who is the best cross code player?

[Ibleedblue]

Mat Rogers and Lote Tuqiri both excelled in rugby union internationally. For a relatively poor side internationally, they both were players who could unlock the All Blacks and give Australia a chance.

In terms of Jeff Wilson, yes he was a very good cricketer, but he didn't play enough of it for mine. He really had one great moment, I think it was 46 not out to win an ODI against Australia at Hamilton in 93/93, IIRC he finished the job with a cult favourite Tony Blain.

Poor side? When they switched to the Wallabies, Australia held every trophy available to them and were on top of the world rankings. Eddie Jones f**ked Australian rugby.

 

[nomis88]

Can't split Kent Lambert and Tony D'Arcy.

 

[Knownothing]

Ken Kearney.

 

[Packy]

That was a nothing offload by the way. Glenn Hall could manage that.

 

[no name]

That was a nothing offload by the way. Glenn Hall could manage that.

Yeah but if Glen Hall was a bus driver and had a better offer to drive in France.........

 

[RoosTah]

Brad Thorn easily.

In League

Super League title 1997
1997 World Club Championship
NRL titles in 1998, 2000, and 2006
14 appearances for Queensland
State of Origin titles with Queensland, 1998 and 1999
Eight Tests Matches for the Kangaroos

In Union

NPC titles 2001 and 2004
Ranfurly Shield holder
2008 Super Rugby title
Bledisloe Cup 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
Tri Nations titles 2003, 2008 and 2010
2011 Rugby World Cup champion
59 Test Matches for the All Blacks
2012 Heineken Cup title

Beat me to it. It's just not even close - no one else comes anywhere near his achievements.

If SBW comes back to League and wins a WC with the Kiwis he'll be close, but Thorn always felt more integral to the ABs when he was a part of it than SBW has.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Beat me to it. It's just not even close - no one else comes anywhere near his achievements.

If SBW comes back to League and wins a WC with the Kiwis he'll be close, but Thorn always felt more integral to the ABs when he was a part of it than SBW has.

SBW was huge in the last world cup.

He career clashed with Ma'a Nonu - but I think a lot of people envisaged Smith being benched for SBW in the final. The try that Nonu scored off the back of an SBW offload was a massive moment in that game.

SBW will be under pressure moving forward for his performance in the final of the sevens, but I have to say players on his side are not reading when he will laterally offload or offload backwards.

So team cohesion needs to be worked on there. But NZ rugby fans are incredibly harsh critics of rugby players, and he is much loved and respected by most (not all - some absolutely love to run him down with glee for anything he does) in NZ for his rugby union endeavours.

I expect he will be a strong asset to NZ sevens this year before too long.

Brad Thorn is also much loved and admired in NZ - and in no small part that is for his longevity in the game as well as his gritty style of play - performing at an age when retirement most almost a forgone conclusion years earlier.

 

[bedlam breakout]

jonathan davies without doubt the little welsh wizard was so gifted at both codes

 

[TheDMC]

I had no idea he played cricket for NZ aswell.

Turns out he was also a National High School athletics champ and is apparently a handy basketballer.

All I really remember about him was he was the fastest player in the All Blacks team on Jonah Lomu Rugby.

Wilson was a good all rounder and would likely have had a long career for NZ. He won a few one dayers for us but then had to commit to rugby. He became a legendary all black, and after he retired he had a brief comeback to cricket. I think he even got back into the NZ team for a one dayer or two...but injuries put paid to that pretty quickly. And yes, good basketball player. Just an uber athlete. Went totally bald though :lol:

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Michael Jordan

 

[Brutus]

Best cross-dress player?

 

[TheDalek079]

Best cross-dress player?

Spud Carroll?

 

[Iafeta]

OJ FTW. NFL great, and top line high speed racing superstar.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

Brad Thorn

freak

 

[super_coach]

Dick Thornett--Played for Australia at Union,league and water polo but in recent times Brad Thorne by a mile

 

[hutch]

Thorn qualifies for his achievements, not his ability as a player. Plenty of players who played both codes who were far better.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Dally Messenger.

Surprised you are the only person to date who has mentioned him. Without Dally, there would probably be no rugby league in Australia.

 

[Craig Johnston]

Thorn qualifies for his achievements, not his ability as a player. Plenty of players who played both codes who were far better.

this

can't play for one country one code and another for the other as well, reeks of opportunism

 

[shiznit]

this

can't play for one country one code and another for the other as well, reeks of opportunism

That's one way to look at it... You could also say his achievements were far more impressive considering the Kangaroos and All Blacks are by far the toughest teams in each sport to get into.

 

[Craig Johnston]

That's one way to look at it... You could also say his achievements were far more impressive considering the Kangaroos and All Blacks are by far the toughest teams in each sport to get into.

or if he played for the kiwis in league back then and was able to beat the kangaroos + play for the wallabies and beat the all blacks....

anyway the original point i agreed with was.

Originally Posted by hutch View Post
Thorn qualifies for his achievements, not his ability as a player. Plenty of players who played both codes who were far better.