphy would shade even him.

f**k me Johnathon Docking was street ahead of Slater
but for me Graham Eddie was a goodun and that is something as he was manly through and through and my blood says I have to hate all things Manly, and he could kick goals as well, something Slater could only dream of

Glad you mentioned Wombat. The best kick returner of the lot. If Slater could also bench press a small truck, he'd be like Wombat. He was a better defender than Slater too, and 1917 career points has to account for something.

As for the best I have seen (since 1974):

1) Liubinskas
2) Beetson
3) Johns
4) Price
5) Kenny

And the best fullbacks I have seen...
1) Eadie
2) Jack
3) Belcher
4) Snake
5) Flip ya for Slater, Mini or Heather.

And none of them showed the form of the Hayne Train at the back end of last year. Twas only 2 months, but......

 

[cornerposter]

If Billy puts in a few more years like the last few, then he'll be the best FB I've ever seen by a country mile.

David Milne is a better player than Slater, imo.

That's why no one rates your opinion

Half of Queensland rate cutie over

But we're united in our believe that you are a knob muncher.

 

[Loudstrat]

But we're united in our believe that you are a knob muncher.

And you were sitting on the front porch in your rocking chair playing your banjo when you though of that one..........:lol:

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Billy is the best player in the game today.

this

Rofl