Not to be missed out : Ken Hirst, Gert Oupa Coetzer
, Jan Prinsloo, Keith Slater and the fastest of them all Berwyn Jones.The latter , remember, was an Olympic 100m relay medalist and at the time GB 100 m record holder . He went on to become GB international RL player.

I think we are starting to go back a bit to far now for genuine comparisons.

All RL positions have changed in the past 30 years and non more so than Winger.

Thirty years ago wingers were dandies who only had one roll and that was to catch and run very fast and this made them crowd pleasers. Now I know there were exception but generally they didn't tackle much, didn't run the ball out or take the high ball - they were generally the least employed player on the pitch. Many were small and slightly built with speed there only weapon.

They were great to watch but most wouldn't last two minutes today. I know it's hard to compare eras but in this case it's very obvious. Obviously a few would make it today but most wouldn't, the day of the small fast wingman finishing off moves is long gone.

The irony is that many of the older players mentioned thrived due to there centre partners - a position that has imho not improved much at all and players like Fox would be worth millions today. Strange.

Agreed, and at risk of being accused of circular logic, it goes back to your original point about why Johnstone is so special; he's big, strong, agile, athletic *and* fast - both off the mark, and with an extra gear whilst in full flight. If you re-watch some of his performances from our purple patch this season, his tries are rarely just about hugging the line and taking a good pass - he's got the lot.

Steve Tinker? Wasn't he a bit of a one game wonder? 90 metre interception try v Leeds in last game of season but did his hamstring and never came back anything like? Bit foggy recollection but I also thought he was a half back.

Yes, he was a half back.

Was that the 1980-81 season. That was my first real season of watching the Trin

If my memory serves me right, we had a pretty good season

Well Billy Boston, Tom Van Vollenhoven, Mick Sullivan and more were not small and could tackle. They could have played in any era .

And whilst we are at it they did not just run fast. They could step off either foot, utilise body swerve and hand off, change of pace etc. And remember with the benefit oh modern training methods would perhaps have been even better. Next people will be saying modern day players are better than Nei Fox, Alex Murphy, Alan Hardisty, Vince Karalius , Derek Turner etc etc. Aye the days when we beat the Aussies !

It's impossible to compare.
For those you mention, I'm certain Neil Fox would be a major force in the modern game playing exactly the same game with the same physique. However, even though he is one of my heroes, Derek Turner would be less likely to be as successful as he was in the 60s.
I'm sure he would be great if he was born in this era because his mental toughness and will to win would stand him apart but he couldn't play the same game he did, and he wasn't that big either in weight so would be pushed about like an Annakin. And that is hard to say. Same would apply to Henry Cooper or

I have the pleasure of spending a lot of time with the legends who watch Wakefield. I was with Ken Rollin, Ian Brooke and I asked them if they would like playing the game today. Ken said the opportunities are massive in comparison to what he earned and it would be great to play in this era with the modern training and no one knocking your head off after you pass. He said he thought it would suit his style of play too, but he would have to train differently to be stronger.
Ian Brooke said he'd like to as well but said his only request was that Don Fox was in his team. He said he thought he would be perfect for the modern game and said he would score tries for fun outside him as second row.
Neil just smiled and nodded at what the others were saying. (He knew he'd be great!)

For heavens sake read posts properly - I clearly state there were exceptions, there always are!

Of course the players you name would probably make it today in one form or another, class remains constant. Some of the wingers from that time would do just as well today but that doesn't alter the fact that at the time the Wingers roll was nowhere near as involved as it is today.

Finally you've managed to contradict your own outrage - just as it's silly to suggest all players of yester year would fail today it's equally mind numbingly daft to suggest those players were all better than there modern day counterparts. It's utterly subjective for a start. Some modern day players are better than some of those you suggest especially the Aussies and some are not. For a start Sam Burgess pre-union was a lot better than Turner in every single aspect of his game, doesn't make Turner a bad player - on the other hand Alex Murphy was and probably still is better than any current SL H/B however in reality he'd probably struggle to stay on the pitch because much of his skill was the type of gamesmanship no longer tolerated.

The point stands, as a modern winger it's not possible to reasonably compare TJ to a winger from the 1970's other than both are/were good in very different ways. I've watched RL all my life starting in the early 70's and have enjoyed it all but I'm not so constipated with nostalgia that I don't recognise how much more legally physical and intense it is now compared to then which in turn will always make the crafty H/B etc a bit of a thing of the past.

Read your own post Vasty. You said wingers of yesteryear were only 'dandies' whose only role was to run fast and you infered they could not tackle . Additionally I have not once denigrated the ability of today's wingers . Yes I think Tom Johnstone has tremendous ability and potential. The Aussie winger Ferguson is tremendous . I admire Burgess , Makinson and others.

Oh and If we are 'dropping names' I sit near Neil (who I have known for 40 years), Ken Rollin, Brooky and Harold Poynton with whom I too have had similar conversations re . past v present .

Then read it again because I do clearly state there were exceptions nor do I say they were "only" dandies and by dandies I mean entertainers. Nor did I say they didn't tackle I said not as much as they do now - no way did the amount of traffic go down the wings as it does today imho.

You clearly did denigrate modern players though I'm sure it want intentional. It was you that trotted out the cliche not me.

Different times different game imo and best not to compare the two which was the point I was making and like yourself the trap I fell into.

How the hell am I name dropping, that appears to be you and you alone and what has that list to do with anything - join the 21st century it's not that bad.

No not you there Vasty it was Pop Tart who mentioned Foxy and co. Was not clear , I admit.

Fine lets move on.

Final point. I would not have been at Anfield, be a Trinity member and go to most away games if I disapproved of the modern game so much. Very much part of the 21st century . Struggling to get these lights ok on Christmas tree though.

On paper the best threequaters since 78-79 Fletcher Juliff Barwood Smith Diamond Sheard

Then you'll love talking to them too I'm sure. Great blokes.

Well if we're name dropping I've known "Neil" and Molly since back in the day when they lived at the top of Victoria Park in Horbury when my auntie Stella used to babysit for them, I only get a nod from him nowadays as there are always too many fans in his company wanting to talk to the man, and being as always the essence of a gentleman I don't like interrupting.

Exactly Chissit. Nothing worse than constant pestering .

Not a dig at you beagle old boy

I wasn't intending to name drop if I was the one who started this.
We are lucky at Wakefield to have the biggest stars in our history still watching every week.
I could listen to their stories all day.
And to drop one last name in.......Geoff Oakes is the funniest of the lot, even though he isn't remembered quite the same way, being a hooker rather than a try scorer
I wonder what position he would have played if born in this generation because hooker is a completely different position now.

With you on that Pop Tart. It is great to see past players at the games. My son is often fascinated by the tales they have to tell. So am I of course.

Closest I got to talking to the great man was o a tri nations trip to Australia. Neil and molly were on the trip,bloke was an absolute gentleman .his mum used to buy her meat from my grandads butchers shop in Sharlston,which is why he used to kick all them goals! Well that's what my dad used to tell me when I was a lad anyhow

Jackie do you mean ya grandads meat was like leather.