Quote: Dally "David Bolton (from earlier days) and Alan Hardisty were better than Roger the Dodger. Dennis O'Neill left him standing (although only had a couple a years at the top before injury ruined his career). The statistical record demonstrates Hardisty was a better standoff if you don't go for subjectivity.
As to Reilly, whilst not all from the same era I think most people would consider Johnny Whitelely, Rocky Turner and Vince Karalius (who I think you had) as a cut above. Personally, I think there are cases for others eg Doug Laughton, Mick Adams, Andy Farrell and Paul Sculthorpe among others to be considered as much better all round players than Reilly. Apart from one or two hard man moments and the shrugging off of a Salford player at Wembley I never recall Reilly being a threat.'"
Not a bad try, I'll give you that.
Points for the cojones.
Bolton is not in the English Hall of Fame. Millward is.
I still have Millward in front of the other two mentioned - as do most experts.
Millward destroyed Australia in the 1970 series. Nearly single handedly in game 2.
The brilliance of Hardisty - another favourite I will admit - didn't get GB over the line in 1966. Mainly because of the absence of Murphy I would venture.
Reilly made his name in Australia as well - which was the hardest competition in the world at the time (at least partly because of the drain of high quality forwards from the UK to OZ). Manly never looked like winning a premiership until he came along; then they won plenty.
Reilly was almost unstoppable circa 1969 for Castleford and it is this play you were deprived of in the 1970s (including at rep level).
To give you your due, Whiteley and Turner - both of whom I considered in the 30 secs it took me to devise my team
- were outstanding players.
Rocky would go closest to pushing Reilly and you may nearly have convinced me there....
But....NAH.
I will stick with my side. Thanks for the comments though.
