I think theres still an outline of Brad Davies imprinted into the turf at Wilderspool after the shot Guisset hit him with! For me the best defender ive seen has got to be Monas, his technique in the tackle and organisation in defence is superb.

Bruce Mcguire.

no contest

I can remember Dave Elliot coaching at Rylands And showing us the stuff he'd learned from one of Bruce Mcguires Training sessions at Warrington.

top technique and massive hitter

Alan Bateman for me, ive never seen a back hit so hard and lift players off their feet on a regular basis due to how hard he hit in the tackle.

Dessie was another i enjoyed watching, he wasn't the best overall defender we've ever had but when he got it right he had attackers trying to get to their feet as if they were drunk. I think Alex Murphy once said "This lads head must be made of concrete" as quite often he would tackle with his head

I agree with this....Roskell was a workhorse, certainly not the best hooker in the world, but had a huge heart.

Maybe its because the little blokes stand out getting among the big boys, but I seem to remember Greg Mackay not being shy when it came to a tackle either.

i will always remember a drummond tackle against featherstone i think........ he didnt even make an effort to move his head to the side and use the shoulder... he just dived headfirst into his ribcage... i thought he had killed him..... bloke just lay on the floor motionless for about 10 minutes.

is that taking into account the amount of times people used to run through the gaps he left, shooting out to put the hit on?

big hitter, yes

good defender, hmmmm.

As Reg Reagan would sing whilst reminiscing about the biff and watching a clip of the "Tamati v Greg Dowling fight"

"Memories"

Danny Nutley was a work horse too imo

I loved watching Mark Gleeson go up against some of the big fella's. Great technique and an admirable amount of guts.

Favourite has to be Toa though, never know where his arm would end up, usually on the chinstrap!

I think for quality of tackling technique, and stopping players getting a quick play the ball, Mike Forshaw has to rank highly and Chris Leikvoll as well.

Special mention for most memorable big game defensive performance - Richie Mathers at Wembley

that was mathers finest 80 mins in a wire shirt..... and bradford away in the cup that year. he made some brilliant 1 on 1 tackles in that game.

Is there anybody who remembers Joe (what's the time?) Price ... he flattened a few ... with or without the ball.

Allan Bateman.

Rather than having a go at people's post's, contribute yourself Mr Negative

also its favourite defender... not best



you tell him philth.

Can't believe no-one's mentioned Bob Jackson, simply for the amount of MoM's he won

Good earlier calls for Roskell (very under-rated) and Sanderson (not brilliant with ball in hand, but fantastic in defence)

Danny Farrar.

Half the time played whilst carrying injuries but still put in 100%, hard as nails and a great tackler to boot.

Bateman was excellent. Sanderson is a good call too. And how about Duane Mann?

I remember the afore mention Leikvoll was technically very good. Almost all his tackles he would attempt to put the defender on his back, crucial in giving your team mates that extra time to make it back to the line. And I don't mean once the player was on the ground, he was all about technique in the collision and the ensuing struggle.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, Leikvoll with Smith coaching would have been a bloody good combination IMO, I feel another thread coming..................

2nd vote for Paul Marquet. I'm not sure I remember seeing him miss a tackle.

2nd Favourite for me was Danny Farrar. For his size he could really put a shot on.

In my 40 years worth Sanderson sticks out for me. Wasn't he an ex Marine?
Hard as nails (not in a nasty way), and safe as houses.

Dessie Drummond tackling technique second to non ask Phil vievers or kurt sorenson
Or Duanne Mann excellent in every area of his game

He's not the best defender, he misses lots of tackles but Ben Harrison is fun to watch in defence, now & again he catches people with an absolute monster shot.

Similar to LAnderson who is also similar to Guisset

Tommy martyn ( the original not the stains player ) who would grab the player with one hand by the collar then trip him with the legs - went down like a sack of