Other games 2025

[MrBlack]

The facts say bellamy is a great coach. Take points off him for cheating sure but he has done incredibly well for so long. You cant fake 20 years.

Its his ability to get the best from fringe first graders that he will be best remembered for.

Though not fringe first grader - wasn't Cronk a hooker/winger and Hughes a fullback before he made them elite halves??

 

[Chins]

Its his ability to get the best from fringe first graders that he will be best remembered for.

Though not fringe first grader - wasn't Cronk a hooker/winger and Hughes a fullback before he made them elite halves??

Yeah that's why Cronk and Nath are very similar. Both aren't really halves.

 

[Oldpanther86]

Its his ability to get the best from fringe first graders that he will be best remembered for.

Though not fringe first grader - wasn't Cronk a hooker/winger and Hughes a fullback before he made them elite halves??

He's clearly a good coach. Eels won the spoon while cheating the cap and storm have still made finals without the big 3 every year if not been top 4. I'd comfortably have Ivan and Bennett above him as GOAT category though as Ivan has had to deal with a rotating roster and no future immortals at least according to wider opinion even though I think Yeo and To'o should go close.

 

[Girds89]

Yeah that's why Cronk and Nath are very similar. Both aren't really halves.

Both will go down as 2 of the greatest hbs of all time..

You are off your head.

 

[Chins]

Both will go down as 2 of the greatest hbs of all time..

You are off your head.

Both weren't 7's as kids and it shows in their robotic play. This is a complement not a knock on them.

 

[Girds89]

Both weren't 7's as kids and it shows in their robotic play. This is a complement not a knock on them.

Yeo started as a centre.. doesn't mean he is a centre..

Fitler started as a centre.. doesnt mean he wasmt a 5/8..

Cleary is anything but robotic.. hes plays to a structure. He will do something all game.. like dumb a bloke back inside... and wait for the defence to make the wrong call and go for the dump play in the 70th minute then go out the back etc..

Its not robotic. Its tactical.. he grinds teams..he works them out. He beats them with footy brains..

When an opportunity presents itself he plays eyes up and can take it. Gutho defending in the line in the gf and the left foot kick through to sorro etc..

He studies teams and knows their weaknesses and strengths.

He is one of the best halfbacks of all time regardless to whatever style he has it doemst not matter.

 

[Fangs]

Gotta have some nous to be a 7. I don't think you can manufacture just anyone into the job.

Would have been a great 9 though.

 

[Chins]

Gotta have some nous to be a 7. I don't think you can manufacture just anyone into the job.

Would have been a great 9 though.

Would have pushed Smith for the best ever imo

 

[Girds89]

Would have pushed Smith for the best ever imo

Doesn't have the body smith did. Smith was a durable as all hell. Never missed a game making 40 tackles every week..

Nathans body wouldnt hold up to the rigours of 9.

In any case hes going to be pushing joey and smith for the best player off all time. Forget about best in position

 

[Chins]

Doesn't have the body smith did. Smith was a durable as all hell. Never missed a game making 40 tackles every week..

Nathans body wouldnt hold up to the rigours of 9.

In any case hes going to be pushing joey and smith for the best player off all time. Forget about best in position

I think you're being a bit biased. I have Nath a level below those guys. No shame in that

 

[Frankus]

Both weren't 7's as kids and it shows in their robotic play. This is a complement not a knock on them.

I grew up in Brisbane and played with/against a host of players - Thurston, Smith, Cronk, Clint Amos, Parker and a pair of brothers from Wigan that went back to England to go on and have decent professional careers (Mark and Martin Gleeson).

Cronk played 7 in juniors for souths acacia ridge in Brisbane. He played flyhalf (10) in rugby and for the RU Australian schoolboys which is about as close to the halfback role as you can get in that code. The half back (9) role in RU is closer to a dummy half in league imo.

He then went on to play in the centres, at 6 and at 7 for Norths in the Melbourne feeder side in QLD cup He was then coming off the bench for Melbourne in a play anywhere type role because he was too good for QLD cup but stuck behind I think Matt Orford at the time.

