Anybody who thinks Makinson is even close to being in the same league as Offiah need some serious help. Maybe he was crap in defence and not a complete player, but he didn’t need to be he was the most potent attacking winger the game has ever seen, and I hated him, buts that’s because he was so deadly and feared him ever time the ball went near him. Searing pace body swerve and a very sharp instinctive Rugby brain.

There's not much point comparing players from different eras except in how dominant they were/are. Brian Bevan would be hopeless today. Offiah would be a different player now as would Makinson if he played in the 80s.

Offiah at his peak was light years ahead of any British wingers at the same time. Makinson is nowhere near as dominant.

Agree entirely. It's credit to TM that this discussion even exists but Offiah is an all time great of the sport and ball in hand attacking with a bit of space in front of them there is no comparison.

As far as some of the other fundamentals of the modern game - the wingers role has changed perhaps more than any other in the sport over time - clearing your line, ability under the high ball, defence etc TM is streets ahead but that's not enough to tip him into that sort of company.

As far as the "modern" winger is concerned though, there are few in his bracket. I'd say him and Charnley are comfortably the best we have as far as English wingers are concerned.

He's a great winger no doubt, but it's only a couple of years since McGillvary looked the WBW, preceded by Hall. Makinson is not as dominant or terrifying as Offiah was.

I am a big fan of Makinson, a very big fan. Nothing close to a one trick pony, his allround game is brilliant. That said, I have to say, injuries aside as such a shame, but I think a fully fit Dom Manfredi is the single best winger I have seen in years in the British game. Shame he can't get on the pitch.

I agree Manfredi is one of those freak type players absolutely brilliant.Massive fan Makinson also.Whats your views on Johnstone Gotcha?

Good shout - looked a fabulous prospect when fit.

Johnstone for me when fit is on a par with Makinson and the same can be said for Manfredi too.
But as it stands and due to games missed through injury it has to be Makinson as the best in SL.

Johnstone is shocking defensively. As good in attack as any winger, but awful in defence.

That can be fixed with good coaching.

Calderwood is a glaring omission from that list. Certainly a better winger than Cummins, Bentley, Pratt and Rivett. He didn't only have electric pace, he was a willing worker in the team too.

And something I was wondering recently. Given the pace that Paul Medley had (second to Offiah in GB pace tests in the late 80's), do you think he could have been made to be a half decent winger in the modern game, instead of the slightly soft forward he had to be in his own time.

I still think he would be back row and without the hatchet men around who would get away with it back then he would be far more at home today. I would say the same for Roy Powell who would be a revelation in the modern climate imo.

Powell and Medley, both at their peak and with the benefit of today’s training methods, would be the best second row pair in SL.

Not sure about that Medley was a great runner of lines but when it got tough he often went missing.

Think today’s version of tough and yesteryears version are different things. He wouldn’t have Kelvin Skerrett trying to him to start with...

Quite correct, I know Mal Reilly wasn’t a big fan of medley, purely because he thought he wasn’t up for any of the biff.
The modern game with video replays etc etc is totally different from previous eras. You very rarely see any proper stiff arm tackles. Head high stuff but not on the scale of the Kurt Sorensen type. Great Britain versus New Zealand elland road Sorrenson off the ball stiff arm shot on Andy Goodway, poor old Andy was unconscious before he hit the ground. Leeds general infirmary next stop. Let’s also not forget Barry Macs shot on one of the the Australian forwards whilst playing for Wigan. That’s always worth a look on YouTube.

It was in Paul Sirronen , but if a nasty one.

Good way probably had it coming remember when he hit Paul Cullen with a late head shot, then stamped on his hand after he got sent off. Thought Cullen was going to murder him and had to be pulled off him.

Powell with 19 GB caps was a superb player and would be good in any era, Liked Medley but was a bit soft for that era. If he had a bit of Paul Dixon Karl Fairbanks about him, both players less talented and physically as athletic but better players because they where tough. If medley had done if then he would be in hall of fame.

Interesting post chaps .Can i throw in Atkinson a great winger and another of your lot that could avoid that corner flag Rosenberg
On a point of Offiah Just remember what teams he played in and the quality of the centres he had inside him
Our star Sully played at most times in a very ordinary team for a lot of his career ,that was how good he was

People only remember Medley's running, they often forget the crunching tackles he used to put in. Neither Medley nor Powell were nasty enough for that era. It's no coincidence that their best season as a second row pair was when Peter Tunks was in the front row looking after the biff.

Some good memories of different eras here. Out of interest, when was the last time wwe lost a player to a busted jaw, depressed cheekbone or a fractured eye socket?

Elderly Hanley, he got all three from Andy Dannatt.

Seriously, other than Delaney I don’t recall any serious facial injuries, and even that wasn’t down to foul play.

Matt Adamson in CC semi final. Played the final against Bradford a couple of weeks after and if I remember correctly went off injured after possibly being targeted.
Think Sinfield may have had broken nose against Warrington when they were still really dirty and not very good. Seem to remember he refused to shake hands.
Also Hugh Wadell against Widnes in the game I think Powell may have swallowed his tongue in.

Matt Adamson, Robbie Mears