The Future is League Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/brett-finch-column-the-man-who-always-answers-the-bell/news-story/46bcf83ab0ba02c608d3fa6e1486d81a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Great player and an immense achievement. He’s so good he draws criticism from opposition fans aplenty. Surely though this 400 game achievement will be universally respected? The Australian Rugby League Forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Simply the greatest player of all time. There have been many more talented players but none greater IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adelaide Tiger Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Scubby said: Simply the greatest player of all time. There have been many more talented players but none greater IMO. Greatest player of all time ..... hmmmmmm? Best referee of all time .... tick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMEGA Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Scubby said: Simply the greatest player of all time. There have been many more talented players but none greater IMO. The best Hooker I’ve seen in the game! IMO he’s one of the greatest players ever but NOT the best, that’s very hard to award to him. is he better than Wally Lewis, Alex Murphy, Jim Sullivan, Neil Fox, Mal Meninga, Jonathan Thurston, Ellery Hanley etc..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Fine player but not the greatest IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm13 Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 5 minutes ago, OMEGA said: The best Hooker I’ve seen in the game! IMO he’s one of the greatest players ever but NOT the best, that’s very hard to award to him. is he better than Wally Lewis, Alex Murphy, Jim Sullivan, Neil Fox, Mal Meninga, Jonathan Thurston, Ellery Hanley etc..? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 13 minutes ago, OMEGA said: The best Hooker I’ve seen in the game! IMO he’s one of the greatest players ever but NOT the best, that’s very hard to award to him. is he better than Wally Lewis, Alex Murphy, Jim Sullivan, Neil Fox, Mal Meninga, Jonathan Thurston, Ellery Hanley etc..? If I was picking the best team I have seen play the game (since 1984) I would have Smith at 9 and he would be the third player I would add to the team sheet... The first would be Wally Lewis at 6 and the second would be Ellery Hanley at 13. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allora Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 39 minutes ago, Adelaide Tiger said: Greatest player of all time ..... hmmmmmm? Best referee of all time .... tick! If you can not be positive on a thread like this best say nothing. Talent is secondary to whether players are confident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allora Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 18 minutes ago, Dunbar said: If I was picking the best team I have seen play the game (since 1984) I would have Smith at 9 and he would be the third player I would add to the team sheet... The first would be Wally Lewis at 6 and the second would be Ellery Hanley at 13. I would find a spot for Brett Kenny at five eighth or Centre Talent is secondary to whether players are confident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 2 minutes ago, Allora said: I would find a spot for Brett Kenny at five eighth or Centre I couldn't find a spot for Kenny in the centres because I think there are a few specialist centre ahead of him. As for Kenny vs. Lewis. If I were picking a team to watch I would have Kenny... he was a genius and an absolute pleasure to watch. But if I had to pick a team to win a game I would have Lewis. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allora Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 4 minutes ago, Dunbar said: I couldn't find a spot for Kenny in the centres because I think there are a few specialist centre ahead of him. As for Kenny vs. Lewis. If I were picking a team to watch I would have Kenny... he was a genius and an absolute pleasure to watch. But if I had to pick a team to win a game I would have Lewis. When Kenny was played at 5/8 against Lewis in SOO NSW came out on top Kenny was played in the centres at SOO and Test games to accommodate talented players that had less versatility in where they played These are facts not rose colored glasses Talent is secondary to whether players are confident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Just now, Allora said: When Kenny was played at 5/8 against Lewis in SOO NSW came out on top Kenny was played in the centres at SOO and Test games to accommodate talented players that had less versatility in where they played Yes, I know all that. These are opinions though and my opinion is that in a game I needed to win Wally Lewis would be my number 6. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allora Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Just now, Dunbar said: Yes, I know all that. These are opinions though and my opinion is that in a game I needed to win Wally Lewis would be my number 6. Wally Lewis said this. Wally Lewis v Brett Kenny Lewis has said on several occasions that Kenny was the best player he ever saw in State of Origin football. That is no surprise considering NSW won eight of the 12 Origin games where Kenny and Lewis were opposing five-eighths. The duo boasted a contrast in styles and temperaments but both ruled supreme in the 1980s for their respective sides. Lewis won eight man of the match awards in Origin and Kenny just one, but that does not reflect the colossal battles the two had and the impact both had on their team's fortunes. I respect your opinion. Talent is secondary to whether players are confident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSaint Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 3 hours ago, Scubby said: Simply the greatest player of all time. There have been many more talented players but none greater IMO. Best player I have ever had the pleasure of watching; but I am a young sprog compared to most of you zimmer-frame using folk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clogiron Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 3 hours ago, Scubby said: Simply the greatest player of all time. There have been many more talented players but none greater IMO. He isn't the greatest player of all-time by a long way, would you travel a distance, or pay to just watch him play, or get excited about the prospect of seeing him play or do you have your own personal highlights reel in your head of his standout moments? Thats what defines a great player, Smith is efficient in what he does, nothing spectacular, nothing else. The 400 games thing is a Australian