While at the wildcats JD was 2004, 2006 and 2007 MOS 2007 dream team, 2007 coaches player of the year and supporters player of the year, consistantly top 25 in super league for line breaks and tackle busts, earned an award for outstanding contribution to super league. He was outstanding in 06 survival winning try in 04 playoff, try in million pound game and that great run out of the in goal at bradford in 06. He also lead us through some extremely difficult circumstances and JK refers to him as the best overseas player wakefield have had since super league began. These are all outsanding contributions from a player who will always be remembered on the terraces so in those terms yes he is a modern day legend.

I have to agree with all that.

Truth is you're both right. In relation to the last 10 years of SL JD is up there with Solomona and Ellis. He is certainly a legend in the SL era.

However good as his stats are he simply isn't up there with the likes of Fox, Turner, and Toppo and a hat full of others from the 1960's. This is for two good reasons, one - he simply wasn't as good a player, two - he never played in a team that was really good enough.

For those two reasons he simply isn't a true legend IMHO, but he is a legend for the era of the club he played in. Of course all things are relative so well done JD, if I could have been a 10th as good a player as JD I'd have been happy.

I think it is very unfair to compare Jd with Fox and Topliss and I am sure that Jd would be the first to admit that he could not be compared with either of them talent wise, and neither do I think that there is anybody on here trying to claim that he is. We all know what he has brought to the club in the time he has been here and if certain fans recognise that more than others and in their opinion think he should have legendary status, well where is the harm in that, he certainly stands head and shoulders above a lot of ex Wakey players I could name.

an aussie journeyman classed as a wakefield legend pmsl wtf is happening to this once great club.

Heard he is off to coach Keighley... nice little club that

" While at the wildcats JD was 2004, 2006 and 2007 MOS 2007 dream team, 2007 coaches player of the year and supporters player of the year, consistantly top 25 in super league for line breaks and tackle busts, earned an award for outstanding contribution to super league. He was outstanding in 06 survival winning try in 04 playoff, try in million pound game and that great run out of the in goal at bradford in 06. He also lead us through some extremely difficult circumstances and JK refers to him as the best overseas player wakefield have had since super league began. These are all outsanding contributions from a player who will always be remembered on the terraces so in those terms yes he is a modern day legend. "


I have to agree with this post above. JD has been superb since arriving at Wakefield and has never ever let us down. You cannot compare him to the likes of Fox, Toppo etc - its a completely different era and the game has moved forward now to the extent its virtually a different game ! How can you compare Lionel Messi against Stanley Matthews or James Anderson against Harold Larwood ??? You cant - all you can do is rate them against their team mates and opponents during their stint at the club and in my opinion 'legend' would fit the bill in this case perfectly.

And while the game is different you can compare the players with those of the same era and the teams they played aganst.

The facts remain that the team of the 60s won the only 2 Championships the club has won and took our 3 Challenge Cups in 4 years - in an era of great Wigan and St. Helens teams, and Topliss' team of '79 made it to the club's last Wembley Final, and he went onto further glory at Hull.

The team in whice Demetriou played in got to the playoffs twice, and were a fag paper away from relegation. He was a decent player, but there have been better at the club in his time who don't get the sainted status that he does for whatever reasons.

We all see it differently, which is why I don't know why it winds me up so much that people mis-use 'legend' so much - I want winners, talented players with the right attitude and those are they ones I'd stick on pedestals, other like tryers and effort.

I can see what your saying but at the end of the day it comes down to what individuals class as 'legend'. Some, like yourself, would consider somebody a legend at the club based purely on their playing ability whereas others ,including myself, would look at the overall package so to speak. IMO he has been superb on the park and has always led from the front. I agree with JK and would say he is definitely our best overseas signing during our Super League era but to add to that you have his contributions off the field as well. From the community work through to taking the lead through the difficult time with Adam and Leon. That to me says 'Legend' - not just because he scored X amount of tries or kicked Y amount of goals. Its about everything.

But like I said - its all about personal opinons.

Looking at our team this year he would have breezed in it. We should have kept him for one more year.

not the first to have said that, but would you have still had him as captain over tesco?

Nah defo Morrison .

There is a report that JD has been interviewed for the vacant coaching position at Keighley,but an announcement is not due until the first week in January.
JD has signed a contract at a very nice club,York City Knights,who will welcome your attendance to support JD as he progresses his future at The Huntington Stadium.

Legend can be debated but one thing for sure JD stood tall amonst men when this club was in pain with the losses we suffered both with present and past players and that will never be forgotten. So in my mind yes he sits firmly in place with some of the greats to have worn the colours.

jd signed for york with the clear understanding that if a coaching job came along he was free to go. Keighley could be the first step on a coaching ladder that, lets face it, could have happened at wakey. Im not talking first team or anything but i know if theyd shown any interest he would have stayed.....or should i say any respectful interest. I know JD personally and he would have done anything for this club and i know hes determined to coach.The ammount of people who jumped on his back last season was unreal. im not even going to get into the ledg argument but i reckon you should appreciate when a club is turning away a fella who could do a good job still. Is a good player , maybe off the bench ,not a better option over players a lot of you cast doubts upon before theyve even pulled on a trin shirt .