Uhhh... what?

[Bucking Beads]

Must be the guys that shot at him that were voting for this surely.. The bloke had 8 good games now he needs to back it up for 5 + seasons IMO.

 

[Jip]

Come on, it's the Daily Telegraph. It's the paper version of quality journalism like Today Tonight and A Current Affair.

I wouldn't expect anything less.

Of course Hayne is there. Kids don't focus on the long term. Everything is now now now. The last memory they have of NRL is Jarrod Hayne being portrayed as a Demi-God by the NSW media, because the bloke had a good half season... reputed to have done anyway, I was on deployment and missed the whole bloody season lol.

Hopefully he'll fade into mediocrity again this season - and if the all stars game was anything to go by, he will - and then the kids can focus their attention on some players that deserve some real accolades and show real, CONSISTENT talent.

 

[Flutterby]

Most popular right now I can accept that he would probably be that. But most influential????? That's crazy talk.

 

[Kris]

WTF? Have they been taking Johns' drugs? Talk about overrated. Yes, Hayne's got talent but WTF man!

 

[Black Philip]

Hayne isn't even the most influential league personality of '09, nevermind the entire bloody modern era.

 

[Nashy]

Influential how though?

I'm sure he influences plenty of kids down there. He's a pretty awesome player.

 

[Black Philip]

Well they included Gallop on the list, so I'm sure their definition of influential must be pretty open. In which case Hayne shouldn't be number 1. As said earlier, he is a very talented player but he has only really had one half season of consistent brilliant footy.

 

[Nashy]

Gallop is very influential. He's a brilliant influence on all young skiers.

 

[Bannermania]

ZIIIING.

Srsly though, if Hayne is classed as Influential by the amount of boots and jerseys his name sells at Peter Wynn's Score, then we're all doomed.

I think that Preston Campbell is far and away far more influential not only in Aborignal circles but Rugby League as a whole.

 

[Coxy]

I think that Preston Campbell is far and away far more influential not only in Aborignal circles but Rugby League as a whole.

+1!

Not to mention the many polynesian christian players, the good ones that don't drink, don't **** up and set a great role model for their peers.

 

[Bannermania]

Exactly, when was the last time one of those guys was shot at in a bar?

 

[Emma]

I still curse the bastard that missed!

 

[Bannermania]

Plus. I don't see how diving is influential either.

 

[Je$ter]

I think that Preston Campbell is far and away far more influential not only in Aborignal circles but Rugby League as a whole.

I was going to say the same thing.

Everyone is getting off over the all stars game saying it is the next Origin (wait and see on that one) and the instigator of it all was Preston Campbell who along with Searle's business/marketing know-how got it off the ground. Therefore I would have both of those guys above Hayne.

 

[Anonymous person]

im struggling to find reasons why ANY nrl player is 'influential'. maybe if one of them was born with no freaking legs and somehow made it in, that would be influential, or has had at least some sort of big adversity to overcome. but being influential just cause they play footy and are good at it? i dont see it.

 

[BroncoMatt]

im struggling to find reasons why ANY nrl player is 'influential'. maybe if one of them was born with no freaking legs and somehow made it in, that would be influential, or has had at least some sort of big adversity to overcome. but being influential just cause they play footy and are good at it? i dont see it.

Are you confusing influential and inspirational? [icon_confu

 

[Coxy]

Exactly. Influential players are the ones I see that kids play in the backyard saying "I'm Darren Lockyer" or whatever.

Although I doubt anyone says "I'm David Gallop" LOL.

 

[schmix]

I'm inclined to think it's based on power and influence on/within the game itself. Gallop obviously runs the whole thing and Hayne sells the game to the kids. All the others are involved in the administration side or the media (ie the way the sport is presented to the public).

Very subjective yes, but I don't think it's really any worse than any of the other lists they come out with, and I can see the reason for Hayne's inclusion (and I hate him as much as anyone).