Quote ="sally cinnamon"icon_lol.gif
You guys are deluded.
Offiah would be the best winger in the world if he played today, just like he was 20-25 years ago.
The key thing with Offiah was he wasn't just fast. Remember that hyped up 'sprint challenge' in Australia when he came second to Lee Oudenryn, and everyone said ohh how good must Oudenryn be, he's faster than Offiah. What happened to his career?
Offiah was a world class winger in terms of being able to swerve and change his angle of running at full acceleration, and he was also a genius for reading the game and recognising space. In defence....he could hold his own, he was never a 'weak link'. If he was, why didn't teams constantly pepper him and run try after try down his side. The idea that Offiah was a crap defender is just a myth. He wasn't a very strong tackler one on one from the front but he could cut a player that had got past him down with pace when he was tackling from the side/behind. Also most of the time you get a 'weak link' on the wings, its not actually tackling that is the problem, as wingers don't make that many tackles anyway, the problem is when they are flakes under kicks either in the air or sometimes with the big guys when they fumble bouncing balls along the ground. Offiah was fine fielding kicks. If you put a high ball up to Offiah and he took it on the full then he probably had about 5-10 yards at least to build up momentum before he reached the line then if he swerved the first man it was trouble on because someone would have to run him down on the angle.'"
I did not cast doubt on Offiah's abilities in attack but questioned your assertion as to his defensive qualities and I still do.
His tackling technique was non existent and, in his Widnes days, Wigan used to constantly attack his wing which not only tired out the guys having to cover for him but also ensured he went into hiding in attack as well as defence. In his Wigan days he had world class players playing in the fittest team in the league to cover for him.
Having said all that I think I would probably pick him ahead of the players being discussed on this thread.
