Quote: Phuzzy "He's not even that though NK. Walmsley is more important to Saints. Field is currently more important to us. He's a good player who is being bigged up beyond his standing.
This talk comes on the back of Saints being dominant. When Bateman had a similar forward to Walmsley (Papalii) in front of him he ripped the NRL apart. Can you see Knowles doing the same over there? He simply doesn't have the game to. That's taking nothing away from him as he does his own game extremely well.
In fact I'm struggling to find many instances in the history of superleague where a back rower was regarded as the best (or most important if you like) player in the comp. If there was, I'm sure they brought more to the table than a solid game and intensity.
Let's put it this way. We both know that put him in our side and not a single Saints fan would be calling him the best player in the league, or even close. The frightening thing is neither would any of our fans! I understand praise where it's due and calling Walmsley the best prop in the league or possibly even the world would have some merit. Calling Knowles a good player or among the best back rowers in the comp is also justified. Anything more than that, at this stage at least, just isn't.'"
He’s right up there with Walmsley in terms of importance to Saints IMO. He’s isn’t flashy, particularly eye catching etc but does things that you just can’t measure. He isn’t in Lockers league in terms of when Lockers was at his best yet but I recall Lockers getting dogs abuse across the league at 24-25.
I do agree with a lot of what you’re saying and maybe it’s the quality of the league that puts him right up there (IMO). I’m interested to see how he goes in that World Cup. I see Aussie 13’s like Radley, Finucane or Murray lauded and he’s every bit as good IMO. I think he’ll prove that but we’ll see.
Just to add to this around Walmsley, I could see him being found out a bit in the World Cup. He was dreadful for GB under Wayne Bennett and I don’t think the big Aussie, Kiwi, Tongan etc packs will find him anything out of the ordinary.