ChrisCRugby League's Hottest 100
April 17th 2008 19:29
Tonight, rugby league named its ‘Team of The Century.’ It is of course made up of League’s immortals and a host of champions from across the decades filling the gaps.
I would firstly like to congratulate each and every individual who has made it to the Rugby League Hottest 100 CD. Nice work – great to be voted as Australia’s favourite.
However, purely in the interests of discussion, debate, and a blog, I would like to offer my top 17 from rugby league’s last 100 years.
Now, keeping in mind I haven’t been following footy for quite that long, there might be a slight bias for players from the last 25 odd years, but hey, bring on the debate if you know any better. I’m happy to stand corrected at any time.
So, Funky’s Footy Team of the Century goes something like this…
1. Billy Slater. Is there a more exciting player to watch in league?
2. Eric Grothe. Seriously – he made me sit up and take notice of footy as an infant. Every time he got the ball in his hands he made you think ‘what’s going to happen next?’ Plus he was the first league man to master the art of human cloning.
3. Mal Meninga. I picked him, seriously! From the start I had him as my centre man.
4. Mark McGaw. The only man who was good enough to become a Gladiator. I never saw Fulton or Gasnier swinging an oversized cotton-bud around the place.
5. Chicka Ferguson. Need I say more? The man smoked the opposition as much as he smoked. Is there a pun in there somewhere? Yes. Can I find it at 4.30 in the morning? No. He was good.
6. Sean Rudder. Not only does he have the best last name in footy to scream out from the sideline (try it, as loud as you can…Ru-ddaaaaa!), he saved his only decent game in the NRL for when it counted most – the 2001 Grand Final.
7. Joey. Love to say Steve Mortimer, but let’s face it, Joey was it.
8. Barry Hall. With a left hook like that, tell me a player who’d want to meet him in the middle of the park.
9. Shane Warne. Seriously – he has the build and the sporting know-how to make a great hooker. Imagine Mark Riddell with a brain. Plus, Chicka needs a smoking buddy.
10. Mark Carroll. I saw him at Brookvale Oval the other Sunday. The man is huge, and I realised there is no way I would tell him he’s not in the side.
11. Brad Clyde. For three years, he was the best player in the world, no exceptions. (My call - not necessarily agreed with by anyone who knows anything about the game).
12. Gordon Tallis. Any Queenslander I hate that much has got to be good. Remember him rag-dolling Hodgson over the sideline and imagine him playing alongside Barry Hall.
13. Bustling Billy Pedersen. Yes, cause he’s from Newcastle, and yes, cause I named my BBQ after him. (Come on – ‘Bustling Billy BBQ’ has a ring to it doesn’t it)?
And then the bench…
14. Bill Harrigan. As quick as they come, and what a Vice Skipper he’d make. He knows pretty much everything about everything.
15. Greg Brentnall. Fantastic Bulldog under a high-ball. Plus has a great boot on him if ever there was a sudden kicking duel.
16. Terry Lamb. Was known as a player who was everywhere, so why not here?
17. Jamie Goddard. For three reasons. (A) He’s not a Knight or a Bulldog, (B) See selected player numbers 8 and 12. Fair combo huh? And (C) Joey would play better with him in his side rather than opposing him.
And the coach? Gotta think of the most motivational, inspirational individual…
I’d go for Rabs Warren. Imagine him at every video session at training - calling the game – it’d be tops! Otherwise, there are plenty of great coaches to choose from, but let’s not forget Jason Taylor once peed in a cup and threw it amongst the crowd at a cricket game at the SCG. I wouldn’t pick him.
Thanks for reading, and remember, as Little Johnny said (and he probably had Jason Taylor in mind) stay alert, not alarmed.
Chow4now.
I would firstly like to congratulate each and every individual who has made it to the Rugby League Hottest 100 CD. Nice work – great to be voted as Australia’s favourite.
However, purely in the interests of discussion, debate, and a blog, I would like to offer my top 17 from rugby league’s last 100 years.
Now, keeping in mind I haven’t been following footy for quite that long, there might be a slight bias for players from the last 25 odd years, but hey, bring on the debate if you know any better. I’m happy to stand corrected at any time.
So, Funky’s Footy Team of the Century goes something like this…
1. Billy Slater. Is there a more exciting player to watch in league?
2. Eric Grothe. Seriously – he made me sit up and take notice of footy as an infant. Every time he got the ball in his hands he made you think ‘what’s going to happen next?’ Plus he was the first league man to master the art of human cloning.
3. Mal Meninga. I picked him, seriously! From the start I had him as my centre man.
4. Mark McGaw. The only man who was good enough to become a Gladiator. I never saw Fulton or Gasnier swinging an oversized cotton-bud around the place.
5. Chicka Ferguson. Need I say more? The man smoked the opposition as much as he smoked. Is there a pun in there somewhere? Yes. Can I find it at 4.30 in the morning? No. He was good.
6. Sean Rudder. Not only does he have the best last name in footy to scream out from the sideline (try it, as loud as you can…Ru-ddaaaaa!), he saved his only decent game in the NRL for when it counted most – the 2001 Grand Final.
7. Joey. Love to say Steve Mortimer, but let’s face it, Joey was it.
8. Barry Hall. With a left hook like that, tell me a player who’d want to meet him in the middle of the park.
9. Shane Warne. Seriously – he has the build and the sporting know-how to make a great hooker. Imagine Mark Riddell with a brain. Plus, Chicka needs a smoking buddy.
10. Mark Carroll. I saw him at Brookvale Oval the other Sunday. The man is huge, and I realised there is no way I would tell him he’s not in the side.
11. Brad Clyde. For three years, he was the best player in the world, no exceptions. (My call - not necessarily agreed with by anyone who knows anything about the game).
12. Gordon Tallis. Any Queenslander I hate that much has got to be good. Remember him rag-dolling Hodgson over the sideline and imagine him playing alongside Barry Hall.
13. Bustling Billy Pedersen. Yes, cause he’s from Newcastle, and yes, cause I named my BBQ after him. (Come on – ‘Bustling Billy BBQ’ has a ring to it doesn’t it)?
And then the bench…
14. Bill Harrigan. As quick as they come, and what a Vice Skipper he’d make. He knows pretty much everything about everything.
15. Greg Brentnall. Fantastic Bulldog under a high-ball. Plus has a great boot on him if ever there was a sudden kicking duel.
16. Terry Lamb. Was known as a player who was everywhere, so why not here?
17. Jamie Goddard. For three reasons. (A) He’s not a Knight or a Bulldog, (B) See selected player numbers 8 and 12. Fair combo huh? And (C) Joey would play better with him in his side rather than opposing him.
And the coach? Gotta think of the most motivational, inspirational individual…
I’d go for Rabs Warren. Imagine him at every video session at training - calling the game – it’d be tops! Otherwise, there are plenty of great coaches to choose from, but let’s not forget Jason Taylor once peed in a cup and threw it amongst the crowd at a cricket game at the SCG. I wouldn’t pick him.
Thanks for reading, and remember, as Little Johnny said (and he probably had Jason Taylor in mind) stay alert, not alarmed.
Chow4now.
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