To say he never played 7 as a kid is not accurate but I do agree with the sentiment that he was robotic in many ways and there are similarities to Nathan in that he worked extremely hard on perfecting everything in his game and maximising his lack of creativity as a half. Cronk is the epitome of dedication can outperform talent. Nathan has substantially more creativity than Cronk did.

 

[Oldpanther86]

Doesn't have the body smith did. Smith was a durable as all hell. Never missed a game making 40 tackles every week..

Nathans body wouldnt hold up to the rigours of 9.

In any case hes going to be pushing joey and smith for the best player off all time. Forget about best in position

Right or wrong he won't get that reputation until he dominates origin or maybe another prem or two. Rep football just has that aura attached.

 

[Chins]

I grew up in Brisbane and played with/against a host of players - Thurston, Smith, Cronk, Clint Amos, Parker and a pair of brothers from Wigan that went back to England to go on and have decent professional careers (Mark and Martin Gleeson).

Cronk played 7 in juniors for souths acacia ridge in Brisbane. He played flyhalf (10) in rugby and for the RU Australian schoolboys which is about as close to the halfback role as you can get in that code. The half back (9) role in RU is closer to a dummy half in league imo.

He then went on to play in the centres, at 6 and at 7 for Norths in the Melbourne feeder side in QLD cup He was then coming off the bench for Melbourne in a play anywhere type role because he was too good for QLD cup but stuck behind I think Matt Orford at the time.

To say he never played 7 as a kid is not accurate but I do agree with the sentiment that he was robotic in many ways and there are similarities to Nathan in that he worked extremely hard on perfecting everything in his game and maximising his lack of creativity as a half. Cronk is the epitome of dedication can outperform talent. Nathan has substantially more creativity than Cronk did.

If Katoa applies himself as Nathan has (this is the top 0.1%) then he'll blow straight past Cleary. Lots has to go right for that to happen but natural ballplaying ability is a thing and Nathan certainly wasn't born with it.
Nathan Cleary is currently in the top 3 players in the sport alongside Yeo and Haas imo. He still has time on his side to get up with the best but he'd need to evolve his game.

 

[Girds89]

I think you're being a bit biased. I have Nath a level below those guys. No shame in that

Smith had the pleasure of playing with one of the most stacked rosters ever for large parts of his career..

Great player but would he have done as well or been an immortal at say the tigers?

Nathan has achieved great results with kenny at 9. And edwards at fb who both dont really offer and sort of playmaking.

Whereas he has cronk, munster, slater, inglis, orford earlier in his career as a hb.

Plus a stacked pack for most of his career..

Hes a future immortal no doubt but im not sure hed have been able to turn around a side like the tigers. Whereas i think you couldve put nathan into the tigers wooden spoon side of years goneby and hed have got them to the top 8.

 

[Chins]

Nathan also isn't even the best player in his club side.........

 

[Fangs]

If Katoa applies himself as Nathan has (this is the top 0.1%) then he'll blow straight past Cleary. Lots has to go right for that to happen but natural ballplaying ability is a thing and Nathan certainly wasn't born with it.
Nathan Cleary is currently in the top 3 players in the sport alongside Yeo and Haas imo. He still has time on his side to get up with the best but he'd need to evolve his game.

I dont see it with Katoa. I'll be surprised if he gets anywhere near Cleary.

Though he does remind me of Cleary actually. Makes sense as they both came through our club.

 

[Black Panther]

I dont see it with Katoa. I'll be surprised if he gets anywhere near Cleary.

Though he does remind me of Cleary actually. Makes sense as they both came through our club.

What don’t you see with Katoa? Have you not been watching him play?

 

[Chins]

What don’t you see with Katoa? Have you not been watching him play?

I don't want to over hype him but f**k......incredible stuff so far.

 

[Girds89]

I don't want to over hype him but f**k......incredible stuff so far.

He has all the skills. See whether he has the drive to become elite.

 

[betcats]

Its his ability to get the best from fringe first graders that he will be best remembered for.

Though not fringe first grader - wasn't Cronk a hooker/winger and Hughes a fullback before he made them elite halves??

Not sure about cronk. Hughes however played 2 nrl games at 2 different clubs in 3 or 4 years beofre going to melbourne.