Wingers - the underrated position

[Loudstrat]

Israel Folau aside - wingers do not get the kudos that they deserve in the modern game, considering they are still the players who generally score the most tries in the comp. The split second decisions made by wingmen usually have 6 points in the balance - compared to that of forwards. I know this - my team has lived or dies on the split second decisions of Eric Grothe Jnr for a decade*

In my formative years as a League fan, some of the most admired players wore a 2 or 5. Kids playing backyard footy would adopt the names of players like Boustead, Grothe Snr, Fahey, either Mullins brother, Schubert or Corowa.

Now rep wingers are usually centres. Players like King, Inglis, Tate, Hayne, Mogg get the jumpers, whilst players such as Merrit, Williams, El Masri, Quinn and Manly's Robbo generally miss out. Yet, the wingman's success can make or break a side like no other position. One could argue that Antonio Winterstein was the most valuable Bronco this year because he kept finding the line no matter how crap/absent the 'stars' inside him were. No matter how good a bomb or cut out pass is, the winger has to be spot on to convert it into points. Some of the line dancing the modern winger comes up with is astonishing.

Your thoughts?






*decade in this instance denotes a period of 10 years, whether it fits with a decade under the Gregorian calendar or not.

 

[Johns Magic]

It's pretty simple. Any winger who is actually good gets moved to the centres or fullback pretty soon these days due to the salary cap.

El Masri was the only winger who was never good enough to play another position(except his laughable efforts at filling at fullback), and hence he got the winger of the decade by default.

 

[simostorm]

I agree that they are under rated.. Particularly Steve Turner.. which ppl will say he was the worst Origin winger ever.. True he didnt have a good game.. he played bad.
He was up against Inglis tho who IMO woulda made anyone look bad that night..

But for the Storm Steve was absolutly brilliant.. Great dummy half runs.. he played above his weight in that regard.. did everything you want a winger to do..
Which as a Storm fan.. we could see how he earned his SoO selection.

As far as the rep selections of King and Inglis that have been made previously.. at the time even tho they are centres.. playing on the wing they were still better
then any regular wingers going around at the time anyways..

Specially.. Matt King.. how good did he play at Origin? The guy was probally best on the park in one game i can remember.. I think he may have even won the MoM..

So i think its just a case of having quality centres that are capable of being better on the wing then regualr wingers

 

[Munky]

Luke Lewis has to be the most interesting example of a winger changing positions.

Started on the wing, oved to centre, then to five eighth, then second row, then to half back, then to lock.

Even played for Australia and NSW in both the backs and forwards.

 

[Big Pete]

It's pretty simple. Any winger who is actually good gets moved to the centres or fullback pretty soon these days due to the salary cap.

El Masri was the only winger who was never good enough to play another position(except his laughable efforts at filling at fullback), and hence he got the winger of the decade by default.

You just hit the nail on the head, kudos.

Turner is essentially the Melbourne equivalent of Michael Robertson. A fine finisher who lacks the polish and class of great wingers.

 

[adamkungl]

I think the current crop of players lacks any truly great specialist wingers. There is no Mullins equivalent. The likes of Merritt, Turner and Wolfman are mediocre in comparison.

 

[Godz Illa]

Brett Morris

Manu Vatuvei

 

[Chook Herron]

The first two players I thought of when I read the title of this thread were Nathan Merritt and Michael Lett

 

[Perth Red]

It's been a long time since we have had genuine world class wingers imo. Tuquiri and Sailor were probably the last two. Alot of the reason, as mentioned, is the moving of any half decent winger into another position, and for some reason wingers feel they should move or just being on the wing is seen as a snub (ie Jake Webster)

 

[Johns Magic]

It's been a long time since we have had genuine world class wingers imo. Tuquiri and Sailor were probably the last two. Alot of the reason, as mentioned, is the moving of any half decent winger into another position, and for some reason wingers feel they should move or just being on the wing is seen as a snub (ie Jake Webster)

Or Tahu

 

[Stagger eel]

Or Tahu

T's problem was that he had a wonderful combination with Midley!! and hages was reluctant to break that partnership up.

He showed he was more than capable at centre and wanted to be his own man..

 

[Johns Magic]

T's problem was that he had a wonderful combination with Midley!! and hages was reluctant to break that partnership up.

He showed he was more than capable at centre and wanted to be his own man..

Yeah he was definitely a great centre. But he was the best winger in the world. 60 career tries on the wing when he was still only 21...imagine if he'd stayed there for another ten years.

 

[watatank]

Wingers only get noticed when they are either owning or getting owned by their opposite.

 

[Mr Angry]

pppfffftttt.....

Wingers are players not good enough to play centre.

Forwards win matches

 

[Big Pete]

Yep it's a shame we never got to see Tahu vs. Tuqiri more than a few times. Would've been an awesome rivalry.

 

[wittyfan]

Wolfman is the best winger atm tbh.

 

[watatank]

I agree that they are under rated.. Particularly Steve Turner.. which ppl will say he was the worst Origin winger ever.. True he didnt have a good game.. he played bad.
He was up against Inglis tho who IMO woulda made anyone look bad that night..

Turner didn't really play that bad he was just shown up to be the average club player he is.

 

[fourplay]

It's pretty simple. Any winger who is actually good gets moved to the centres or fullback pretty soon these days due to the salary cap.

El Masri was the only winger who was never good enough to play another position(except his laughable efforts at filling at fullback), and hence he got the winger of the decade by default.

Either 1999 or 2000 El Masri played half the season as fullback and got bulldogs player of the year.

 

[Phillips]

doesnt say much about the bulldogs then does it.

 

[Bman26]

Wolfman is the best winger atm tbh.

Only because you think he is hot....