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Message: [QUOTE="Pigskin, post: 2370063, member: 1858"] To answer the title of this thread, in short - NO. I love these debates. I class myself as old enough to judge Lewis' career in its entirety. I was 8 years old when he switched from union to league in 1978 playing with Valleys. Being from a mad Easts family, I watched from an early age as he played for our arch enemy. In those days, we attended a LOT of BRL games, and at least one interstate clash each year. I was present at the first Origin game in 1980 and many many Origin games over the next 15 years. It is only in more recent times that I attend an Origin about every few years. Going to game 3 this year. The only question mark I have in my mind when talking about who was better than who over the years, is I find myself in awe of those that played when I was a kid. I am a far harsher critic as I get older. Not sure why that is. I am 41 years old tomorrow. Wally Lewis is so far ahead of the next best player I have ever seen in my life that its just folly to even discuss it. Daylight 2nd. I find it hard to split the modern day great players after him Young people talk about John's ability to dominate a game, pull out freakish plays. Wally dominated the BRL for years. What he did in Origin, just in man of the match awards alone, will likely never be beaten. Wally dominated like no other. He was just crazy good, the best by far. In trying to compare others for the purposes of "next best", I find it very difficult. Play-makers get all the plaudits in our game and rightfully so. Does that make Shane Webcke an inferior player to Allan Langer ? Its comparing apples and oranges. I think Lazarus is the best prop I have seen, followed closely by Webcke. Both were at there absolute best for a lot shorter time frame than a player like Lockyer for example. That is just part of being a prop. They mature later, retire earlier, and do the toughest job on the field. Another player I rate very very highly indeed who rarely gets a mention in these threads is Steve Walters. He was an outstanding dummy half, had the bulk and size of a prop and hit like the best second rower in the game. His window was not long either. By the time he waited out brother Kerrod's years and beat off challenges from Elias (and off the top of my head Fenech/Serdaris ??) he was probably at the top for 5 years tops. Does longevity count ? What are the criteria ? Brad Fitler is always talked about in these threads. Stuff him in my mind. Had little influence on 300 of his 300+ games and although picked year in year out, did very little at representative level but ride on the coat-tails of others. Very over-rated would be my analysis of him and wouldn't make my top 20 of the last 20 years. For the sake of having a run down, I'll go in this order Lewis Daylight Langer Johns Lockyer Walters Sterling Lazarus I could write a book ... simply love this subject and love the debate. Cheers Oink ! [/QUOTE]

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