Best player never to play for Australia

[Broncoman]

Mine is David Peachey. Awesomely talented player for Cronulla if Darren Lockyer didn't play Footy Peachey would've played Tests. He did play for Super League Australia but it isn't counted.

 

[m1c]

I'm not sure there are too many in recent eras - plenty of nuff nuffs get a game given the low level of importance players seem to place on end of year representative matches. I'm sure there are a large number of worthy contenders from earlier times though.

 

[Kimlo]

Lionel Messi

 

[Big Pete]

Peach is a good call, his work hasn't aged well (he was always prone to the odd brain explosion which would be crucified today) but from 99-01 he was easily Cronulla's most influential player.

 

[Nashy]

I thought David Peachy was an overrated fuckwit of the highest order.


The highlight of his career for me was Hayne binning and eventually sending him off.

 

[Anonymous person]

I know he technically played for australia, but it was only for 2 matches during super league so it doesnt really count - Luke Priddis.

hands down the best and smarted hooker of the modern game until Cameron Smith showed up.

 

[Alec]

Definitely not the best or anything, but Ash Harrison has been very unlucky to miss out all these years, especially since he's still and always has been a better version of Glenn Stewart.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Terry Matterson I wouldn't say would be the best as such but damn was he an underrated lock, cannot believe he only played 1 SOO match for NSW and didn't get to play for Australia.

 

[Big Pete]

I know he technically played for australia, but it was only for 2 matches during super league so it doesnt really count - Luke Priddis.

hands down the best and smarted hooker of the modern game until Cameron Smith showed up.

Definitely deserved more of a go but he did play an official test in 05. Only reason I know is because I was there. :biggrin:

Priddo was awesome, IMO, best hooker Brisbane ever had.

 

[Broncoman]

Priddis was an awesome player, was a big fan of his. His performance in the 2003 grand final was probably the best performance I've seen by any hooker.

 

[Anonymous person]

Priddis was an awesome player, was a big fan of his. His performance in the 2003 grand final was probably the best performance I've seen by any hooker.

yep im with you on that, it was also one of the most dominant performances by a single player ive seen. he basically won them that grand final single handedly (with a little help from a fantastic tackle by sattler). the try he set up to seal the game was just all his incredible vision and reading of the game.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Matt Bowen ......?? A test against the French surely doesn't count, other than that..... one tour match and a one off against the yanks?

Some would describe him as the most damaging ball runner of his generation.

 

[Big Pete]

Yes, we call them North Queenslanders.

 

[Coxy]

Matt Bowen ......?? A test against the French surely doesn't count, other than that..... one tour match and a one off against the yanks?

Some would describe him as the most damaging ball runner of his generation.

Matt Bowen is Queensland's answer to Preston Campbell.

 

[Big Pete]

Mind you, I would have taken Bowen over Kidley in a heart-beat.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but I just never got it with him.

 

[subsbligh]

Anthony Minichello. I know he played a lot of tests for Australia up until 2005, but injuries, the capitulation of the Roosters and NSW really cruelled his international career.

He could have been better than Billy Slater (in fact you could argue Billy was selected and built on the mould of the best fullback in the game at the time) and was a key pillar of NSW's 2003-2005 dominance of Qld.

How fate turns. Lockyer doesn't show up in the 76th minute in 2006, NSW take 4 in a row... Lockyer gets reshuffled to fullback at Origin level, Slater dropped, who knows?

Mini remains in the 1 for NSW and Australia.

 

[Alec]

I think Minichiello would have been exposed for a nuffy even if he didn't get injured. It's not like he injured his terrible hands either. We didn't have a lot of good fullbacks in 04 and 05, maybe it made him seem better than he actually was.

 

[Broncoman]

Anthony Minichello. I know he played a lot of tests for Australia up until 2005, but injuries, the capitulation of the Roosters and NSW really cruelled his international career.

He could have been better than Billy Slater (in fact you could argue Billy was selected and built on the mould of the best fullback in the game at the time) and was a key pillar of NSW's 2003-2005 dominance of Qld.

How fate turns. Lockyer doesn't show up in the 76th minute in 2006, NSW take 4 in a row... Lockyer gets reshuffled to fullback at Origin level, Slater dropped, who knows?

Mini remains in the 1 for NSW and Australia.

Well spoken Bligh. Billy Slater is the best fullback I've seen but Mini before 2006 was phenomenal. Such a shame what happened to hiim would love to see him now if he didn't get injured.