Best GB or England Side in your time watching RL?

[Alan Robertson]

In my opinion, the best GB starting line up in my time watching the sport (just over 30 years) was:

Davies, Robinson, Connolly, Hunte, Offiah, Powell, Edwards, Harrison, Jackson, Joynt, Betts, Farrell, Clarke

1st Test, Wembley, 1994

 

Furthermore, Andy Platt was amongst the players ruled out through injury. Ellery Hanley only retired from playing internationals the year earlier.

I'd happily consider arguments that a line-up from another of the 1994 tests was as strong or stronger. The sides on the 92 tour were also a similar level, IMHO. 

Around 2003, there were some strong sides - including Morley, Peacock, Fielden, Farrell, Sculthorpe, Connolly etc. - but without backs that had the calibre of Offiah and Robinson.

 

[sweaty craiq]

In my lifetime we went through being battered in the pack to having a poor set of backs - can we mix them up for a great team?

The 2017 WC team has come the closest since '72 and If we had that class of Gregory, Schofield or Long in the halves and Newlove in the centre we would have won it imo.

[Leonard]

3 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said:

In my lifetime we went through being battered in the pack to having a poor set of backs - can we mix them up for a great team?

The 2017 WC team has come the closest since '72 and If we had that class of Gregory, Schofield or Long in the halves and Newlove in the centre we would have won it imo.

About right.

Even now we seem to be developing good half backs - but centres and wing look a weak spot now.

The OP side plus Newlove in the centres would have been an immense back line. Not sure if that ever turned out.

But I will now be spending some time this winter watching all the old games on Youtube !

[OMEGA]

Davies

Drummond

Schoffield

Newlove

Offiah

T Myler 

Gregory

Morley

Roby

Peacock

A Farrel

S Burgess

Sculthorpe

Subs Long, Norton, T Skerrett, Ward 

[Harry Stottle]

9 minutes ago, OMEGA said:

Davies

Drummond

Schoffield

Newlove

Offiah

T Myler 

Gregory

Morley

Roby

Peacock

A Farrel

S Burgess

Sculthorpe

Subs Long, Norton, T Skerrett, Ward 

No Hanley? Well it is your selection.

 

[Harry Stottle]

1 hour ago, Alan Robertson said:

In my opinion, the best GB starting line up in my time watching the sport (just over 30 years) was:

Davies, Robinson, Connolly, Hunte, Offiah, Powell, Edwards, Harrison, Jackson, Joynt, Betts, Farrell, Clarke

1st Test, Wembley, 1994

 

Furthermore, Andy Platt was amongst the players ruled out through injury. Ellery Hanley only retired from playing internationals the year earlier.

I'd happily consider arguments that a line-up from another of the 1994 tests was as strong or stronger. The sides on the 92 tour were also a similar level, IMHO. 

Around 2003, there were some strong sides - including Morley, Peacock, Fielden, Farrell, Sculthorpe, Connolly etc. - but without backs that had the calibre of Offiah and Robinson.

 

Hi Alan, does this have to be an actual team that took to the field, or a compilation of the best qualifying players for either GB or England that anyone has seen in their lifetime of this game.

[OMEGA]

2 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

No Hanley? Well it is your selection.

 

As good as he was I can’t find a place for Ellery
Who would you drop for him

[Damien]

Just now, OMEGA said:

As good as he was I can’t find a place for Ellery
Who would you drop for him

There would always be a place for Hanley. He would be the first name on the team sheet.

[Harry Stottle]

Just now, OMEGA said:

As good as he was I can’t find a place for Ellery
Who would you drop for him

Like I asked the question above, you have players in your selection that could not have possibly played in the same team.

[OMEGA]

Just now, Harry Stottle said:

Like I asked the question above, you have players in your selection that could not have possibly played in the same team.

I didn’t read it as an actual team though, but a team of the players I’ve seen in my lifetime 

[OMEGA]

3 minutes ago, Damien said:

There would always be a place for Hanley. He would be the first name on the team sheet.

Ahead of who?

was he a better centre than Schoffield or Newlove, no not in my opinion

a better stand off than Tony Myler, not even close

and he wasn’t better than Sculthorpe or Steve Norton at 13

He was an outstanding athlete who could play in many positions but historically he isn’t the master of any of them. 

[Damien]

1 minute ago, OMEGA said:

Ahead of who?

was he a better centre than Schoffield or Newlove, no not in my opinion

a better stand off than Tony Myler, not even close

and he wasn’t better than Sculthorpe or Steve Norton at 13

He was an outstanding athlete who could play in many positions but historically he isn’t the master of any of them. 

Hanley wasn't a master of any position, I've heard it all now 

[DavidM]

5 minutes ago, OMEGA said:

Ahead of who?

was he a better centre than Schoffield or Newlove, no not in my opinion

a better stand off than Tony Myler, not even close

and he wasn’t better than Sculthorpe or Steve Norton at 13

He was an outstanding athlete who could play in many positions but historically he isn’t the master of any of them. 

You’re opinion which is fine but I think you may be in a minority , he looked a master in any position I saw him . Had pretty much everything 

[OMEGA]

15 minutes ago, Damien said:

Hanley wasn't a master of any position, I've heard it all now 

As I’ve stated a couple of times already but just for the hard of reading like you, IMO Hanley was an outstanding Rugby League player and a superb athlete who could play many positions to an extremely high standard. However there are specialists in all those positions who played that position better than Ellery.

