Who was The most influential player ever?

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Maxime Greseque has to be one of the top 10 influential. In 2004 his kicking game ripped the Kiwis to shreds, with two 40-20s, and almost won the game for France but for a last minute try by Ali Lauititi.
The following week he almost did the same to Australia with his kicking game. His bombs scared the shit out of Aussie defenders, and on one occasion Matty Bowen let the Greseque high ball bounce in the in goal, enabling French winger Freddy Zitter to retrieve and score. Later Greseque himself scored from one of his own grubbers.
The guy is in his early 30s. He used to play for Pia (now defunct) and now plays for Carcassonne.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Why can't the OP spell Jarryd Hayne's first name correctly?

Why does the OP think that the surname Fulton does not start with a capital letter?

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

You spelt egg spurt incorrectly

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[gregstar]

Eric Simms.

He influenced the NSWRL to decrease the value of a field goal from two points to one.

i'd also nominate warren ryan.

he changed the game to the extent that the administration changed rules. ryan himself advocated rule changes because of his style of coaching making the game boring.

 

[beave]

Carl Webb gets my vote.

NQ could be up by 20 and as soon as this ass muppet would be brought on the whole team would drop their bundle and we would go to shit. He would pop either a ridiculous pass, you know because he was a half and all......... Or he would give away a boneheaded penalty and get the opposition on the front foot.

It takes pure talent to be able to influence a whole team to go to shit.

Shannon Hegarty and Michael Bani were the same except they would start the damn game and not come from the bench.

 

[Lambretta]

I'm going with Churchill for his Fight them on the beaches speech

We will never surrender, never.

 

[DiegoNT]

Shannon Hegarty and Michael Bani were the same except they would start the damn game and not come from the bench.

I think you forget the influence Michael Bani had with his 'kids don't need bucket bongs' ad campaign

 

[veggiepatch1959]

By "fanboy crap" I'm guessing you mean "history":roll:

Here...... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dally_Messenger
get yourself educated.

Messenger was obviously one of the greatest athletes of his day and his feats widely recognized and recorded. His stats and records ( one record from 1911 only recently broken ) are pretty impressive by any standard with or without film footage to back it up. Legends don't come into being just because of a few delusional fans.

Nobody has yet said how Messenger influenced the game.

 

[no name]

Against South Sydney he once scored three tries which led to rule changes: kicking ahead, he ran off the field around the defence, then back on to gather and score; later he punched the ball ahead, caught it and scored; the third try resulted from a collapsed scrum, when he stepped on and over the grounded forwards

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/messenger-herbert-henry-dally-7562

Seems like Messenger had a heavy influence on individual games, which led to rule changes.

I'd say he was a pretty influential player.

 

[TheDalek079]

without him league would have been a minority sport, dwarfed by union. Thanks to his superstardom, DallyM got league to be the dominant sport on the East Coast

 

[butchmcdick]

without him league would have been a minority sport, dwarfed by union. Thanks to his superstardom, DallyM got league to be the dominant sport on the East Coast

This is going to get some sand in some vaginas

Nazi gold bitches

 

[nick87]

Ricky Stuart would be the most influential player of the the last 30 years. He completely changed the way the game was played with his long kicking game.

In the games history i dont think anyone can hold a candle to Dally Messenger

 

[dangerousdave]

Jamie Soward.

Deliberately kicking the ball dead resulted in the 7 tackle set which effects both long and attacking kicking tactics and almost guarantees that the other side will get within range for an attacking kick themselves.

 

[JJ]

Remi Casty.... the first Frenchman to have scored one try and then two tries in the NRL!

 

[Mr Angry]

Dally M, there is no RL without him.

 

[_snafu_]

Stan Jurd...showed the world that players like Owen Craigie and George Rose had a place in the game.

 

[dangerousdave]

Remi Casty.... the first Frenchman to have scored one try and then two tries in the NRL!

 

[madunit]

You two have entirely missed the point.

Dally M must be right up there.

Alex Burden anyone? Wasn't he the Glebe player who was injured badly and really got the debate about professionalism and player payments off the ground in NSW?

No.

Professionalism in Rugby Union begun before Burdon's injury.

The odd thing is that people attach professionalism to Burdon's broken arm in 1907.

However his shoulder injury in 1904 while playing for the Wallabies was probably more influential in fuelling the professionalism debate, which had already begun prior to that injury as well.

Pat Walsh's snubbing by state and test selectors, also in 1904, also drew the impassioned ire of many players and fans.

In 1907 the MRU (Metropolitan Rugby Union) abolished it's insurance cover for players, forcing clubs to insure their own players, ensuring the MRU received bigger profits.

MRU officials had massive salaries and many players were disgusted by this as well.

Dally Messenger's signing was not as influential to the birth of Rugby League as many believe.

He was undoubtedly, a marquee signing that helped bring immediate attention and crowds to the game, but the most influential moment was when Glebe decided to switch codes, as they brought with them exclusive access to the then marquee venues, Wentworth Park and the Royal Agricultural Showground, as well as the best and most successful MRU side since 1900.

It was also the Glebe officials Joe McGraw and Lewis Abrams who were MRU delegates prior to Rugby League's birth, who were strong advocates for introducing a compensation system for injured players, which became the backbone of Rugby League's birth.

 

[madunit]

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/messenger-herbert-henry-dally-7562

Seems like Messenger had a heavy influence on individual games, which led to rule changes.

I'd say he was a pretty influential player.

After that, Messenger then began 'diving' over defenders when near the try line to score tries. The League was unable to invoke laws against it as he wasn't deemed to be exploiting the laws, or endangering any other players.

 

[madunit]

without him league would have been a minority sport, dwarfed by union. Thanks to his superstardom, DallyM got league to be the dominant sport on the East Coast

Without Messenger, 1908 would have been the only season of the game's existence.

The 1909 Wallaby coup helped diminish RU's marquee player ranks and made them all League players. This was just as significant, if not moreso, than Messenger switching codes.

From 1910 onwards, League (through good management and having the Gold Medal winning Wallabies - almost entirely) managed to grow in popularity at an immense pace and eventually demoralise RU in Australia.

Messenger was the biggest drawcard player this country has ever had - no question.

But to think he was solely the reason for the game's growth or success is very very wrong.