Who is/was better?

[GeordieSaint]

Another immense performance from James Roby this evening despite being injured for the last few weeks. I think he has been a better player for the club than the current coach. Do people agree?

[Futtocks]

Attacking close to the try line, Cunningham's immense strength and explosive drive would put him ahead. 

 

Mobility and pace, Roby shades it.

 

Passing - both really good.

[barnyia]

Cunningham used to spin the ball the wrong way from right to left, wasn't a bad player though!

[sweaty craiq]

Roby has done it on the world stage

[chuffer]

Roby is a machine in terms of tackles and metres per game....i worry about him and walmsley being over used

[bobbruce]

Robys stats and work rate are massive but if you want a player to win you a big game I'd go for Cunningham. People also forget that in his early to mid 20s Cunningham not only had power but was incredibly quick too. Defensively Robys work is ridiculous but in big games Cunningham made a point of targeting the oppositions big meter maker very often nullifying them.

[glossop saint]

I'm afraid I only caught the very end of Cunningham's career, so I am not really in a position to comment.  Having said that, I will now comment!

 

Roby is a fantastic player, brilliant game management, awesome at scooting and with astounding defence and work rate.  I can't properly compare the two players, or the two eras, though I think that maybe Roby has to take more responsibility due to a team lacking in the superstars that Cunningham played with.

[Dunbar]

At his very best Cunningham was the best hooker I have seen play the game.  Cameron Smith is a wonderful player and leader but Cunningham was almost unplayable at times.

 

Roby is superb and I hope he has a fantastic series against the Kiwi's to get the recognition he deserves from the Southern Hemisphere.

[Just Browny]

Both great players. Roby's work rate is incredible, and he doesn't catch a cold every international season which rules him out of the series like Cunningham used to.

Having said that, if your team is leading by 2 points in the last five minutes, I would rather see the ball in Roby's hands than in Cunningham's. He could always just make something happen.

[C H Calthrop]

Cunningham could take on the opposition alone. Many a time he's made a decisive if short break from his own 30 m line and bring 4 tacklers around him, quick play the ball and the game opens up. And from 20 yards out he attracted a disproportionate amount of attention which also led to opportunity either for himself or others. Never been a fan of the erect a statue to King Cunningham brigade but he was a presence on the pitch even when just passing from dummy half.

[GIANTSTRIDES]

Roby for me is an outstanding all round player, as good as any to play Super league. Cunningham was exceptional on his day. Roby is exceptional pretty much every game.

[ParksideReidy]

Hmmm, tricky one this, I wouldn't really like to call it,, but , what I can say is, as a Leeds fan I used to be much more worried when Cunningham was attacking at dummy half within the 22 than I am with Roby, both fantastic players though,,,

[Exiled Wiganer]

If the test is which caused me more concern when playing against them, Cunningham for mine by a long way, as he had a wider range of ways to hurt you. And he had an aura of invincibility.

Roby though puts his hand up for England and has never failed a drugs test.

[Konkrete]

Difficult to say who's better, but I guess it's easy to say which you prefer and why.  I like my hookers to be distributors and game controllers first, runners second.  Cunningham was not the greatest passer out of dummy half but his running was fantastic.  Roby isn't a million miles away from him on the running, but a superior passer of the ball.

 

So in answer to the OT.  Yes, Roby for me.

[hindle xiii]

Roby has done it on the world stage

I'm surprised you didn't nominate Higham!

[Viking Warrior]

roby is the complete player and for me the best english hooker i have seen in over 50 years of watchng the game