The backrowers and hookers who have changed the game | The Matty Johns Podcast

Last week the boys rattled off the players they think have changed the wing and fullback position, so it's now time to look back at the workhorses of the game, backrowers and hookers. From the Raging Bull Gordon Tallis to the tireless Royce Simmons; Matty, Kenty and Blocker list their picks for the game changers of these positions.
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[@docgonzales]

It's sad not to hear Bradley Clydes name mentioned more than once. Someone go back and measure his stats on a random game, total runs, yardage gained, yardage gained after contact , tackles made, try assists. He was a 105kg machine, with astounding consistency

[@truthseeker7322]

Doc you know you're footy mate. Clyde was my favourite player. He is the real reason why lock plays such an important and underated role in today's game. He was a jack of all trades. Ran the ball all day and making metres, tackles all day covering all the miss tackles his team mates missed making the right decisions when looking after the halves, he can pass, runs great lines. Just a work horse who worked all day. Never lost his energy always a handful, with minutes left he always put his hand up and played with 100% energy. Never gave an inch always gave his all. Gutted he is not recognised by today's generation😭

[@rastusdarklord4325]

Totally agree! He would have gotten my vote

[@andrewturk6562]

Spot on man

[@johnsonnilla2307]

One of the best,period!!

[@Will-nb8qk]

Roach was one of the greats. Definitely the enforcer of that era.

[@JM-rm7gv]

If you're going to have a halve who changed the game, Benji Marshall has gotta be a serious contender. Shaped the way the modern game is played with his running, stepping, passing etc.

[@sandorclegane3658]

He was good at times. Hardly changed the game though.

[@JM-rm7gv]

@@sandorclegane3658 You're right, his flick passing, his no look passing, his steps, his long balls, the lines he ran are definitely not in todays game

[@sandorclegane3658]

@@JM-rm7gv oh ok. I was sure footy had all of that in spades before Benji came along.

[@mattgroves8642]

Benji was impressive, but in no way changed the position.

[@VincentHenryJr]

Because of Benji! SJ,PONGA,RTS etc.... all became the player they are today.

[@garybaltiejus7248]

Roach, Benny , sticky, Loz the late 80,s early 90,s was the greatest time the nrl has ever seen in my opinion

[@warriorsfan1602]

As a kiwi it was cool to hear Block mention Mark Graham

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

Mark Graham from North Sydney Bears ??????

[@warriorsfan1602]

@@nicholasjohnson6724 yeah mate

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

@@warriorsfan1602 he was a tough dude!!!!

[@warriorsfan1602]

@@nicholasjohnson6724 Voted NZ player of the century mate. First Kiwi to captain a first grade side. He's still in Oz up in Rockhapton I think thats the place.working in the mines I'm not sure mate Im over in NZ. He was a hero to alot of us Kiwis because he was playing with and competing against the best in the world.

[@geoffkowald2610]

I am not a kiwi but Mark Graham was one of the best forwards that I have seen .... I rate him up with Ray Price and Bradley Clyde

[@kennethtseraha1197]

Those were the days. Hard yaka stuff. Those footy games were hard and to the bone. Very physical and entertaining. They learnt things the hard way and played their hearts out. I think the modern games are more commercialised and alot of rules have changed as well. Thanks guys for bringing back some piece of footy history. Awesome!!!.

[@tonypaxton5489]

Best podcast on tv. Congrats Matty bringing the real deal with Steve and Paul.

[@lostinspace699]

Terry Lamb.....

[@bisonnn]

Cameron Smith never makes a “ poor decision “ - great comment

[@davoguiney9902]

Agreed mate

[@gratefulguy48]

i peeped that

[@SilentHotdog28]

Andrew Johns said that the difference between Cameron's best and Cameron's worst is this much : holding up his fingers to indicate an inch.

[@yehbuddy1005]

I think he makes poor decisions it's just he is able to still execute even when he makes a poor decision.

[@Sem5626]

that's why he's been the best referee in the NRL for the last 10 years

[@Fuzcapp]

How did Steve Menzies and Brad Clyde, not get even a mention in the backrowers?

[@Fuzcapp]

Siro's grand final try was a classic!

[@TeoGrehan]

Kenty hit the nail on the head. "Cameron just dominates".

[@harryhunter114]

Lol, i coached Scotty Minto in under 15's at Yeppoon High.

[@gratefulguy48]

buzzy

[@PRL_Saint]

Must feel good to coach the GOAT

[@mickc7159]

Ran into Blocker at beachcombers in Darwin back in 90s had the time for g'day mate how are you Legend.

[@stevensmith8876]

What an excellent discussion! All 3 so knowledgeable 👍👍👍

[@saveit4last]

Who else lost their sh#t when block was talking about gordy "mate if you dont take it now ,I'll throw it out the windows"

[@jontydenton1898]

Benny had to hook as well as do what cam smith does

[@SilentHotdog28]

I work in childcare and a 4 y.o kid came up to me when I was playing music and said can you put that song on (pointing to the tablet) it was the Melbourne Storm theme.....Then when it started he said "who are their players?" I said "Don't worry son, I got you, I'll show you the Greatest Player Of All Time" and showed him a picture of Cameron Smith.

