Connolly is one of the best players I've ever seen.

Not even close. Didn't he only score something like ONE try in over 10 years playing for GB?

Terrific defensively, but limited. I'd take the likes of Newlove/Gibbs/Lyon/Gidley over him at centre in just the last 10 years at Saints.

Looking forward to watching the programme though - always good to get things from the horses mouth and I bet it will be a pretty cathartic exercise for him from a St Helens POV.

I thought his attack was under rated, tbh. He was very quick over 100m, although he did have the luxury of playing for Wigan in 94 and 95 which may have given him extra freedom to show it. IMO, anyone who got to see Paul Newlove's tenure at saints is as privaliged as a speccy can be.
Would I have taken GC over Iro or Lyon? Mmmm.....

Connolly wasn't in the same galaxy as Jamie Lyon.

What about Iro v Lyon?

Lyon by a mile. Iro was very very good, but Lyon was just special. The best player I have ever seen in a Saints shirt (I started watching just after Meninga finished).

Both better players than Connolly IMO. Connolly was very good and incredibly consistent, but Iro/Lyon were/are "X Factor" players, something Connolly never was as far as I'm concerned.

For raw talent, Lyon over Iro. Iro had a real physical presence that Lyon lacked though.

Can you imagine Lyon with Iro's physique? Jeepers.

Lyon wasn't as good a centre as Newlove. I didn't see either Meninga either.

Newlove had everything - size, speed, step, hands.

Lyon is perhaps more talented in the sense that he can play in the halves, kick etc. But Newlove, as a centre, was ludicrously good. I agree that he was better than Lyon in that position.

People talk about Garnder being blessed outside Lyon. That was nothing compared to Sullivan outside Newlove.

Newlove was the more judicous of the two. It wasn't unusual for Lyon to force a pass and see it go to ground or touch - Newlove wouldn't. He was also a better defender.

For me it's very tuff Newy or Lion

Quite correct! it is funny how some people only have selective memories, real genuine guy as well Gary, I have one of his match jersey's at Wigan though, which he signed and gave to me.

Iro in his younger years was one of the most destructive centres I gave seen, only bettered by Inga, now there was a centre.

At 19 years of age Iro gave Meninga a torrid time, that's when Wigan stepped in to sign him, although it did help having Graham Lowe as coach at the time.

First thing that sprang to mind then was Greg Inglis.