I'm bored at work so here it goes... a legit and detailed response.
1. Andrew Johns - the complete player and had an aura about him I've never seen before or since. He didn't do anything below a 9/10 level. Decision making, short and long pass, running game, kicking game, defence, goal kicking. Everything is a 9 or 10 out of 10.
Watching the Knights or Blues play whilst missing Joey and then watching the influence he had when he returned was incredible. He made those around him feel unbeatable.
2. Brad Fittler - most natural player I've seen. Lethal ball runner with size, strength and THAT step; an incredible long passing game to send his centre or winger away, a brilliant defender, and an inspirational leader.
He's the only player I can think of that was world class in three distinctly different positions over his career - centre, 5/8 and lock. Dominated the first half of the last decade in leading his team to 4 GFs in 5 years. Before and after that era my Roosters sucked balls so his influence was huge.
3. Johnathan Thurston - wouldn't look out of place at no.1, and probably will be if the leads the Cowboys b2b. His attacking influence is second to none. He's relentless and takes the line on better than anyone. Always takes the right option with his passing game and has the best short kicking game I've seen. Tough as nails for his size and is a great cover defender.
4. Cameron Smith - the master at controlling a game. You only realise how great Smith is by watching other hookers play. I say this because you notice others make bad decisions and take the wrong option all the time. Even our hooker Jake Friend, who is a quality player, drives me insane with poor options on the 4th and 5th tackle. Which is to be expected because they touch the ball so much.
But not Smith... has he ever made a bad decision? Whether its a crisp pass always to the right man or a great kick, he's just ice cool and I'm sure he sees the game at a slower speed than anyone else. Great big game player and leader, and a master ref manipulator. No one would raise an eye brow if you called him the greatest player ever.
5. Sonny Bill Williams - the most talented forward I've ever seen by a long way, and I wanted to get a non hooking forward on this list. He offered a threat in attack that was unique (Bryce Cartwright has similar potential). Seriously, he was an edge backrower that would regularly rack up try assists, line breaks and line break assists like a 5/8, and possessed the best and most effective offload ive seen. He was also a great defender and never shirked his workload with ball carries either.
Dual Premiership player; once as a dominant force in his debut year as an 18yr old ripping world class teams a new arsehole (how many forwards have done that at 18, any?); and as a 27yr old when he was easily the best player in the game that year after being absent for 4-5 years. Made up for a shocking first half in the GF with the match winning plays when the game was on the line as all champions do.
Very special mentions to Billy Slater - one of my favourites and the best fullback I've ever seen - and Darren Lockyer, who like Smith was ice cool and always saved his best for the big moments. Both fully deserve to be on this list. It's really a top 7 for me with the order largely interchangeable.
