Top 5 at each position

[Poupou Escobar]

You are.

 

[POPEYE]

Manly's spine was exceptional but the rest of the team were also very complimentary which is the reason they remained on target in '11.

Again I say that ALL players in the NRL have shown they are capable of playing great footy or they wouldn't be there.

There are many standouts talent wise but combinations, injuries, coaching, opportunities taken and an array of factors have made the gap
between good and great bigger than it really should be. If every player had been equally fortunate there would be a less discernable gap between them

 

[RABK]

Fullbacks:
1. Billy Slater
2. Brett Stewart
3. Jarryd Hayne
4. Darius Boyd
5. Josh Dugan

Wingers:
1. Akuila Uate
2. Jharal Yow Yeh
3. Michael Gordon
4. Jason Nightingale
5. Manu Vatuvei

Centers:
1. Justin Hodges
2. Greg Inglis
3. Chris Lawrence
4. Jamie Lyon
5. Matt Cooper

Five Eighths
1. Kieran Foran
2. Benji Marshall
3. Todd Carney
4. Terry Campese
5. Jamie Soward

Halfbacks
1. Jonathan Thurston
2. Cooper Cronk
3. Daly Cherry-Evans
4. Mitchell Pearce
5. Jarrod Mullen

Props:
1. Matthew Scott
2. Ben Hannant
3. Dave Shillington
4. Petero Civonoceva
5. Kade Snowden/ TLL

Hookers:
1. Cameron Smith
2. Robbie Farah
3. Danny Buderus
4. Michael Ennis
5. Matt Ballin

Locks
1. Paul Gallen
2. Glenn Stewart
3. Greg Bird
4. Corey Parker
5. Shaun Fensom

Second Rowers
1. Gareth Ellis
2. Anthony Watmough
3. Sam Thaiday
4. Luke Lewis
5. Jeremy Smith

 

[typicalfan]

Manly's spine was exceptional but the rest of the team were also very complimentary which is the reason they remained on target in '11.

Again I say that ALL players in the NRL have shown they are capable of playing great footy or they wouldn't be there.

There are many standouts talent wise but combinations, injuries, coaching, opportunities taken and an array of factors have made the gap
between good and great bigger than it really should be. If every player had been equally fortunate there would be a less discernable gap between them

But that is a bit of an illusion. Someone like Brett Stewart who we have seen at his absolute best do things other fullbacks simply can't do, like Slater. I think it is just that people have short memories or use injuries to justify their choice which is also creates an illusion.

The best players would make it to the top either way, apart from injuries of course. For example Matt Bowen cannot do the work at the back Slater, Stewart, Dugan and Hayne can. His return metres are usually low by comparison and is less likely to beat the first man. He has an excellent combination with Thurston though probably as good as any along with Slater with Smith and Cronk.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But that is a bit of an illusion. Someone like Brett Stewart who we have seen at his absolute best do things other fullbacks simply can't do, like Slater. I think it is just that people have short memories or use injuries to justify their choice which is also creates an illusion.

The best players would make it to the top either way, apart from injuries of course. For example Matt Bowen cannot do the work at the back Slater, Stewart, Dugan and Hayne can. His return metres are usually low by comparison and is less likely to beat the first man. He has an excellent combination with Thurston though probably as good as any along with Slater with Smith and Cronk.

But now you're just prioritising one skillset over another. Bowen is the second best playmaking fullback in the NRL whereas Slater, Stewart and Dugan are also-rans.

Admittedly a playmaking fullback is more useful to a shit team than a good one, which is why it's not an essential quality at rep level, but we're talking about overall quality of a player. Bowen is also best at dealing with kicks on the ground - an area where Dugan struggles.

 

[POPEYE]

But that is a bit of an illusion. Someone like Brett Stewart who we have seen at his absolute best do things other fullbacks simply can't do, like Slater. I think it is just that people have short memories or use injuries to justify their choice which is also creates an illusion.

The best players would make it to the top either way, apart from injuries of course. For example Matt Bowen cannot do the work at the back Slater, Stewart, Dugan and Hayne can. His return metres are usually low by comparison and is less likely to beat the first man. He has an excellent combination with Thurston though probably as good as any along with Slater with Smith and Cronk.

The best will always be the best but others could be nearer the best if more things went their way. Darius Boyd is an example of what I see as an ordinary NRL
player that things fell nicely into place for and he has reaped the benefits. There are many players who are criticised that weren't so fortunate