The problem with your ilk is you never watch anyone else, be it opposition, or players from afar....

Paul Gallen is head and shoulders above ANY 13 worldwide...

Oh and he can play front row and second row when needed as well!

This is the key part. The NRL doesn't really use players in this manner, even though they have the players that could (and imo should) Lewis, Bird, Stewart, Mateo, (Wade) Graham, even SBW. Instead any back rower with a chance of playing a link role in addition to forward duty is automatically pushed wide as a second rower; and another battering ram/pure defender is put in the 13 shirt as lock - like Burgess, Gallen etc.

wrong

This is a very silly thread that needs locking.

Wigan fans will obviously think it's SOL.

Leeds/Saints/Wire fans will obviously think differently

All get ridiculed for their opinions. Round and round we go. Am I wrong?

MY ILK
WHO ARE U? REALLY !!!!
Do you think ill change MY opinion just because you told me too
If you bothered to read properly I said IMO
So jog on

This thread is more entertaining than a cas game



Ellis over rated
SOL best 13 worldwide
ST the best British player in the SL era

Just......

O'Loughlin is probably the best 13 in SL at the moment but I think a lot of them are not conventional 13's like Bailey. Glenn Stewart is probably the most traditional of the aussies and he's a player I really rate. I had to laugh when I saw the Mossop as a starting prop considering that 3 of the props in an England squad will be Graham and Burgess twins, that's without counting that Sam, who is the best forward in the world, could be on the front row depending on how Mcbanana wants to accommodate his back rowers.

George Burgess should be lining up for England in the summer but i'm not so sure about Tom Burgess. Tom has only played a handful of NRL games this season so I can't imagine he's improved dramatically from the player we all saw at Bradford. Don't get me wrong he could be a stellar player but i don't think he's done anything to deserve that call just yet.

Ellis, Sam Burgess, George Burgess & Graham are the probably the only 'definites' on the team sheet. Guys like Mossop, Hock, Westwood, Lockers & Sinfield could play massive parts and then again depending on what side is picked they could see hardly any game time.

Exciting times when picking a potential pack.

George Roby/Micky mac. Graham
Hock. Sam
Lockers

G Burgess/Roby/Graham
Westwood/S Burgess
O'Loughlin
Three of four subs:
T Burgess, Ellis, Crabtree

Did he pick up another injury tonight ?

Starting Crabtree Roby Graham Sam Burgess Ellis O'Loughlin
Subs Geo Burgess Mossop Westwood Hock

Great kneejerk post mate. Is Sam Tomkins the best player in the suerleague era? Well, if the fees being bandied around are to be believed, his market value [uwordwide[/u is definitely way above anyone else's from these shores. Does that make him the best? Dunno, but your opinion is certainly no more valid than anyone who has posted he is, as their opinion is at least vindicated by market forces.

O'loughlin is, by general consent of both fans and pundit alike, the best 13 in this country. Disagree if you like but, once again, it would be only your opinion and one that flies in the face of that of those with much more credible credentials than yours. Does that make him the best in the world? Well I suppose that would depend on your viewpoint on what makes a good 13. It certainly puts him in with a clear shout of best traditional, ball playing loose forward. Other than that it all comes down to personal preference. However, to claim it's laughable, is..well...laughable!

I don't think anyone is saying Ellis is overrated in the sense that he isn't a top player. Just overrated in his effect on the national team. In other words that there are equally viable options who, in some cases, could add something that Ellis simply doesn't bring to the table. It's a reasonable viewpoint whether you agree with it or not. As for laughable, well I think you get the picture...

Cracks me up that as soon as Tom Burgess gets a few 1st team games for South Sydney people automatically start putting him in the England squad. There are plenty of SL props in better form with a lot more first team game time under their belts this season who are much more deserving.

I've always said O'Loughlin is the best player at Wigan and been ridiculed for it.

Forwards for dough, backs for show.

Would he get a gig at SOO if he was an Aussie, touch and go BUT he'd certainly be in contention depending on which side. NSW then hmm Bird is on par and Gallen is a real class above everyone but i think he's better than Harrison and Parker at QLD.

On other forwards for the WC

Ellis is one of those players that does well with class around him and he becomes an integral part of the machine, he'll break the line just enough to benefit someone else on his shoulder but in an average squad i don't think he's anything special.

Burgess x4: Sam and George are the real deal at the moment and a shoe in for the WC, Tom staying over here slowed his development and allowed his twin to edge him but he's still a good player.
Luke really kicked on from his Leeds days BUT he's made of biscuit which is a real shame.

Moz and Peacock: Thanks for the service, enjoy the odd SL game and leave the internationals to other people.

Graham is a beast, imo the best forward in the world and i include all the Oz and NZ rep players in that.

The small clubs: Hock if he sorts his demons out is a top draw forward could easily get in the team.
Kirmond at Wakey his a real workhorse but like a Charnely one night stand doesn't offer enough weight or penetration.

The Wire in contention contingent: Westwood could play 3 games in a row on the same day and not tire, he's been off his game 'slightly' this year but still a fantastic forward. Harrison/Carvell/Grix have played elsewhere so really shouldn't even be considered for England but Carvell is good enough backup for England Currie too soon.
Hill should be in the larger squad as backup, Higham 'should' be starting hooker on form but it would be a brave coach to pick him, he's been like a man possessed this season.

Leeds forwards: Sinfield at hooker the only position i'd consider him for England. No one else is good enough for England at Leeds, great backs, good forwards but not good enough for England all considered.

Saints: Roby if fit, LMS if he was consistent (which he isn't).

Hudds: I'm all Emperors new clothes with Crabtree now, doesn't do much but stands out because of his 'look' , Ferres is good but not good enough to shift our first choice pack. Lunt could do a job.

Wigan: I spoke about SOL. McIlldiscipline not good enough internationally, Mossop is good enough but again i think there are too many above him to keep him out the squad, Harrison no, the other lads the WC is too soon for them.
Farrell is another that will suffer from us having brilliant forward options, his late form dropped off from his early stuff that might have made him a shoe in, but currently he's playing himself out of contention.

I'm sure i've missed a few off but if i have then maybe that's because they haven't done enough to shift a first choice pack anyway.

I work for HullKR.tv
Currently we are producing DVD of Micheal Dobson's Rovers career and on it I asked him to pick the best 3 players in the SL.
Without hesitation he said Sean O'Loughlin first.
Last night I grabbed a chat with Blake Green who told me SOL is the best player he has ever played with both here and in Oz.
Some endorsement that.

People who can't see the class of SO'L have no idea of rugby league imo.

I believe Jeff Lima has said the same...

Great breakdown on Forwards in the mix for the World Cup.

Disagree about mickey mac
But I like a solid big hitting hooker for first twenty before Roby or someone can come on and benefit with pace

Sean O'L does damage without the ball too. His runs create spaces and cause confusion. He's a very good player.

One of the best loose forwards in the world at the present time and possibly the best.

Some endorsement indeed! They're not the only ones to have said similar. Ryan Hoffman, Jeff Lima and Trent Barrett are among recent imports to have waxed lyrical about O'Loughlin in recent times. My own favourite was the great Peter Stirling during an Australian commentary on an International a few years back who described him as a Junior Nathan Hindmarsh and went on to say he would rip it up in the NRL. Endorsments don't come any better in my book!

Lockers is without a doubt the best 13 in our comp,although i think that Gallen is the best 13 in the world