I've based my decisions basically on the players I have seen in real life or seen highlights of on the television or videos. If I haven't seen much of a player I don't consider them for voting.
I also included a small summary of the player that should explain why I chose them.
Fullback - Darren Lockyer
- Darren Lockyer is a stunning attacking force, who always lifts himself to big match occasions. Has an exciting vision with the ball in hand that is backed up by an elegant running style aswell as smoothe and silky passing and kicking skills. Not the biggest player ever, however his defence is unbreakable due to a superb technique. Unfortunately I never saw Clive Churchill play so I couldn't really pick him as the greatest fullback I have ever seen, even though he is known as the greatest player to ever play the game.
Wingers - Andrew Ettinghausen and Eddie Lumsden
- Andrew Ettinghausen was a classic back with superb speed and balance and will be remembered as one of the true champions of the modern era. He scored over 150 tries in club football and played over 300 first grade games, so really the stats tell the story for "ET".
- Eddie Lumsden was one of the games most powerful wingers, who was once described by team mate Johnny King as "a devastating runner who was almost impossible to stop once he got a sniff of the tryline." Prolific tryscorer for the Dragons who finished his career with 136 tries from 158 games, a remarkable record.
Centres - Reg Gasnier and Mal Meninga
- Reg Gasnier was the "Prince of Centres", and was one of a kind. There was no other player in the game that had his astonishing acceleration and body swerve and I don't think the likes of him will be ever seen again. His career ended with three Kangaroo tours, including one as captain, six premierships with the mighty Dragons and 127 tries from 125 matches. There will never be another "Puff The Magic Dragon" again in my eyes.
- Mal Meninga was a destructive centre with an amazing list of accolades. He overcame many career threatening broken arms to achieve some astonishing landmarks such as the most tests for the Kangaroos ever (45) aswell as most points ever for the Kangaroos (272). Also captained the Raiders to three premierships, retiring in triumph in 1994.
Five Eighth - Brad Fittler
- Brad Fittler has achieved just about every honour this great game has to offer. Made his first grade debut at the young age of 17 and never took a backward step. Has the strength and power to play in the forwards and the creativity and pace to play in the backs. One of the greatest playmakers of the modern era who created and scored tries with an enormous sidestep made possible through his massive hip strength.
Halfback - Andrew Johns
- Andrew Johns is seen by many throughout the world as the greatest player to ever grace a football field. Sensational vision and creativity, however the thing that seperated him from the other halfback contenders was his defence. Attacking teams tend to target halfbacks, however you don't target "Joey". A punishing defender, who let's the weight of the player and his general awesome technique do the talking. There has never been a player who has dominated a game of football more then Johns and he will no doubt one day go down in the history books as one of Rugby League's Immortals.
Lock - John Raper
- Johnny Raper was and is one of a kind both on and off the field. No player in the history of the game was able to play the most devastating football ten minutes into the game and still be playing with the same intensity ten minutes untill fulltime. Raper was a rugby league revolutionary who set the standard for lock forwards that every player since has attempted to emulate. Raper invented the art of cover defence and his amazing sweeping runs across field to cut down soaring wingers became the central focus point of his sensational bag of tricks. His career included three Kangaroo tours and eight premierships with St George.
Second Row - Norm Provan and Gorden Tallis
- Norm Provan was a gigantic second rower of the 50's and 60's who is best remembered for epic deeds with St George, where he played in ten consecutive grand final winning sides. He was big, strong and intelligent as a footballer, and will always be known for his mudied image with Arthur Summons following the 1963 grand final which was portrayed on the "Winfield Cup."
- Gorden Tallis is know universally as the NRL's most destructive forward and has been the Broncos chief striking weapon up front for many years now. A devastating runner of the football, backed up by punishing acts in defence. An amazing motivator who can pull a team together when times are tough.
Hooker - Steve Walters
- Steve Walters was an intelligent footballer who always did the job required of him. Has been described by many as the finest hooker of the modern era who's career highlights included being man of the match in the 1992 World Cup final at Wembley. He won three premierships with the Raiders and played 15 tests for Australia.
Front Row - Paul Harragon and Arthur Beetson
- Paul Harragon was 109kg of sheer power and destruction, who was known for the amazing contrast from his personality on and off the field. On the field, he was known as a devastating attacker and defender, who from time to time lost his cool, however off the field was known for his kind heart and tenderness towards his supporters.
- Arthur Beetson was a player of unrivalled ability. He was tough and skillful, yet was one of the game's great personalities who backed up his extroadinary hit ups with remarkable off loads. It was impossible to wrap Artie up....
Notable Mentions
Brian Clay
Wally Lewis
Laurie Daley
Graeme Langlands
Billy Smith
Ken Irvine
Hopefully that's a fair analogy for my selections.
