Rex
Bencher
Like you, I'd question whether Manly would have won in say '11 if Thurston was in the team. Unlike you, the reason I'd question it is because of the significant number of important players we'd have to shed to fit him in the cap.My replies are not based on " who is the better player" responses it is who would suit Manly better combined with past history performance showing Thurston in a squad does not automatically guarantee results.
A lack of success even with big names for Australia, the loss of certain players at Origin and not bringing up players at club level to rep status like other past greats have been able to do.
My point form analysis on past success was not about determining who is the better player it is to show that Thurston's presence in a squad does not show the success levels of a great player by the lack of consistent success.
IMO your premise of equating greatness of an individual player with team success is quite illogical. eg Fulton did not win a single title in the six years from 1966 to 1971. Not because he wasn't the best player in the competition, but because Manly didn't yet have the team around him to win the comp. And until Morgan joined Thurston in the halves last season, the Cowboys had a pop-gun backline where he was the only major threat. In comparison, Manly had arguably the best forwards and best backs in the comp when they won in both '08 and '11 (only the salary cap cheaters were comparable in quality).