not in same league as mike smith , mark broadhurst, david watkinson ,george fairbairn and gavin miller

'Sir' Colin Hutton, Roger Millward, Phil Lowe

Not in the same league as anyone who has pulled a shirt on in the last 3/4 seasons...........with the exception of Desi Williams, Gareth Price and Chaz I Anson perhaps!!

I grew up in the eighties, Fairburn and Miller, i have to agree, as for Millward all I remember him for is as a coach

Mike Fletcher - Record Breaker

And remember we are all aloud our own opinion

I didnt mention Mike Fletcher, I agree the guy is a legend for his point scoring ability, he was not quite in Fairburns league but I am giving you him.

I was more worried you though Paul Fletcher and Stanley Gene were fit to lace the boots of some of the other people mentioned on here!!

But itoo my generation, Paul was a legend!!

Anyway, do you sell any good pads for a small 9 year old!, also need small ball which wont keep going down

Yes we do mate, both. Not got any pads in stock as I cleared the showroom out ready for 2009 ranges which are due out soon.

If you PM me a contact number or email I will get some in this week for you and let you know when they arrive. Let me know his chest size if you can then you can come and look at them see which he likes.

He might have been a legend Kev but he was not one of the 5 best players you have ever seen, surely? There are 5 playing in the current pack better than him!!

I'm too young to have seen most of the 'proper' great players play but Millward, Flanagan, Lowe, Miller and Prohm from what I've seen on 'video' and what i've read and heard.

OK agreed!

Bit before my time, but the player my Dad always raved about was Alan Burwell.

Roger Millward (best I saw in a British shirt)
Gavin Miller
Gary Prohm
Flash
Mike Smith

I picked out David Watkinson, for the simple fact, he did it when Hookers were what it said on the can, 'Hookers' IMO best in the world at the time, and Fairburn joined us as a GB international, signing on from Wigan (coach and FB)I remember him for well timed tackles that knocked the opponent backwards, pace to burn and kicks from the halfway line were common place, I was talking to Andy Gregory recently, who used to room with mike Smith, and he said at the time he was always a shoe in for the GB team.
Rodge and Flash need no further mention other than 'Legends'.

Sorry but you can only go on the generation you have seen!!
For me Paul Fletcher is a living legend who is right up ther with Gene.
The Plate Cup Final and the Last minute Try at Boothferry Park will live with me forever!!!
I never had the privilage of seeing such great as Lowe and Millward so people like Phsyco are my legends.

Heres my top 5 in no particular order

1. James Webster
2. Stanley Gene
3. Paul Fletcher
4. Mark Oneil
5. Byron Ford

I have delibrately left out the now team (with the exception of stanley) as they will be future legends.

It's a generation thing this. I have supported Rovers for the last 52 years so remember the Poole, Paul, Flanagan, Lowe and Millward era and believe me four would walk into any all time Rovers team. Not sure about Graham Paul though. I might add he scored five tries in the first match I ever attended on my own on Good Friday 1961. Prior to that my Dad had taken me.
Of that era I would have definately put Burwell above Paul and prior to us signing Millward he would have been classed as one of the best.
In the period when Millward was coach then we had a wealth of talent. Mike Smith was always one of the picks and when Prohm was with him we had the best centres in the game. I also liked Prohm's fellow countryman and Smith's namesake Gordon Smith. Watky was a great hooker and vied with Flash as our best ever hooker.
Broadhurst had to be one of our best ever props and a pack with him and Vella would have been awesome. Our two current second rows take some beating although Lowe and Rose formed a great partnership until Rosey defected to the dark side. They also represented Britain with Lenny Casey at loose forward. Talking of back rowers you can't fail to mention Bill Holiday and - the hardest man in my opinion to play the game - Frank Foster, two cumbrians. Also Gavin Miller who in his first period with Rovers achieved legendary status and comes very close to being in the five.
The nineties produced good players and Paul Fletcher was one of the best of his generation but he wouldn't be regarded among the greats despite the generation thing.
Stanley is a Rovers legend but based on the criteria legend does not equate to great.
I have to say though that the current pack is Rovers best since the mid eighties when we swept all before us. I also think Peter Fox has the potential to match any before him on the wing.
If I had to pick the best five Rovers players I have ever seen leaving out the current crop I'd have to agree with Poole, Millward and Flanagan. Lowe would be in the mix and Burwell would sneak in above Prohm and Gordon Smith. I think all five would be great in the modern game and that's the criteria I judge it on.

Lets not forget Clive, I did

It is your opinion obviously but even if you only started watcing late 90's there are better players than everyone of those (O'Neil aside maybe?) in the current team!!

Dobson
Galea
Newton
O'Neil?
Fox

are all surely better players?

I can only assume you think the 4 you selected are better and therefore would get in todays team? Is that not the point of the thread, pick the 5 best players you have seen play for Rovers?

I must also add I forgot Sully but felt he gained his greatness with FC and all of the others achieved their best as Rovers players. Sully though must be regarded with Millward as an all time great of the GAME.
Of the current crop I reckon Vella, Newts, Benny Galea, Briscoe, Foxy and Kris Welham - who could be another Mike Smith - are candidates to break into the five.

No you are spot on with what you say mate with the current team however i am going for the players who have done things i will always remember in a Rovers shirt not whos Best.

1. James Webster ( Amazing leader in the lower division)
2. Stanley Gene (Goes without saying)
3. Paul Fletcher(Try against Hull FC at Boothferry Park)
4. Mark Oneil (Made us realise we were in the big time)
5. Byron Ford (When he scord the try in the NRC Final)

Of course there are many others with the like of Miffy etc but i thought i would out down the 5 players whom gave me the best moments in my time as a rovers fan , and of course you are correct that none of these players would get in todays team with the exception of Oneil.

But just to appease you the best 5 players i have seen in a Rovers Shirt are as follows(Again in no Order)

1. Michael Smith ( The man was a Monster for us)
2. Ben Cockayne ( His heart and soul makes him one of us )
3. Mark Oneil ( Have him back Tomorrow)
4. Stanley Gene ( Second time round hes as good as the first)
5. Michael Dobson ( What a Player)

Fair enough mate, I was just sticking to the title of the thread, I am a stickler for rules



Of your last choice, in the era you have been watching, I would argue Briscoe for Cockayne and Vella for Gene but the other 3 for sure have been brilliant most times they have turned out for KR

Scrubber Dale from pre war times was apparently a great player. I was talking to his ex girlfriend about 10 years ago when i picked her up from an old peoples home. She was telling me all the girls liked scrubber!!

Not confusing that with the last minute try Mike Fletcher scored are you mate

What about Artie Beetson

Never got to see him play but my old man reckons Frank Foster deserves a place.

These things can only go back maybe 50 or 60 years, so there are still people who can remember them playing.

Players from Rovers first great team, in the 1920s, deserve a mention IMO, just for the record. Jim Cook, Gilbert Austin, Lawrie Osbourne and Arthur Moore must have been fine players, looking at the record books.
Before them Carmichael, Kemp and Starks.

1. Roger Millward
2. Flash (I've got one of his match shirts)
3. Clive Sullivan
4. Stanley Gene
5. Mike Fletcher