quirk, over here dozens of players if not 100s have reached that milestone, how many games did Neil Fox or John Holmes, Jim Sullivan play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 47 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said: Best player I have ever had the pleasure of watching; but I am a young sprog compared to most of you zimmer-frame using folk. Zimmer-frame using folk. Not me however your remark reminds me of a young ignoramus who made reference to a Zimmer frame about the great Ellery Hanley at Headingley in 1994. My best friend turned to him and said: 'Children these days have no respect.' I added that he was talking about the greatest of all time and I also encouraged his grandfather to box his ears forthwith. Hanley's Leeds team beat Wigan that day too. Young ignoramus should have been placed in the stocks as in days of yore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lounge Room Lizard Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 In the modern era the NRL is by far the highest standard of the game played. The likes of Andrew Johns, johnathan Thurston etc were fine players in their time just as the likes of Brett Kenny, Wally Lewis, Ellery Hanley and no doubt Alex Murphy, Jim Sullivan was in theirs. To compare is ridiculous and petty to be honest. What makes Cam Smths achievements stand out are how long he has been a top player-hence the 400 Games swhich is an outstanding achievement in such a comp as the NRL. But what also sets Smith out from others is his ability to read the game and almost make the perfect decision with ball in hand and his ability to stay calm in the most chaotic situations at the highest level. His leadership skills and manner in how he talks to officials. His attention to detail on the rules and how to use/manipulate them are known even when it upsets others. Whether you like/hate Cam Smith to play 400 (over 500 with State of origin, Internationals etc) NRL games is a unique record and one that deserves to be recognized. The game, especially in the UK doesnt promote and do enough of this in my opinion. Cam Smith alongside the Melbourne Strom have done a great job promoting this, especially with AFL greaats in Melbourne this week. The Storm have done a great job promoting the game in Melbourne and many people now in Melbourne know who the Melbourne Storm and follow them. Many people know who Cam Smith and Billy Slater are even if they do not attend games. The Melbourne Storm with Smith and Slater have sold the Club and game properly in a City where once they were unknowns and crowds of 7 or 8000 on average have grown to 18,000. Maybe instead of being negative, posters should be more positive. I do get the feeling often on here that certain posters are anti Australian or anti NRL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrispmartha Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 5 hours ago, The Future is League said: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/brett-finch-column-the-man-who-always-answers-the-bell/news-story/46bcf83ab0ba02c608d3fa6e1486d81a "has scored more points than any other player in the history of the sport." He's not even close to achieving that accolade. Unbelievable player though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmatrix Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 In the article it states 'scored more points than anyone else' , not sure he's scored more than Neil fox. Take it he means in Australia. Cam Smith is a brilliant player who's played in an amazing Melbourne team, not sure I'd have him as the greatest of all time, and to be honest referring to someone as the GOAT is disrespectful to all the amazing players of the past, he's certainly one of the best of the best of his generation but better than, all the greats who've mentioned before him, I'm not sure about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Allora said: I would find a spot for Brett Kenny at five eighth or Centre Sterling would be my number 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrispmartha Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Just now, Wigan Riversider said: Sterling would be my number 7 My favourite player of all time, really fond memories of going to the local corner shop to rent videos of the Australian Games (not sure where they got them from) and watching Sterling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigan Riversider Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Met him in Oz in 1997. Legend. He seemed really pleased when I suggested that he was the greatest number 7 of all time I am too young to have seen Alex Murphy but Sterlo is best number 7 I have seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Evans Thigh Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Smith is no doubt a great of the game. His points scoring and durability are fantastic. I think he is one of those players who you don't really see the full benefit unless you play with him. The way he can control a game and the influence he has from there is much more subtle than those players who are scoring a lot of tries, making line breaks or throwing big hits around. Having said that, to be considered the greatest player of all time, I would suggest you might need to have more strings to your bow than game management and decent goal kicking. From arguably the position that gives you most opportunity to attack, he has made precious few line breaks and only scores a try every ten game on average. He could well be the best 9 of all time and probably is, particularly in the modern era since the role of the hooker changed, but I don't think he can be considered the best all round player. Even in recent times Thurston and Johns had much more of an impact on games than Smith has, the same goes for players like Hanley and Lewis. Great player. Greatest of all time? Not for me. Formerly Alistair Boyd-Meaney fifty thousand Poouunds from Keighley...weve had im gid." MIPM Project Management and Business Solutions " Discounts available for forum members contact me for details Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidM Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 A great player no doubt , greatest of all time is an impossible call over a century or so . For me it’s as much his durability as anything else . He’s in the middle among the heavy traffic , always involved , yet he’s there week in week out year on year on year . His level of performance is never short of excellent , nor his contribution , and his leadership is exemplary and by example .... Hurt a bit writing all that but let’s be honest , it’s true ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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