Johns vs Thurston

[Bobby DIGital]

So one is honest, and the other Coffs when asked?

:lol: Twice even!

 

[betcats]

Couple of other records Joey has over JT:

-Won half a premiership with convicted steroid users
-Kept out of his chosen position in rep teams by Brett Kimmorley

JT can't match that

:lol: Be less salty. JT cant match Joey in a lot of things, playing footy for one.

 

[Incorrect]

Meh, Brad Fittler was kept out of 5/8 on a number of occasions even though he was the best 5/8.

It's about having the best players play, Kimmorley was in fine form at the time and can only play halfback. Johns' versatility meant he was selected at hooker, and was the best hooker in the world when he played there.

Oh and didnt JT change from Halfback to 5/8 in order to keep Cooper Cronk at number 7 for QLD and Aus?

Walter Lewis was relegated to the bench on the 1982 Kangaroo tour when Brett Kenny was selected at five-eighth from memory... or may have been left out of the side altogether... either way, Brett 'The Natural' Kenny started ahead of Lewis. Perhaps the selectors at that time didn't overplay the importance of Lewis playing 3 good games a year as opposed to being great week in week out in the superior NSWRL competition of the time.

 

[Craig Johnston]

Walter Lewis was relegated to the bench on the 1982 Kangaroo tour when Brett Kenny was selected at five-eighth from memory... or may have been left out of the side altogether... either way, Brett 'The Natural' Kenny started ahead of Lewis. Perhaps the selectors at that time didn't overplay the importance of Lewis playing 3 good games a year as opposed to being great week in week out in the superior NSWRL competition of the time.

but lewis did play in the superior nswrl competition, how did he go again? oh that's right got punted by his first club and then back to back wooden spoons #legacy

 

[Johnnie Red]

Statistically there not much between them, however Johns is a better leader and makes people around him play better. That's how he got his premierships. Thurston doesn't bring the best out of his players and he will never LEAD a team to a premiership.

The cowboys have had a good roster for a number of years and consistently under perform.

 

[butchmcdick]

but lewis did play in the superior nswrl competition, how did he go again? oh that's right got punted by his first club and then back to back wooden spoons #legacy

Did you ever see him play ?

 

[Incorrect]

but lewis did play in the superior nswrl competition, how did he go again? oh that's right got punted by his first club and then back to back wooden spoons #legacy

CJ, if I were you I would have worded that last part a little differently... instead of "back to back wooden spoons", I would have said "punted by his first club and then signed by an unsuccessful and long defunct franchise"

Reason being, there's another player in more recent times I know you consider one of the greats who also won back to back spoons not so long ago! ;-)

 

[DiegoNT]

Walter Lewis was relegated to the bench on the 1982 Kangaroo tour when Brett Kenny was selected at five-eighth from memory... or may have been left out of the side altogether... either way, Brett 'The Natural' Kenny started ahead of Lewis. Perhaps the selectors at that time didn't overplay the importance of Lewis playing 3 good games a year as opposed to being great week in week out in the superior NSWRL competition of the time.

You could say Anasta and Sherwin were picked ahead of Thurston, not just for a grand final, but at the time he was considered the weakest of the 3 so he was let go by the bulldogs ( hindsight is a wonderful thing). Early in his career though so can cut him some slack there. the next year when he won the dally M and led cowboys to a gf but still lost out in Australian selection to Scott prince and craig Gower. Thurston was considered more of a 5-8th early in his career but was mainly played at halfback due to lockyer, and now later in his career where his considered more of a halfback, his played out of position to 5-8th due to Cronk. Mal Meninga played 2nd row for australia, fittler a lot of lock, Kenny played plenty of centres, many good players have played out of position in rep games

 

[JJ]

but lewis did play in the superior nswrl competition, how did he go again? oh that's right got punted by his first club and then back to back wooden spoons #legacy

[-(

 

[Canard]

You could say Anasta and Sherwin were picked ahead of Thurston, not just for a grand final, but at the time he was considered the weakest of the 3 so he was let go by the bulldogs ( hindsight is a wonderful thing). Early in his career though so can cut him some slack there. the next year when he won the dally M and led cowboys to a gf but still lost out in Australian selection to Scott price and craig Gower. Thurston was considered more of a 5-8th early in his career but was mainly played at halfback due to lockyer, and now later in his career where his considered more of a halfback, his played out of position to 5-8th due to Cronk. Mal Meninga played 2nd row for australia, fittler a lot of lock, Kenny played plenty of centres, many good players have played out of position in rep games

Scott Price was a hell of a player

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Why does brad fitler never get mentioned in GOAT debates.

