Mal is a legend no doubt desrves to be an immortal, power pace, but good hands and a bit of guile as well.
Beven probably should be in too, his day will probably come.

I was there too. One good game. They give out legendary status far too easily on the other side of the hill.

It was a fantastic display wasn’t it. He made Wigan look like mugs!

Regards

King James

Meninga was playing when I was took to my first Saints game as a kid. I don't think he arrived until October that season but his spell here will never be forgotten by anyone who saw it. He had a huge impact on the club and the town.

Two trophies, second in the league and 28 tries in 31 games was rather a decent return I'd say.

But for breaking his arm he would had a second spell with us in 88/89. But we ended up with Michael O'Connor instead...

I'll always remember his two interception tries in what was his final game for us. The Premiership final victory against Hull KR at Elland Road, particularly his second one where he went three quarters of the length of the field and a supposedly quick winger in Garry Clark couldn't get anywhere near him.

Very short period here but will always be a St Helens legend.

Please don’t remind me about the 2 interception try’s against us I still have nightmares but what a player he was

The 82 Aussies had some players that were on a different planet physically to anything we had at the time. Meninga was relatively lightweight by his later standards, but was almost 16 stone and quick. Perhaps his greatest career achievement was that during his spell at Sts he made Sean Day look good.

Some might argue that Malcolm Meninga was the greatest player St Helens ever had.

Remember that St Helens has also had classy players like Jaime Lyon and Matthew Gidley as star centres in their times there. So to rate Malcolm Meninga as St Helens best ever player is quite an accolade.

One of the greatest impacts in the UK over a short period of time (one season), 38 tries in 30 games and countless assists.

Great name, great player. I started becoming aware of RL in the late 80's and Mal was such a memorable figure. He was their captain, a great all round player, and even had that weird way (by todays standards) of taking goal kicks. Absolutely legend of the game.

Genuine question will Barba be seen as the same whenever he decides to leave? Or does it depend on the silverware coming this year too?

I would say no, Ben Barba has probably been one of our worse players in the last 3 or 4 games he's played. From what I can remember Meninga was "on the button" most of the time scored 38 tries in the season, didn't carry any controversy and what stood out was how tough he was and very rarely dominated.

Yeah that was my thinking, although he didnt look fully fit last time i saw him, knee looked heavily strapped. I think Lyon, Gidley etc did more. Don't get me wrong it has been great seeing someone of his quality here but I think he owuld need a couple more seasons to go into folklore

Quote: Judder Man "I would say no, Ben Barba has probably been one of our worse players in the last 3 or 4 games he's played. From what I can remember Meninga was "on the button" most of the time scored 38 tries in the season, didn't carry any controversy and what stood out was how tough he was and very rarely dominated.'" He was top drawer, but it was 28 tries in the season not 38. www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=15983

Quote: Judder Man "I would say no, Ben Barba has probably been one of our worse players in the last 3 or 4 games he's played. From what I can remember Meninga was "on the button" most of the time scored 38 tries in the season, didn't carry any controversy and what stood out was how tough he was and very rarely dominated.'" He was top drawer, but it was 28 tries in the season not 38. www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=15983

Would place a fair few above Meninga as the best I have seen play for St Helens.

At the top of my list would be Karel Thomas van Vollenhoven.

To quote John McEnroe: Are you serious?