Joey or Thurston, who is GOAT?

[DC_fan]

Neither. GOAT is Billy Slater

 

[The Book of Steeden]

Neither. GOAT is Billy Slater

Another legend, but Lockyer was his better, & Minichiello (pre-back injury), his equal. Those are just players from this century, let alone the past 100-odd years.

You would certainly find Slater on anyone’s Top 10 Fullbacks of all-time. Players period, though, would be less sure.

 

[The Book of Steeden]

GOAT - more seppo bullshit.

Johns never needed Michael Morgan to get him off the hook.

Savage!

Not untrue, though. Thurston was disappointing in that GF. I’d say his selection as CCM was the worst we’ve ever seen, but honestly, we’ve had so many howlers over the years the Medal itself has lost at least some lustre.

 

[DC_fan]

Another legend, but Lockyer was his better, & Minichiello (pre-back injury), his equal. Those are just players from this century, let alone the past 100-odd years.

You would certainly find Slater on anyone’s Top 10 Fullbacks of all-time. Players period, though, would be less sure.

Slater revolutionised the fullback position. The great Rabbits Warren who has seen the great players of the past 50 years agrees with me that Slater is the best fullback. With Slater retired fans will soon miss the most gifted player to ever sit foot on the field. Lockyer was a great attacking player, but not in Slaters class as a defender

 

[The Book of Steeden]

Slater revolutionised the fullback position. The great Rabbits Warren who has seen the great players of the past 50 years agrees with me that Slater is the best fullback. With Slater retired fans will soon miss the most gifted player to ever sit foot on the field. Lockyer was a great attacking player, but not in Slaters class as a defender

I disagree that he revolutionised the role. What did he change?

 

[King hit]

Slater revolutionised the fullback position. The great Rabbits Warren who has seen the great players of the past 50 years agrees with me that Slater is the best fullback. With Slater retired fans will soon miss the most gifted player to ever sit foot on the field. Lockyer was a great attacking player, but not in Slaters class as a defender

Lockyer played with all the qualities of a playmaker as a fullback better then Slater. Churchill was the fullback who introduced playmaking to the role generations before Slater was even thought of.

 

[unforgiven]

Slater revolutionised the fullback position. The great Rabbits Warren who has seen the great players of the past 50 years agrees with me that Slater is the best fullback. With Slater retired fans will soon miss the most gifted player to ever sit foot on the field. Lockyer was a great attacking player, but not in Slaters class as a defender

Ray Warren is not the expert I would use to support my argument.

 

[The Book of Steeden]

Lockyer played with all the qualities of a playmaker as a fullback better then Slater. Churchill was the fullback who introduced playmaking to the role generations before Slater was even thought of.

I’d argue also that defensively, Minichiello was better on his line at stopping big men than Slater. At least, Minichiello up until his 2006 back injury. He was no longer Slater’s equal (arguably superior) after that.

 

[Whip Whitaker]

The greatest two players I have ever seen are Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston. But I am sure any great player would acknowledge the impact previous generations had on them. JT was a big fan of Joey, Stuart, Lockyer, Freddy etc.

 

[hrundi99]

Joey

 

[Dingo_dan]

I disagree that he revolutionised the role. What did he change?

This gets brought up a lot, but I think you're right, Slater didn't revolutionise anything. He's brought up as some great ball playing fullback, but his ball playing abilties didn't really come on until late in his career and even then they were only average.
There were many ball playing fullbacks before Slater. Lockyer is the obvious one. Robbie Paul switched between the halves and fullback. In the nrl you had guys like Bowen and Preston Campbell. Even guys like Hunt, Peachey and Hodgson had a bit of playmaking/ball play in them. Slater was even behind some of his contemporaries like Hayne, Inglis and Stewart in this regard. Slaters biggest strength his whole career was his impeccable timing. His timing in his runs was so good that if Slater didn't score a try himself then all it took was a simple draw and pass to put someone else away. Slater didn't do anything that guys before him couldn't do. Minichiello could do everything Slater done. It's just Slater done everything just that little bit better. He wasn't the guy that revolutionized fullback, he was the evolution of decades of great fullback play.

 

[Whip Whitaker]

This gets brought up a lot, but I think you're right, Slater didn't revolutionise anything. He's brought up as some great ball playing fullback, but his ball playing abilties didn't really come on until late in his career and even then they were only average.
There were many ball playing fullbacks before Slater. Lockyer is the obvious one. Robbie Paul switched between the halves and fullback. In the nrl you had guys like Bowen and Preston Campbell. Even guys like Hunt, Peachey and Hodgson had a bit of playmaking/ball play in them. Slater was even behind some of his contemporaries like Hayne, Inglis and Stewart in this regard. Slaters biggest strength his whole career was his impeccable timing. His timing in his runs was so good that if Slater didn't score a try himself then all it took was a simple draw and pass to put someone else away. Slater didn't do anything that guys before him couldn't do. Minichiello could do everything Slater done. It's just Slater done everything just that little bit better. He wasn't the guy that revolutionized fullback, he was the evolution of decades of great fullback play.

Slater revolutionised the rugby league world cup

 

[MilkShark]

Slater revolutionised getting man of the series in a losing team

 

[Vic Mackey]

Another legend, but Lockyer was his better, & Minichiello (pre-back injury), his equal. Those are just players from this century, let alone the past 100-odd years.

You would certainly find Slater on anyone’s Top 10 Fullbacks of all-time. Players period, though, would be less sure.

Minichello doesn’t belong in the same breath as Lockyer and Slater

 

[This Year?]

Minichello doesn’t belong in the same breath as Lockyer and Slater

You're really going to ruffle some feathers now. Cue Tommy and Unscrupulous etc.

 

[TheFrog]

n the nrl you had guys like Bowen and Preston Campbell.

Preston did play a number of games at the back early and late in his career. But he was most effective as a running five-eighth.

 

[TheFrog]

Ray Warren is not the expert I would use to support my argument.

So who is then? For all his foibles Rabs knows the game as well as anyone.

 

[King hit]

Minichello doesn’t belong in the same breath as Lockyer and Slater

Mini was just about the best player in the comp and was a golden boot winner, premiership winning captain, star in 3 straight series wins in Origin, Wally Lewis medal winner and starred in numerous test matches. He was basically unstoppable before injuries set in but was still a very reliable player.

Since your an old Tigers man do you believe that Brasher shouldn’t be mentioned in the great fullback discussions in spite of his awesome performances for NSW and Australia?

 

[unforgiven]

So who is then? For all his foibles Rabs knows the game as well as anyone.

No he doesn't, he has admitted to only watching the games in commentates on and has a very poor understanding of the game.

 

[TheFrog]

No he doesn't, he has admitted to only watching the games in commentates on and has a very poor understanding of the game.

The first part hasn't always been the case and the second is just your opinion.