[@jayblazer5307]

Cam Smith is a nerd

[@SilentHotdog28]

@@jayblazer5307 He is a nerd for Rugby League, he loves the game that much, he puts so much time into training and preparing for matches, he practices things that he is not expected to practice, such as kicking when Thurston was the kicker......

[@tigerwarsaw99]

Benny Elias is in the top 20 players of all time.

[@slip-yp6hg]

I like your avatar :) electriceel.boards.net/

[@jacksonloram7887]

*Top 20 grubs of all time.

[@Will-nb8qk]

I hated him then but appreciate the guys feats now. Such a good little competitive player.

[@51beak39]

Lmao

[@johnh5424]

Ellery Hanley

[@sheilaworrall4867]

Definitely the best hard to put him down

[@ronaldwhite5670]

That was good, thanks fellas.

[@JJSPARROW1978]

Well I never thought I hear it, but Paul Kent hit the nail on the head. If you are going to pay over a million dollars for any player in a key position, it's the number 9. However, can't just be an hooker, one that thinks, that has learnt of watching and mimicking Cam Smith. A player that will sit in hooker when they are on a role, but move to half when things are not going to well and settle the attack. Essentially, clubs like Bronco's, titan's and cowboy's need to recruit a Half Back that will be a number 9, but switch when they feel so. Be the leader of the team and show leadership when needed, but allow the actually halves and fullback run the game when the going is good. Titan's paying over's for a second rower will cost them dearly, but might have saved the bronco's from a similar mistake. They need to employ Cam Smith to train a half back.

[@sconner6822]

Where is Scott minto ?

[@RobMorganest1983]

Lee Jackson of Hull and Newcastle

[@chiefsallday842]

I was at the studio boy

[@ronanrogers4127]

Love the white shoes, Matty. Very “Melbourne”. Benny Elias was a great player. Better than Smith.

[@davoguiney9902]

Ronan Rogers lol

[@davoguiney9902]

Big Bopper lmao love it

[@SilentHotdog28]

Haha nice joke son, good punch line. Love him or hate him, Cameron Smith is the greatest of all time.

[@troystaunton254]

No. Just stop it. He’s easily the second best dummy half every. But smith is number 1. Smith had all elias’s traits plus he had all of Ricky Stuart’s.

[@Will-nb8qk]

Elias was annoyingly tenacious. Easily up there. Qlder 🤛

[@Annaosborne980]

Just picking the best players in each position of this century is almost impossible for everyone to agree on... So it’s definitely impossible to pick a best of all time team

[@ray.shoesmith]

Naming Lewis over Brett Kenny makes the rest of it a joke

[@stevenwebb3634]

No Michael Ennis?

[@TeoGrehan]

Scott Minto baby!!! Matt Cooper has nothing on the Cool Mint!

[@whatsupshittafabraans1926]

Every one says how great was that side step was to send meninga down field, it was Benny and blocker who got the ball back just in the nick of time, go back and watch last 5 minutes, you’ll see exceptional efforts, from the Balmain boys. 🍕

[@Fuzcapp]

If getting away with forward passes from dummy half, is the measure of a great player, then Cameron Smith is the greatest player of all time.

[@lostinspace699]

No ,,

[@Fuzcapp]

@@lostinspace699 Umm - yes.

[@thomasjameswalterbenham3738]

I remember these years and Beny was such a show pony , with the sniffing salts and all ways falling with his passes

[@KwisBwown]

yeah lad that was amazing lads up eetswa

[@mosesappleby4357]

Eshays

[@beejaylinn7534]

The raging bull is not loyal Mr I'll sit out a season just because I want to go to the Brisbane how had 9 rep players at a time when teams like the dragons had 1 that was gorden tails

[@Will-nb8qk]

They were doin him dirty and loyalty is reciprocal.

[@AJWRAJWR]

He's a loyal Queenslander. He wanted to get the hell out of Sydney and play for where his heart lies.

[@cmobutts270]

👍

[@jest3167]

Tallis was overrated if playing against Brisbane in those days I'd much rather run at Tallis then I would Tonie Carroll

[@PauloS1422]

Boooorrriiinggg

[@Karanvirk09]

Dee Sak Are you parra fan who are always bored 😂by their teams performance ?? Who told you to watch it ?

[@aussiemika1]

Cameron smith is so overrated

[@tigerwarsaw99]

Benny Elias is in the top 20 players of all time.

[@robertlenon6366]

You are off ya head

[@troystaunton254]

I don’t know if he was top 20 ever but definitely top 50. There’s a lot of incredible players ever to play the game for me Benny is 2 behind smith at dummy half. Bedsy, Joey, Walters and waters are there behind Benny.

[@Will-nb8qk]

I reckon. The guy kept the walters brothers out of the australian side.