However, a question I'd like to throw to all those who were old enough to remember and see Lewis and Brett Kenny play (which I didn't get the chance to) is who was the better player between Kenny and Lewis?
I have had the pleasure of watching both. Prior to the Brisbane Broncos being introduced into the NSWRL, most QLD/Brisbane kids had their favourite Sydney team as well as their favourite Brisbane team. Mine was Parramatta. Started when John Kolc was their half and finished with Sterlo. Peter Sterling was the halfback I wanted to be as a young footballer/halfback growing up. Watching the likes of Sterling, Kenny, Steve Ella and Eric Grother snr in action was simply awe inspiring.
There is no doubt that Brett Kenny was an outstanding talent. With the ball in his hands, he was a fantastic footballer to have in your team.
The late 70's early 80's was also the time a young lock by the name of Wally Lewis started getting around in Brisbane. Immediately he was a player you could tell was 5-6 steps ahead of the rest. His coach, Ross Strudwick was another great footballing mind, but even someone such as this........ Wally Lewis out grew rapidly. He was a super star.
Now all this crap about the BRL being shit compared to the NSWRL at the time is just that ...crap. It's your typical insular and arrogant NSW wank-aton that wants you to believe this. What Lewis was doing in Brisbane was equal and above to what Kenny was doing in Sydney. Lewis had a passing game that was comparable to none at the time. His kicking game (Kenny had no real kicking game) was greater than Sterling's.....who IMO, was NSW best. Lewis's defence could be brutal at times. In short..... in the skills department, Wally Lewis was the complete footballer of the highest ability.
Footballing talent aside. Wally Lewis possessed a footballers greatest gift. He had vision. No-one in my opinion since, or prior to Wally Lewis, could read a game like he could. He could see what was happening 2-3 sets of tackles ahead of the play. I have never seen a player (Johns and Lockyer would come the closest) who could simply grab the game by the scruff of the neck and force his own will upon it to ensure his sides victory.
I think we can all acknowledge that State of Origin is RL at it's highest level. With a record 8 man of the match awards, as well as being the captain of a dominant QLD side, a record 30 times (his 1st being at the tender age of 21yr). I think it's safe to say that Wally Lewis has dominated any opposition 5/8 comprehensively at Rugby Leagues highest level.
On top of this he lead Australia throughout 1984-89 and represented his country 33 times. Wally Lewis's career is punctuated heavily with accolades, records and distinguished service to RL .
Brett Kenny.... as I said earlier, was an outstanding footballer.
However, Wally Lewis was one of those players who can legitimately lay a claim to being bigger than the game itself.
I am yet to see another player who has created such awe and wonder amongst his fans and such bitter hatred and jealously amongst his detractors .......
In summing up, as someone who was a fan of both players
Lewis >>>>>>>>>>> Kenny
