did think about it, 13 was the hardest decision. Smales? Bell? Lyman? Slip Dave Hobbs in there and move Pete Smith to 13? Actually that might have been the right move, for a time Hobbs was one of the most unstoppable guys from 5 yards out I have ever seen.

Add John Newlove and you've got a pretty decent 17 there.


Yes, was it '84-85 or '85-86 when virtually the only way we could score was Hobbs on a crash ball from 5 yards out? One of my best memories is Mick Burke trying to stop him and nearly ending up in the crowd at the PO Rd end

Tomkins
Robinson
Lydon
Connelly
Offiah
Edwards
Greg
Skerrett
Dermott
Platt
Ashurst
Farrell
Hanley

Betts
Newton
Shaw
Hogan

Billy B and Eric Ashton ignored as I didn't see them in their prime.

John Newlove was a terrific and under-rated player - a very different type of player to Paul, but you couldn't really say he had the tremendous talent of his son. So the only other players he could have unseated were Gilbert and Steadman, both of whom were devastating on their day. Unfortunately you can only pick 13, and the presence of Steve Nash meant the great Deryck Fox was never going to get a look-in either.

TBH I'd probably put John Newlove at 6 before Steadman - the former being considerably more reliable and consistent and the latter a bit more a 'flash in the pan' player who could produce wonderful bits of individuality but they didn't happen every week.

Deryck Fox would probably make a great hooker in today's version of the game, whereas KB would be much more use if the hooker had to win the ball at the scrums.

1 Charlton
2 Burgess
3 Watkins
4 Hesketh
5 Richards
6 Gill
7 Nash
8 Coulman
9 Alker
10 Ward
11 Dixon
12 Forber
13 Prescott

Very difficult choice (mainly who I had to leave out)

Sam Tomkins
Billy Boston
Eric Ashton
Alan Davies
Martin Offiah
David Bolton
Shaun Edwards
Kelvin Skerrett
Martin Dermott
Brian McTigue
Bill Ashurst
Andy Farrell
Ellery Hanley

Joe Lydon
Dennis Betts
Sean O'Loughlin
Andy Platt

You still haven't grasped the idea of the thread have you?

he qualifies for GB under residency rules



ok then, i'll stick john newlove in there