Many years ago I saw a video of Jim Mills playing for GB v Aus, I think 1978. Jim was bitten in the tackle by Rod Reddy; Jim nutted the Rocket & snotted him on the way down. No other Aussie intervened. Penalty to GB.

Best performance I ever saw by Mills. I only caught the last few years of his career by which time he was a bit panto but he was fearsome in that odsal test.

McTigue also very skillful intelligent player too

paul dixon

graham eccles

Rob Burrow, smallest player on the pitch, never backed away from anything, including Epalahame Lauaki.

Yeah, Rob Burrow definitely the toughest for me. Never backed down, got knocked out few times, always came back.
So sad

I'm gonna be a killjoy on this one.

It's impossible to compare players from different eras as so much changes so quickly these days. People will rightly point out people like Artie and Mal R as tough players but you just don't know how they would have fared in the modern game where players are so much fitter and TV cameras etc.. are everywhere.

For me, anybody that gets on a rugby pitch and then comes back to do it all again the week after is pretty dang tough.

Kurt Sorensen, Tallis peacock if I could have four I'd put in senior.

Take your point and for that reason I wouldn't include the likes of Kelvin Skerrett or Les Boyd. Reilly was a different animal though. Could and would dish out the dark stuff when needed but when unprovoked just played the game with unremitting but fair physicality. Would have excelled both then and now. I'd rate Adrian Morley and Gaz Ellis too in terms of hardness.

Peacock! I'm still in awe of the man . Toughness,courage and of course ability. Our best signing of his era

Hmmm well I would say

Andy Gregory
Ellery Hanley
Brendon Tuuta

All performed in an era where you protected yourself and your other team mates without compromise!

I remember watching Brendon Tuuta at featherstone against Halifax and BT made a body check tackle as the ball arrived ie man and ball at same time. I cannot remember who he tackled but he went down like a sack of poo and was taken off pitch with tweety pie flying round his noddle, whilst the crowd chanted “You’ve been Tuuta’d” but off the pitch thoroughly nice guy

Kevin Ward
Tommy Leuluai
Gaz Ellis

allan rathbone anybody remember him.

for 2 minutes

I remember a guy who played hooker for barrow called Eddie syzmala back in the days of winter rugby when winters were winter this guy alway and I mean alway ripped his sleeves off his shirt, that says tough guy to me,, and one else recall this guy

And as for corned beef Keith senior not taking a backward step,,,,, he did when joe vangana had a issue with him in agame a headiingly hahaha

yeah I remember Eddie Syzmala well. A right nutcase at times,not a bad player though. Think he played for GB a couple of times too

A real tough nut was that guy, different generations though

I recall Syzmala from around 1980 to 1982 ish
He was a seriously dedicated body builder at that time and he was certainly ripped

He certainly stood out as an athletic and fit guy,especially at that time when training wasn't taken all that seriously with regards to gym sessions and especially from the clubs whose normal training sessions were 3 laps round the pitch and a game of touch and pass followed by all of the boys having 8 pints down the pub.

Yea the turd knackerd his ankle belly flopping on him whilst he was already on the deck.

No Bailey? Never understood fans obsession with blowing him up to be something he wasn’t.

But my how he got under opposition players and fans skins. Still does i suspect.

Always seemed to hide behind others when it kicked off.I remember Lee Radford offering him a charity boxing gig against him but he declined

He didnt stand behind anyone while 5 Warrington players was swinging away in last few mins of a Grand Final while the game was going on. He had wound them up so much they forgot about trying to win the game.

He was the master of it.

Ryan Bailey was as tough as Jake Connor