Rating Benny Elias

[T-Boon]

Is Benny Elias the most under rated hooker of the last 40 years? I think he was one of the craftiest players I've seen. Just saw 15 minutes of the 1992 state of origin on Fox and he was making crafty plays all over the place.

I think he was better than Buderus and top 3 hookers of the last 40 years. He played pre 10 metres and wrestle so the hooker had to be creative as hell. I don't think Smith would have been very good in that era.

 

[TheFrog]

Is Benny Elias the most under rated hooker of the last 40 years?

Not even close. Played 22 Origins and 14 Tests. That does not sound like an under-rated player to me. More likely the opposite. For a hooker who didn't receive the accolades he deserved, I'd go for Luke Priddis.

 

[ed-grimley]

Not even close. Played 22 Origins and 14 Tests. That does not sound like an under-rated player to me. More likely the opposite. For a hooker who didn't receive the accolades he deserved, I'd go for Luke Priddis.

What about Piggy Riddell?

 

[TheFrog]

What about Piggy Riddell?

Good piece on Piggy on The Fan the other night.

 

[ed-grimley]

Is Benny Elias the most under rated hooker of the last 40 years? I think he was one of the craftiest players I've seen. Just saw 15 minutes of the 1992 state of origin on Fox and he was making crafty plays all over the place.

I think he was better than Buderus and top 3 hookers of the last 40 years. He played pre 10 metres and wrestle so the hooker had to be creative as hell. I don't think Smith would have been very good in that era.

I don't think Back Door Benny was underrated - he was a good player and received plenty of accolades.

 

[glockers]

I see the points of the replies about what is underrated. Is it something a person with that kind of representative career can be called? Or is it someone who didn't play much rep footy?

Maybe we can say underrated compared to other top ranked hookers? Smith, Buderus, both Walters, Gower, Noel Kelly.

I didn't see Kelly play, but i'd have Benny over all the others.

Btw Elias is a terrible human being and a scummy businessman, but this is just about footy.

 

[T-Boon]

Maybe we can say underrated compared to other top ranked hookers? Smith, Buderus, both Walters, Gower, Noel Kelly.

I didn't see Kelly play, but i'd have Benny over all the others.

This is exactly what I am getting at. I think he was at least better than the Walters brothers and Buderus. But I think history has him ranked below Steve Walters and probably Buderus.
I also think overall he is under rated as a player. I think he should be ranked about Steve Mortimer level.

 

[typicalfan]

I don't think Back Door Benny was underrated - he was a good player and received plenty of accolades.

Left out of the nominees for the HoF I think he should have been ahead of Royce despite the no premierships

 

[beave]

He’s certainly under rated imo





Under rated as one of the biggest flogs that’s ever graced a Rugby League field.

 

[Disinterested third party]

Complete shit. Great player.

 

[Disinterested third party]

Left out of the nominees for the HoF I think he should have been ahead of Royce despite the no premierships

Was x10 the player Roycee was...

 

[King hit]

Dodgy guy but a terrific hooker. Very smart player with some silky skills from dummy half. Probably the last great hooker as in they actually had to fight for the ball in the scrum.

 

[TheFrog]

Left out of the nominees for the HoF I think he should have been ahead of Royce despite the no premierships

Benny probably cruelled his chances when he admitted to biting his own hand in order to get Mario Fenech sent off in a semi final. Probably not exactly the qualities they were looking for.

 

[typicalfan]

Benny probably cruelled his chances when he admitted to biting his own hand in order to get Mario Fenech sent off in a semi final. Probably not exactly the qualities they were looking for.

Should be playing ability only

 

[Saxon]

Maybe we can say underrated compared to other top ranked hookers? Smith, Buderus, both Walters, Gower, Noel Kelly.

I'd have Kelly and Steve Walters above him for certain. He was better than Gower and there or thereabouts with KW.
Impossible to compare him directly to Smith and Bedsy, the role of hooker has changed so much. 'Hookers' now are dummy halves and game managers. But Smith will be an immortal and Benny may one day scrape into the hall of fame behind SW and Kelly. And I think that's about right.

Btw Elias is a terrible human being and a scummy businessman

And that's being polite.

 

[gUt]

Yep Luke Priddis is more underrateder than any hooker ive seen

 

[LineBall]

 

[TheFrog]

He was better than Gower

Craig Gower played his best football at half. Saw him towel up Andrew Johns on several occasions. Now that was an underrated player, perhaps because he was such a dickhead on the booze.

The NRL really ought to award him the Dally M medal he won fair and square in 2003.

 

[Mr Spock!]

Might have been one of the last true hookers as well....

Now hookers are just dummy halves....they don't hook at all.

 

[Blues Riff]

I never liked the way he kept unwrapping his head bandage in that Origin match, trying to look like a great warrior.