This sort of thing depends a lot on the criteria.

If it is about longevity & maintaining form over a long period, it has to be Wellens, even though Radlinski and Gary Connolly won 'best full-back' in the SL dream team more than once (for what that's worth).

If it is about the best player ever in a given moment, then it is a lot harder. Tomkins is definitely up there, even though he's not really been in the position for long. Other candidates might be Brent Webb in his first couple of seasons, and Brett Hodgson.

Is Radlinski the most overrated player of all time?

no, that's shaun edwards.

Going through the previous posts Radlinski is by far the name which crops up the most.

However there also seems to be the general consensus that if Tomkins stays in the sport and continues the way he is, he will soon be the best of the Super League era!

We'd probably agree with both.

I wouldnt have swapped Radlinski or Wellens for Paul Reilly at the giants. Now thats the sort of player you want at fullback. Run through a brick wall face first hitting that ball back up from deep.

Gary Hulse. See Bradford at home for us in 2004.

Tomkins by far. one of the best players in super league full stop.

Got to say I think Wellens in his prime was better than radders although probably not by much.
If wello had the speed he would have been a world beater.

Shocking analysis of one of Super League' best ever players.

Agreed mate, Wellens was superb in defence and Radlinski was awesome in attack(especially support play).

IMO Radlinski edges it as i think Radlinski was a much better attacker and only slightly inferior in defence.

No he obviously would be one of the best but in my opinion that is an indication of how we havnt produced that much talent in that position over the years. Compare him to someone like Sam Tomkins and he isnt even in the same league. Compare him to some of the best Aussie FB`s over the past few years and he isnt even on the same planet.

Aye, It wasn't the best of Leeds signings was it.

Best defensive fullback has to be Wellens. Might have been the best ever if he had any pace.
Radlinski was brilliant in attack and fantastic under a high ball.

My personal favourite as a Rhinos fan has to be Webb...devastating in his first 3 years at Leeds but not quite the same player after his long-term injury.

Tomkins has the potential to eclipse them all but time will tell.

'Sick-note' managed a grand total of 12 appearances for Leeds. Ironically he went back to Oz and scored 17 tries in just 26 NRL appearances before retiring.

I would go for the ever reliable Mick Withers. I'm surprised more people do not rate him higher than some of the other names mentioned.

Clint Greenshields

Seconded.

Forgot about him. Good shout.

Withers is one of those guys who get's overlooked. A very similar player to Wellens in that all though neither had a great deal of pace, their ability to read the game and be in the right place at the right time often meant that pace was never an issue for them

Do you mean as a Bradford or Wigan player?

Wellens more so, solid but nothing more. The difference between him and Slater in 08 WC was laughable.

I think most people here have made the assumption that we're comparing SuperLeague players. Slater doesn't enter into the equation. In any case the difference between almost any English player and Billy Slater is usually laughable.

Wellens has been much more than 'solid' for a long, long time. You don't win MoS, Lance Todd (twice in a row), Harry Sunderland and Players' Player trophies by being just solid. His positional play has always been superb and for a relatively slow player his scoring record (almost exactly one try every two games) is pretty good.

Our original discussion that inspired the post [urlhttp://1895sports.com/opinion/full-backs-best-of-the-super-league-era/[/url was focused purely upon players who have played in the Super League.

You're right though, if you look at it from a perspective of the years since the Super League was created, but not to have necessarily play in the league itself, Billy Slater for me would be the best hands down.

People seem to forget just how good Brent Webb was before his injuries, He's still a good Super League player now but his first couple of years at Leeds he was fantastic.

I think he's overrated and has played in a top team for many seasons. I don't think he'd have stood out in an average team. Don't forgot Ade Gardner was a prolific try scorer at saints and he is bang average.