Ranking Mark Gasnier

[TheDalek079]

Gasnier is easily in the top 3 centres of all time.

Of course, I'm not referring to Mark

 

[MSIH]

No way behind Lyon .. he's ahead of Lyon, at least on par with Hodges.

None of them are as good as Inglis, though.

Maybe on his day he could give Lyon a go, but over a career it's not even close and not worth discussing.

 

[league]

Much better than Lyon imo, only caught the end of ET's career. Never watched big Mal.

I'll reserve comparison with Inglis until after G.I has retired, plus, G.I will probably be compared to the great fullbacks of all time and not centres.

Gasnier vs Hodges is a better comparison than Gasnier vs Lyon. Both Gaz and Hodges are light years ahead of Jamie Lyon.

 

[firechild]

Lyon never really performed all that well in origin but as a club player Lyon is miles ahead of either Hodges or Gasnier. Lyon has played in 4 grand finals so far and has played well each time so the big game argument does not apply. There is almost no area where Gasnier outperforms Lyon. Lyon's kicking and passing game is far superior, his ability to break the line is on par and his defense is at least equal. Judging by the posts in this thread so far, most people would take Lyon over Gasnier. Most of those who wouldn't are Dragons fans.

 

[Packy]

Gaz was a good centre that was nothing more. Never 1st picked for any rep team etc. Like most in this thread, I would have a Lyon, Hodges, Inglis amongst others well before Gaz.

 

[ozenzud]

this!

then there's:
mal
ET
GI
renouf
hodges
cooper
innes
hill
mcgaw
close
miles
jackson
coyne
tate
rogers
cronin
o'connor
girdler

Yes well done. Was about to make the point about centres from the 70's and 80's and they are all listed above. Of course you had inside and outside centres then, not left and right. Centre play today is completely different to the 70's and 80's when it was a real glamour position.

But Mick Cronin, Steve Rogers, Steve Renouf and of course Mal.

Gasnier does not get a lookin on the term "great" in comparison to these guys. I don't remember his uncle except on ABC commentary in the 70's and early 80's.

I don't want to give that Raa Raa O'Connor credit, but he was seriously good and then there was ET.

Hodges is seriously overrated. He is a complete nospam46$er as well.

 

[BennyV]

In terms of natural ability and instinct, he is easily the best of the last 10 years and one of the best of all time - Inglis had size, Lyon has ball skill, Hodges has a killer step, but none of them (as a centre) could/can make an opponent look stupid purely using his footwork and speed like Gas could. He could beat anyone 1-on-1, beat most centre/wingers 2-on-1 and could create for his wingers like nothing else! If he had a full career in the NRL this wouldn't even be a discussion!

BUT
Injury and (partially-forced)decisions played a part to cut short his career here, and as such he didn't get the benefit of displaying his skills over as long a period of time as others did. Based on his CAREER and consistency, he is on par with Lyon/Hodges at best...

Hopefully his son inherits some of his skill and pulls on a Red V one day!!!

 

[Raider_69]

In terms of natural ability and instinct, he is easily the best of the last 10 years and one of the best of all time

 

[blaza88z]

In terms of natural ability and instinct, he is easily the best of the last 10 years and one of the best of all time

Yeah, no.

good try anyway

 

[Blackdiamond]

I was never a huge fan of his. Although he had a great turn of speed, which got him outside his opponent many times & was reasonably strong.

But to me, he always seemed to let his team mates do the hard yards & work the ball out off their own line. Then he would show up & look for the ball when they were down the other end pressuring the line.

I also thought that his return to the Dragons was a bit of a kick in the guts for the other players who worked hard to build the team back to a place where they could challenge for the title & eventually win it. Perhaps a bit of a glory hunter?

Not in my top 10. Probably not in my top 30?

 

[ns7]

Nigel Vagana before he retired at Cronulla & Souths > Gasnier

 

[LatK7]

I was never a huge fan of his. Although he had a great turn of speed, which got him outside his opponent many times & was reasonably strong.

But to me, he always seemed to let his team mates do the hard yards & work the ball out off their own line. Then he would show up & look for the ball when they were down the other end pressuring the line.

I also thought that his return to the Dragons was a bit of a kick in the guts for the other players who worked hard to build the team back to a place where they could challenge for the title & eventually win it. Perhaps a bit of a glory hunter?

Not in my top 10. Probably not in my top 30?

If he didn't come back Saints would not have won the comp.

He was also excellent the following year.

 

[natheel]

3 players better than him imo still playing

Jamie Lyon
Justin Hodges
Greg Inglis

All at their peak easily better

 

[natheel]

Lyon has him in every aspect of the game.

Yep even when killer played at parra he was probably better than Gaz

 

[Raider_69]

Lyon now playing for Manly is better than Gaz.
He wouldnt be in the top 20 centres ive seen play and im only 25. So anyone pre 1992 is out... he might not even be inside the top 50 centres to play the game tbh

 

[Stagger Lee]

Gaz for a few years was the best in his time, better than Lyons though to be a true legend you have to produce top quality over more than a just few seasons which Lyons has done and Gasnier did not do.

Anyhow the greatest player at centre I have ever seen is Mal Meninga so no one can lay St George bias on me

 

[firechild]

Gaz for a few years was the best in his time, better than Lyons though to be a true legend you have to produce top quality over more than a just few seasons which Lyons has done and Gasnier did not do.

But Lyons wasn't even a centre. :sarcasm:

 

[BennyV]

Lyon now playing for Manly is better than Gaz.
He wouldnt be in the top 20 centres ive seen play and im only 25. So anyone pre 1992 is out... he might not even be inside the top 50 centres to play the game tbh

Care to list them?

 

[firechild]

Care to list them?

Could start with Meninga, Lyon, GI, ET, Daley, Hill, Renouf, Hodges (questionable but suggested by many here) and Girdler.

 

[Hanscholo]

Out of the centres i have seen.

Gasnier, Renouf and Hodges are clear standouts since 1990. I struggle to split them tbh. All are or were amazing at being able to beat people one on one, positional sense, effect on the game etc....The thing i love about all of them was you know what is coming as a defender, its nothing unpredictable, stopping it is the problem. I cant split these three guys.