I grew up in the Joey and freddy generation and I always thought there wasn't much between the 2. Brad fittler was a tremendous leader and was just a beast of a player.

If I was to pick a 5/8 out of JT, Lockyer or Fittler it would be Fittler and I'm a qld supporter.

 

[Craig Johnston]

CJ, if I were you I would have worded that last part a little differently... instead of "back to back wooden spoons", I would have said "punted by his first club and then signed by an unsuccessful and long defunct franchise"

Reason being, there's another player in more recent times I know you consider one of the greats who also won back to back spoons not so long ago! ;-)

wrong. have never done that.

 

[Craig Johnston]

Did you ever see him play ?

been following parra all my life since in the early 80's champ, seen my club win 4 premierships

 

[Canard]

Why does brad fitler never get mentioned in GOAT debates.

I grew up in the Joey and freddy generation and I always thought there wasn't much between the 2. Brad fittler was a tremendous leader and was just a beast of a player.

If I was to pick a 5/8 out of JT, Lockyer or Fittler it would be Fittler and I'm a qld supporter.

Freddie was very very good. Especially at Origin, where he was way more consistent and dominating then Johns ever was. His club form was pretty uneven until his later years with the Roosters however.

I'd have him in an all time side either at Lock or 5/8th or Centre.

Someone else that always gets overlooked is Brandy Alexander, hate him as a commentator, but by gee he was a gun player. The untimely and tragic death of his brother probably affected his later career and affected his legacy somewhat.

 

[JJ]

Freddie was very very good. Especially at Origin, where he was way more consistent and dominating then Johns ever was. His club form was pretty uneven until his later years with the Roosters however.

I'd have him in an all time side either at Lock or 5/8th or Centre.

Someone else that always gets overlooked is Brandy Alexander, hate him as a commentator, but by gee he was a gun player. The untimely and tragic death of his brother probably affected his later career and affected his legacy somewhat.

Fittler was a freak, but imo drifted in and out of games too much at club level - as a lock he was behind Clyde, and as 5/8 often behind Daley - in saying that, huge fan of Fittler

Brandy a case of what could have been - huge talent, and in 1990-91 he and Penrith were becoming a dominant force - Ben's death derailed that, and certainly Brandy and Mark Geyer didn't IMO reach their potential.

I'm still staggered that Johns was made an immortal tbh - too soon to judge him imo, yes no questioning he is an all-time great, but not sure his achievements stack up - again, I come back to Sterling of the recent players, and perhaps Meninga

 

[Craig Johnston]

fittler is another example of a great who's versatility diminishes his standing overall, the greatest centre/5-8th/lock of ALL TIME who had to accomodate playing with daley and clyde

 

[Joker's Wild]

JT would get killed playing hooker at club level, never mind SOO or test level

Joey > JT

 

[DiegoNT]

Freddie was an all time great, my favourite player of all time despite my hatred for the roosters being a rabbitohs supporter. It's weird how players like him, Daley, langer and lockyer get overlooked in the hype surrounding Thurston at the moment. Even in his playing time Thurston has been ovee shadowed at times by Smith, slater and inglis

 

[madunit]

JT would get killed playing hooker at club level, never mind SOO or test level

Joey > JT

The fact Joey had to play at Hooker works against him. If he was any good surely he would've been picked at halfback.

 

[JJ]

fittler is another example of a great who's versatility diminishes his standing overall, the greatest centre/5-8th/lock of ALL TIME who had to accomodate playing with daley and clyde

Hmmm, well Daley had the same versatility, as did Kenny... actually, Brett Kenny is one who I think is criminally underrated - just a freak whether at 5/8 or centre, and late in his career played lock as I recall... with the severe knee injury he lost that explosive pace, and then it became clear (it was already IMO) that he was a super all round player.

I'd have him at 5/8 over everyone, except the King