Bearfax
Grizzly old fart
This is not about a players defence, his game involvement, his leadership qualities. Its about those very few players who have the ability to through their individual actions break open a game on a regular basis, players who either score tries out of nothing or create situations that result in tries out of nothing.
There are not many around. Jarryd Haynes is one. Thurston is another. I used to love Steve Mortimer's uncanny ability to make the break. I believe Tom T will become one. But who in the past have been those five Manly players you went to a Rugby League match to see those moments of magic.
My five with Manly are;
1. Bob Fulton. Who can forget the 1973 Grand Final. And he did it regularly, leaving players grasping at air and then making full backs look foolish trying to stop him.
2. Cliff Lyons. One of the most dangerous distributing players I've seen. No one but those who knew him, could predict his next game breaking pass.
3. Johnnie Gibbs. Twinkle toes only needed five or ten minutes of magic to turn the course of a game. If injury had not shortened his career he would have been one of Manly's greatest.
4. Phil Blake. Watching this kids magic in 1982-83 was something to behold. He seemed to have the speed and the ball on a string and his kicking game was unparalleled.
5. Jamie Lyon. At his peak he seemed to have that uncanny ability to find a crack in the opposition defence and rarely made a mistake in setting up his supports. Seemed to have all the time in the world, like his namesake Cliff.
So who would you pick?
There are not many around. Jarryd Haynes is one. Thurston is another. I used to love Steve Mortimer's uncanny ability to make the break. I believe Tom T will become one. But who in the past have been those five Manly players you went to a Rugby League match to see those moments of magic.
My five with Manly are;
1. Bob Fulton. Who can forget the 1973 Grand Final. And he did it regularly, leaving players grasping at air and then making full backs look foolish trying to stop him.
2. Cliff Lyons. One of the most dangerous distributing players I've seen. No one but those who knew him, could predict his next game breaking pass.
3. Johnnie Gibbs. Twinkle toes only needed five or ten minutes of magic to turn the course of a game. If injury had not shortened his career he would have been one of Manly's greatest.
4. Phil Blake. Watching this kids magic in 1982-83 was something to behold. He seemed to have the speed and the ball on a string and his kicking game was unparalleled.
5. Jamie Lyon. At his peak he seemed to have that uncanny ability to find a crack in the opposition defence and rarely made a mistake in setting up his supports. Seemed to have all the time in the world, like his namesake Cliff.
So who would you pick?