I also included a small summary of the player that should explain why I chose them.
Fullback - Darren Lockyer
- Darren Lockyer is a stunning attacking force, who always lifts himself to big match occasions. Has an exciting vision with the ball in hand that is backed up by an elegant running style aswell as smoothe and silky passing and kicking skills. Not the biggest player ever, however his defence is unbreakable due to a superb technique. Unfortunately I never saw Clive Churchill play so I couldn't really pick him as the greatest fullback I have ever seen, even though he is known as the greatest player to ever play the game.
Wingers - Andrew Ettinghausen and Eddie Lumsden
- Andrew Ettinghausen was a classic back with superb speed and balance and will be remembered as one of the true champions of the modern era. He scored over 150 tries in club football and played over 300 first grade games, so really the stats tell the story for "ET".
- Eddie Lumsden was one of the games most powerful wingers, who was once described by team mate Johnny King as "a devastating runner who was almost impossible to stop once he got a sniff of the tryline." Prolific tryscorer for the Dragons who finished his career with 136 tries from 158 games, a remarkable record.
Centres - Reg Gasnier and Mal Meninga
- Reg Gasnier was the "Prince of Centres", and was one of a kind. There was no other player in the game that had his astonishing acceleration and body swerve and I don't think the likes of him will be ever seen again. His career ended with three Kangaroo tours, including one as captain, six premierships with the mighty Dragons and 127 tries from 125 matches. There will never be another "Puff The Magic Dragon" again in my eyes.
- Mal Meninga was a destructive centre with an amazing list of accolades. He overcame many career threatening broken arms to achieve some astonishing landmarks such as the most tests for the Kangaroos ever (45) aswell as most points ever for the Kangaroos (272). Also captained the Raiders to three premierships, retiring in triumph in 1994.
Five Eighth - Brad Fittler
- Brad Fittler has achieved just about every honour this great game has to offer. Made his first grade debut at the young age of 17 and never took a backward step. Has the strength and power to play in the forwards and the creativity and pace to play in the backs. One of the greatest playmakers of the modern era who created and scored tries with an enormous sidestep made possible through his massive hip strength.
Halfback - Andrew Johns
- Andrew Johns is seen by many throughout the world as the greatest player to ever grace a football field. Sensational vision and creativity, however the thing that seperated him from the other halfback contenders was his defence. Attacking teams tend to target halfbacks, however you don't target "Joey". A punishing defender, who let's the weight of the player and his general awesome technique do the talking. There has never been a player who has dominated a game of football more then Johns and he will no doubt one day go down in the history books as one of Rugby League's Immortals.
Lock - John Raper
- Johnny Raper was and is one of a kind both on and off the field. No player in the history of the game was able to play the most devastating football ten minutes into the game and still be playing with the same intensity ten minutes untill fulltime. Raper was a rugby league revolutionary who set the standard for lock forwards that every player since has attempted to emulate. Raper invented the art of cover defence and his amazing sweeping runs across field to cut down soaring wingers became the central focus point of his sensational bag of tricks. His career included three Kangaroo tours and eight premierships with St George.
Second Row - Norm Provan and Gorden Tallis
- Norm Provan was a gigantic second rower of the 50's and 60's who is best remembered for epic deeds with St George, where he played in ten consecutive grand final winning sides. He was big, strong and intelligent as a footballer, and will always be known for his mudied image with Arthur Summons following the 1963 grand final which was portrayed on the "Winfield Cup."
- Gorden Tallis is know universally as the NRL's most destructive forward and has been the Broncos chief striking weapon up front for many years now. A devastating runner of the football, backed up by punishing acts in defence. An amazing motivator who can pull a team together when times are tough.
Hooker - Steve Walters
- Steve Walters was an intelligent footballer who always did the job required of him. Has been described by many as the finest hooker of the modern era who's career highlights included being man of the match in the 1992 World Cup final at Wembley. He won three premierships with the Raiders and played 15 tests for Australia.
Front Row - Paul Harragon and Arthur Beetson
- Paul Harragon was 109kg of sheer power and destruction, who was known for the amazing contrast from his personality on and off the field. On the field, he was known as a devastating attacker and defender, who from time to time lost his cool, however off the field was known for his kind heart and tenderness towards his supporters.
- Arthur Beetson was a player of unrivalled ability. He was tough and skillful, yet was one of the game's great personalities who backed up his extroadinary hit ups with remarkable off loads. It was impossible to wrap Artie up....
Notable Mentions
Brian Clay
Wally Lewis
Laurie Daley
Graeme Langlands
Billy Smith
Ken Irvine
Hopefully that's a fair analogy for my selections.
