Anybody who thinks Makinson is even close to being in the same league as Offiah need some serious help. Maybe he was crap in defence and not a complete player, but he didn’t need to be he was the most potent attacking winger the game has ever seen, and I hated him, buts that’s because he was so deadly and feared him ever time the ball went near him. Searing pace body swerve and a very sharp instinctive Rugby brain.

There's not much point comparing players from different eras except in how dominant they were/are. Brian Bevan would be hopeless today. Offiah would be a different player now as would Makinson if he played in the 80s.

Offiah at his peak was light years ahead of any British wingers at the same time. Makinson is nowhere near as dominant.

Agree entirely. It's credit to TM that this discussion even exists but Offiah is an all time great of the sport and ball in hand attacking with a bit of space in front of them there is no comparison.

As far as some of the other fundamentals of the modern game - the wingers role has changed perhaps more than any other in the sport over time - clearing your line, ability under the high ball, defence etc TM is streets ahead but that's not enough to tip him into that sort of company.

As far as the "modern" winger is concerned though, there are few in his bracket. I'd say him and Charnley are comfortably the best we have as far as English wingers are concerned.

He's a great winger no doubt, but it's only a couple of years since McGillvary looked the WBW, preceded by Hall. Makinson is not as dominant or terrifying as Offiah was.

I am a big fan of Makinson, a very big fan. Nothing close to a one trick pony, his allround game is brilliant. That said, I have to say, injuries aside as such a shame, but I think a fully fit Dom Manfredi is the single best winger I have seen in years in the British game. Shame he can't get on the pitch.

I agree Manfredi is one of those freak type players absolutely brilliant.Massive fan Makinson also.Whats your views on Johnstone Gotcha?

Good shout - looked a fabulous prospect when fit.

Johnstone for me when fit is on a par with Makinson and the same can be said for Manfredi too.
But as it stands and due to games missed through injury it has to be Makinson as the best in SL.

Johnstone is shocking defensively. As good in attack as any winger, but awful in defence.

That can be fixed with good coaching.

And something I was wondering recently. Given the pace that Paul Medley had (second to Offiah in GB pace tests in the late 80's), do you think he could have been made to be a half decent winger in the modern game, instead of the slightly soft forward he had to be in his own time.

I still think he would be back row and without the hatchet men around who would get away with it back then he would be far more at home today. I would say the same for Roy Powell who would be a revelation in the modern climate imo.

Powell and Medley, both at their peak and with the benefit of today’s training methods, would be the best second row pair in SL.

Not sure about that Medley was a great runner of lines but when it got tough he often went missing.