Unfortunately, pre us Northern Hemisphere people getting Sky's Aussie RL coverage (and not Micron's video tapes showing one game a week in pubs), we never REALLY got to see just how good the likes of Lewis, Sterling, Kenny, Fittler, Daley, and to some extent, the early days of Johns and Lockyer's careers. We just have to take the Aussie media's word for it, on how good they were. We as Brits simply didn't have enough exposure to their careers. PITY.

For a Brit, I'd have to say Hanley, and it wouldn't even be a close thing. He was AWESOME.

Anyway, all names mentioned are only from the late 70's onwards.

Brett Kenny is the best standoff I've ever seen. Lewis was a brilliant player but Kenny had the advantage of pace although Lewis had a better kicking game.

I was talking to a few Aussie fans at the game last night, strangely the NSW fans agreed and the Queensland fans preferred Lewis.

I'd have to throw Fulton into the mix as well. He was only 20 when he played at Warrington, but even then he was absolutely electric. To say Lockyer is the best ever player and to only compare him to players in the last 30 years is ridiculous though. I never saw Brian Bevan, but by all accounts he was unbelievable. I saw Boston at the back end of his career and he was still pretty good then. Alex Murphy wasn't too bad either.

Wally Lewis or Brian Bevan not that I have seen Bevan play but the stories speak for themselves !
does it have to be a back What about Moz or Boyd

Boston & Murphy were the best two I have ever seen as they both had the ability to be brilliant players in different positions and both played in three different positions in major finals. Brian Bevan was a fantastic winger as his try scoring record shows, but Murphy and Boston were better rugby players.

Rogues, I know that Murphy played 3, 6, and 7, but I didn't know Boston had played elsewhere than wing (apart from a couple of games in the Blackpool second row). Can I presume he played fullback, right wing, and centre?

agree 100% with this, yes he has been a tremendous player...but the best ever?

i think its a case of bigging up the current generation.... If you would offer me lockyer or hanley in their prime... i would go for hanley everytime.

Obviously wing, but he played centre in the 1958 Challenge Cup final, and the 1960 Championship final, he also played stand off in the 1957 Lancashire Cup final.

Some player.

Martin Offiah was a fantastic winger as his try scoring record shows, but Botica and Richards were better rugby players.....

anyway watch Brian Bevan smash his opposite Winger Dai Bevan around 24 seconds into this clip.... had it all did Big Bev....
[urlhttp://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=31775[/url

wow what a video what was with the kicking the ball out of the play of the ball???

How long have you been watching the game? I can't remember when it was stopped but it used to happen quite a lot. At one time the marker could also strike for the ball at the play the ball when it was placed on the ground.

Schofield was a master. I have always wondered why there weren't more broken hands when you could strike for the ball?

what about when you could play the ball to yourself...?
i.e tap it forwards and pick it up instead of rolling it back with your foot....

I remember Tamati doing that a bit....

thats what i meant the markers kicking the ball out at the play of the ball i only been watching since mid 80's im 28 and parents took me from when i was 3

It's not that long ago since it was stopped, like the Flying Biscuit says, you could also play the ball to yourself, that was when it was a quick ptb and there were no markers.

They should have kept that rule, it's not as if it happens all the time, saying that Saints would just be Roby taking 6 drives then turning it over.

Do they ever give reasons for dropping certain aspects, certainly an entertaining rule.

There was also a rule that if the dummy half got tackled in possession it was a scrum with head and feed to the defending side. That should be brought back, but with a handover instead of a scrum.

I'd forgotten that one. That was when hookers were actually hookers, not halfbacks with a number 9 on their backs.

wally lewis gets my vote as the best player ever as he had absolutely everything

Edited for accuracy.

Best player is not the best term,maybe we should say rugby league legends.So it covers all positions.

In the 9s last season if the dummy half was tackled it was a handover and it worked really well.

when you ask someone 'who is the best player ever?'..... they can really only offer players up from their rugby life.... i cant think of a better player in my rugby league life than Ellery Hanley.... im 35 so i have been watching rugby since about 1992

Of the players i've seen in the flesh not on tv/video.........

Hanley

from Wire

Langer