[iSam Tomkins

Jason Robinson/Billy Boston, Gary Schofield, Paul Newlove, Martin Offiah/Billy Boston

Roger Milward
Alex Murphy

Malcolm Reilly
Dick Huddart, Ellery Hanley
Brian McTigue, Kieran Cunningham, Cliff Watson
[/i
[uInterchange[/u: [iBrian Lockwood, Sam Burgess, James Graham, Paul Sculthorpe[/i


Great Britain has produced three outstanding wingers, and I do not know how to rank them.

Should that be 50 or 60 years? For example, Billy Boston's last game for was, GB think, 1962.

1. K. Radlinski (*)
2. C Sullivan (*)
3. E. Ashton
4. N. Fox
5. M. Offiah
6. D O'Neill / A Hardisty
7. A. Murphy
8. K. Ward
9. K. Cunningham
10. A. Morley
11. G. Nicholls
12. A. Farrell
13. E. Hanley

(*) = I may need to give those more thought.

Good point. Boston's last game for Britain was in 1962, but he played for Wigan until 1968.

I guess that could settle the wing choice if we calculate [iexactly [/ithe last 50 years.

I don't think that you saw players from the 1960s or 1970s, either live or on video. Otherwise you would not have made your selections the way you did:

Brian McTigue was one of the greatest British props of all time.

Dick Huddart, who was devastating against Australia in 1962, and later played for St George in Australia, is ranked as one of the top two second rowers by most judges.

Gary Schofield, whatever you think of his post-playing personality and opinions, was a brilliant attacking player.

Roger Milward is a legend and would not be behind O'Neill (?) or Hardisty in any fair judge's rankings,

Andy Farrell never shone at international level. He was always eclipsed by Sculthorpe at international level. Farrell's great reputation was largely British media hype. In these respects he resembles Kevin Sinfield.

Sullivan and Radlinski were good players and great men, but were a couple of ranks below being classed as amongst the finest.

Mc Tigue Huddart. Agreed - that's why I put them in my best in living memory team. however, rightly or wrongly, I thought they were past their best in GB terms by 1964. I only just put Murphy in ahead of Tommy Bishop because although past his best he was still a winner.

Schofield - did well for GB but not as good as the players I've put in.

Millward - the stats. show Hardisty (and Edwards - albeit against much weaker club oppoisition) were more effective over their careers. I put O'Neill in because he did play for GB (and scored a critical try) and was simply the best, most exciting British rugby league player I saw in the latter part of 1960s. Only had a couple of seasons at his peak but probably the only man I saw clapped by an opposition full back (of international standing) as he went past him to score in a compeitive match.

Rather harsh on Andy. I reckon they were pretty even in international performances although Andy played a lot more games (45 - 30). Views on Scully are skewed by one stellar performance against Brisbane.

Kevin Sinfield was definitely one of the top ten players of this recent world cup tournament. Whilst Kev hasn't had the best of international careers, he certainly has upped the ante during his time as England captain and can be considered world class.

I know you are trolling, but that is a laughable comment!

And i'll bite too - Tomkins has set the world on fire on the International stage has he? In fact, has he even played for GB to be included in this list?

I want to see GB play again.

From the players I have seen

Ellery Hanley
Jonathan Davies
Alex Murphy
Neil Fox
Roy Powell
Martin Offiah

There have been lots of other good players but those above were the outstanding ones IMO. I could cobble a team around them but none have that spark that sets those above as special.

Davies
Robinson
Schofield
Fox
Offiah
Lewis Jones
Alex Murphy
Kevin Ward
Cunningham
McTigue
Huddart
Peackock
Hanley

Going only by players I've seen play I'd go as follows.

1. Joe Lydon
2. Jason Robinson
3. Garry Schofield
4. Keith Senior
5. Martin Offiah
6. John Holmes
7. Andy Gregory
8. Kevin Ward
9. Kieron Cunningham
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Roy Powell
12. Sam Burgess
13. Ellery Hanley

14. Shaun Edwards
15. Adrian Morley
16. Andy Platt
17. Paul Sculthorpe

If GB was to come back, would the likes of Richards, Douglas, Wallace make themselves available to play against their home nation?

I know they have done it this year, but, with respect, they were never going to win the World Cup. But GB could be helped over the line by a few Aussies with British relatives, then they would have to go home and face the music. Would they do it?

Lot of great names here.

A prop I always thought was outstanding against the Aussies was Karl Harrison. He might not displace some of the names in this thread but he was a monster in his day.

Remember him taking a drive in 1994 and flattening Ian Roberts, who ended up in next week and had to leave the field. Harrison was roaring with laughter even before the tackle was complete.

Harrison is a good shout. From that same era I'd like to add Paul Hulme and Paul Dixon in the front row, Karl Fairbank and Roy Haggerty at second row and John Fieldhouse at loose forward.

That's the pack I would have as well but I would have to have Hanley in as well though.

I'll be controversial here and say that when you're looking at past players, particularly pre-1980, the levels of strength and fitness where not as high and so nobody pre-1980 would make the team (unless you're somehow correcting for that). So for example (and I speak as a Wigan fan) I think a Ryan Hall in his prime would dominate a Billy Boston in his prime. Not in skill, etc. but just physicality. You can't underestimate the difference in strength and fitness levels between then and now. Now, had Boston had access to the same strength and conditioning support, it would be a different matter.

Its not so much pre 1980 as pre 1983, when the sixth tackle rule was changed.

TBH I think a lot of us underestimate how the game does change over time. Have a look at Aussie Grand Finals from the 80s and early 90s - full of players we wax lyrical about how great they were, and yet the defensive lines are nowhere near as set as today, and you could see a forward of the physical ability of a Sam Burgess or SBW absolutely tearing those teams apart.

The only certainties in my selection would be Alex Murphy at Scrum Half, Brian McTigue at blind side prop and Dick Huddart in the second row. There are so many worthy contenders for the other positions it is impossible to omit one instead of another
I would select Alan Davies at centre in front of some of those suggested. Eric Ashton for one.
I agree that modern players are bigger, fitter and faster than their predecessors but you can only judge players against their contemporaries. Dick Huddart was the SBW of his day. A superb, tough as teak athlete whose prowess would still stand out today given the same modern training nutrition etc.

Didn't you ever see Roger Milward? If so, how could he not be a certain selection?

Personally, I think Chris Hesketh and Clive Sullivan would have to figure as well but there's just too many to pick from to be honest.

In the past 50 years Roger Millward is the best G.B.player I have seen.

In 50 years I have not seen a better full back than Paul Charlton. Record number of tries in a season from full back, plus I have never seen him lose a one on one defence of the line on a break.