What's new
By:
Advanced search…
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Joey or Thurston, who is GOAT?

King hit

King hit

Coach
Messages
14,093
Tommy Smith said:
This is very oversimplistic but in a nutshell it highlights why I rate Joey higher:

Attack:
Joey 10
Thurston 10

Defence:
Joey 9.5
Thurston 6.5

Now of course you could break it down a hell of a lot more; but given that the adage "defence wins Premierships" rings so true, I'm amazed that it's rarely taken into consideration in these debates.

They are both geniuses and the two best attacking players I've seen, so when I'm looking for a reason to separate I always come back to defence where Joey was MUCH better.
Click to expand...

Johns had the best defensive technique of any halfback I've seen which is one of the main reasons why I place him ahead of Thurston.

I will also go as far to suggest that Johns revolutionised Rugby League. He introduced a new variety of kicking such as banana kicks and just generally landing the ball on point and making it bounce the right way. Also believe he invented the round the corner kicking as he was the first I ever saw that could do that, when I've seen old games before his time nobody is attempting that.
 
beave

beave

Coach
Messages
15,680
King hit said:
Johns had the best defensive technique of any halfback I've seen which is one of the main reasons why I place him ahead of Thurston.

I will also go as far to suggest that Johns revolutionised Rugby League. He introduced a new variety of kicking such as banana kicks and just generally landing the ball on point and making it bounce the right way. Also believe he invented the round the corner kicking as he was the first I ever saw that could do that, when I've seen old games before his time nobody is attempting that.
Click to expand...


Sigh.


You might wanna go watch some more videos or read some more books.........
 
Big Pete

Big Pete

Referee
Messages
29,121
Ricky Stuart was performing banana kicks before Joey even made the grade and even then, I'd be hesitant to say he 'invented' the kick.

Joey based his game on Stuart's. He didn't innovate as much as he mastered what had already been established.

JT had the better career, but Joey was more influential. Joey only had one year where his win percentage dipped below 50%, and that was his rookie season. On the other hand, JT had four seasons (2008-2010, 2018) where his winning percentage dipped below 50%. Without going through all the footage, that probably best sums the argument up.
 
beave

beave

Coach
Messages
15,680
Big Pete said:
Ricky Stuart was performing banana kicks before Joey even made the grade and even then, I'd be hesitant to say he 'invented' the kick.

Joey based his game on Stuart's. He didn't innovate as much as he mastered what had already been established.

JT had the better career, but Joey was more influential. Joey only had one year where his win percentage dipped below 50%, and that was his rookie season. On the other hand, JT had four seasons (2008-2010, 2018) where his winning percentage dipped below 50%. Without going through all the footage, that probably best sums the argument up.
Click to expand...

The 2008-2010 NQ sides were f**king abysmal. You cannot put that on JT, what the hell is he meant to do, play front row and on the wing as well?
 
Big Pete

Big Pete

Referee
Messages
29,121
beave said:
The 2008-2010 NQ sides were f**king abysmal. You cannot put that on JT, what the f**k is he meant to do, play front row and on the wing as well?
Click to expand...

They weren't as bad as say Newcastle 2005, but Joey still managed to walk away with a 50% record and that was coming off a knee reconstruction.
 
beave

beave

Coach
Messages
15,680
Big Pete said:
They weren't as bad as say Newcastle 2005, but Joey still managed to walk away with a 50% record and that was coming off a knee reconstruction.
Click to expand...

Since when has teams 50% winning record been the benchmark of an individual players ability?

If that’s the case then you can throw Wally Lewis’s last 2 years on the GC into his equation when debating his all time greatness.
 
King hit

King hit

Coach
Messages
14,093
The Cowboys had shit coaching in 08-10 though which didn't help. That Millward bloke was a shocker and Henry is overrated (not to Stuart's level but still). Millward had those short kick offs and Henry once picked Reithmuller over Taumololo.
 
Big Pete

Big Pete

Referee
Messages
29,121
beave said:
Since when has teams 50% winning record been the benchmark of an individual players ability?

If that’s the case then you can throw Wally Lewis’s last 2 years on the GC into his equation when debating his all time greatness.
Click to expand...

It's not the bottom line, but it's certainly a factor. When the comparison between the two is so close and it's difficult to point to qualitative examples given how stringent the NRL is with their copyright, the best place to start is individual records. Unfortunately for JT, there's multiple blemishes that Joey was able to avoid.
 
D

DOGS AND EELS!!!

Bench
Messages
4,032
Joey made the average look exceptional while JT needed the exceptional to be what he is. Last year for example cowboys went all the way to the big one without JT. I think a better comparison would be who is better in a team full of superstars.
 
Canard

Canard

Immortal
Messages
35,713
DOGS AND EELS!!! said:
Joey made the average look exceptional while JT needed the exceptional to be what he is. Last year for example cowboys went all the way to the big one without JT. I think a better comparison would be who is better in a team full of superstars.
Click to expand...

Johns played with duds is a rewriting of history that is particularly odd.

Buderus was a once in a generation hooker that was better then anyone that's played the same position at the Cowboys.

Ben Kennedy compared to Gavin Cooper for example, is laughably lopsided.

And even going back, guys like Robbie O and Paul Harragon are superstars of there time.
 
Canard

Canard

Immortal
Messages
35,713
King hit said:
Johns had the best defensive technique of any halfback I've seen which is one of the main reasons why I place him ahead of Thurston.

I will also go as far to suggest that Johns revolutionised Rugby League. He introduced a new variety of kicking such as banana kicks and just generally landing the ball on point and making it bounce the right way. Also believe he invented the round the corner kicking as he was the first I ever saw that could do that, when I've seen old games before his time nobody is attempting that.
Click to expand...

Holy shit. This is IBM level stuff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top