For example, Hanley played on the wing to great effect but would you pick him ahead of Offiah, Drummond or Robinson?

By Master of a position I refer to being THE BEST in that position, that doesn’t take anything away from Hanley ability.

Edited November 1, 2021 by OMEGA

[Harry Stottle]

20 minutes ago, OMEGA said:

I didn’t read it as an actual team though, but a team of the players I’ve seen in my lifetime 

That being the case If it is open to the best I have seen, Malcolm Reilly could not be left out, Murphy would also be in there, as would most probably be Fox and Ashton in the centres with Connolly at FB, these are just of the top of my head, will have to give it some serious thought, those of my age have much more to choose from

[Waynebennettswinger]

Even as a Saints fan, who thought Scully was the business, there is no way I would look past Hanley at 13 in an all time GB team. Hanley was just incredible.

[Mumby Magic]

1 minute ago, OMEGA said:

As I’ve stated a couple of times already but just for the hard of reading like you, IMO Hanley was an outstanding Rugby League player who player and a superb athlete who could play many positions to an extremely high standard. However there are specialists in all those positions who played that position better than Ellery.

For example, Hanley played on the wing to great effect but would you pick him ahead of Offiah, Drummond or Robinson?

By Master of a position I refer to being THE BEST in that position, that doesn’t take anything away from Hanley ability.

Loose Forward all day. 

[OMEGA]

Just now, Mumby Magic said:

Loose Forward all day. 

Depends what you want from your Loose Forward I suppose!

I lean more towards a ball handler like Norton but Scullthorpe had the ability to do both and was a better defender than Norton

[Damien]

13 minutes ago, OMEGA said:

As I’ve stated a couple of times already but just for the hard of reading like you, IMO Hanley was an outstanding Rugby League player and a superb athlete who could play many positions to an extremely high standard. However there are specialists in all those positions who played that position better than Ellery.

For example, Hanley played on the wing to great effect but would you pick him ahead of Offiah, Drummond or Robinson?

By Master of a position I refer to being THE BEST in that position, that doesn’t take anything away from Hanley ability.

No need for insults and just because you say something does not make your opinion fact.

Hanley was World Class and is right up there in any greatest of all time discussion. Indeed many say he is the GOAT. He would walk into any team at Loose Forward. Even the Aussies rate him highly. Anyone else would be changing position to accommodate him.  I never hear Sculthorpe mentioned, ever.

I'm not really sure why you are going on about the wing. No one in their right mind would be putting Hanley on the wing in an all time team. He may have played a few games at the start of his career there but its akin to talking about Sean Edwards at full back because he started off there too.

[Harry Stottle]

5 minutes ago, Damien said:

No need for insults and just because you say something does not make your opinion fact.

Hanley was World Class and is right up there in any greatest of all time discussion. Indeed many say he is the GOAT. He would walk into any team at Loose Forward. Even the Aussies rate him highly. Anyone else would be changing position to accommodate him.  I never hear Sculthorpe mentioned, ever.

I'm not really sure why you are going on about the wing. No one in their right mind would be putting Hanley on the wing in an all time team. He may have played a few games at the start of his career there but its akin to talking about Sean Edwards at full back because he started off there too.

I would wager those Aussies of a certain age to watch both Reilly and Hanley would plump for the former.

[Saint Toppy]

2 hours ago, Alan Robertson said:

In my opinion, the best GB starting line up in my time watching the sport (just over 30 years) was:

Davies, Robinson, Connolly, Hunte, Offiah, Powell, Edwards, Harrison, Jackson, Joynt, Betts, Farrell, Clarke

1st Test, Wembley, 1994

Furthermore, Andy Platt was amongst the players ruled out through injury. Ellery Hanley only retired from playing internationals the year earlier.

 

Not just Platt, Newlove also missed that match through injury as I recall

[Damien]

8 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

I would wager those Aussies of a certain age to watch both Reilly and Hanley would plump for the former.

I've heard plenty of good things about Reilly and my father praised him highly but he was a little before my time. Saying that he did always say Hanley was better.

[Leonard]

Are we now saying Blake Austin on the wing wouldn't make it?

[OMEGA]

22 minutes ago, Damien said:

No need for insults and just because you say something does not make your opinion fact.

Hanley was World Class and is right up there in any greatest of all time discussion. Indeed many say he is the GOAT. He would walk into any team at Loose Forward. Even the Aussies rate him highly. Anyone else would be changing position to accommodate him.  I never hear Sculthorpe mentioned, ever.

I'm not really sure why you are going on about the wing. No one in their right mind would be putting Hanley on the wing in an all time team. He may have played a few games at the start of his career there but its akin to talking about Sean Edwards at full back because he started off there too.

If you don’t want insults then think about the tone of your reply’s and maybe cut out the daft emojis

Ive stated a couple of times that it’s My opinion, can you point to anywhere where I’ve stated anything I’ve written is a fact!

[Damien]

35 minutes ago, OMEGA said:

If you don’t want insults then think about the tone of your reply’s and maybe cut out the daft emojis

Ive stated a couple of times that it’s My opinion, can you point to anywhere where I’ve stated anything I’ve written is a fact!

Sorry if I find the notion that Ellery Hanley wasn't a master in any position laughable. I reacted with a laughing emoji because it is laughable. I'm sure others would agree.