Silvertail's team of the half Century ... Hooker

[SeaEagleRock8]

And yet in today's game he would be known as an absolute plodder, especially against the likes of Koroisau, Fainu and others like Damien Cook.

Can't agree with that! Krilich was a top all-round player who could perform like an extra second rower in open play.
Comparing players from different eras is always problematic, and the role of hooker has changed perhaps more than most. But Max was no plodder, he was quite quick!

 

[manly al]

And yet in today's game he would be known as an absolute plodder, especially against the likes of Koroisau, Fainu and others like Damien Cook. But for his time he was definitely the best hooker going around and a great team captain who led club and rep teams with great style.

Can see where you are coming from with that viewpoint and the different [ or partly ] style of ruck play in more recent times but Max [ [Krilich ] was an exception . He could scoot . maybe not up to the speed of some modern day 9 's but there would be some footage of him in club and test games where this was very evident with his good speed ability .Think that he would have more then held his own in the modern era with any hooker requirements , tough buggar as well .

 

[manly al]

Can anyone tell me how Max got the nickname "the bomb thrower"? I was told long ago, and forget.
Could you imagine the commentary team in this day and age calling him that on air! The millennial PC reaction would be priceless.

Don 't worry after i posted [ including that nick name reference ] i a bit late but i did have some reservations Really, quite harmless from earlier ears , not that concerned about political correctness but was still a bit conscious . And certainly not intended but also just a smidgen of disrespect in the present reality of social norms . i did hear one version of the nickname reference , again relatively harmless at the time but a slightly different complexion now for better or worse .

 

[Woodsie]

@SeaEagleRock8 ... Would your mystery hooker be Des Hasler ??

 

[40 nil]

I voted for Toovey so that I could select both him and DCE in my top team of the half century. Manly have had many great halfbacks, but I think DCE has the most complete skill set, a premiership, rep honours and longevity. Of course, there is no way Tooves can be left out of the team....

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

@SeaEagleRock8 ... Would your mystery hooker be Des Hasler ??

Nice guess but no, @Freddo solved it yesterday..
E Walters is the correct guess 🙂

 

[manly al]

Yeah!
His record eclipses Max's in number of premierships and matches for Australia, but he wasn't a better player and from what I can tell achieved almost nothing for Manly in a short stint right at the end of his career.
A year or so ago I heard Fred Jones comment (without naming names) that rep selection back in those days was greatly affected by which team you played for and I assumed he meant on ability Walters shouldn't have got the nod as much as he did. He actually nominated Ross Warner from Norths as his toughest opponent.

Ross Warner for Norths and Greg " Hollywood " Hartley . Must be some connection there

 

[Dee Why Eagle]

Can anyone tell me how Max got the nickname "the bomb thrower"? I was told long ago, and forget.
Could you imagine the commentary team in this day and age calling him that on air! The millennial PC reaction would be priceless.

High kicks called bombs... Max used to be quite proficient in hoisting those bombs... hence bomb thrower.
At least that's what I've always thought!

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I think you’ve got your man @Woodsie

9 Max “ Bomb Thrower” Krillich

Lock him in Eddie

 

[Woodsie]

I think you’ve got your man @Woodsie

9 Max “ Bomb Thrower” Krillich

Lock him in Eddie

Agree .. will start Silvertail's props tomorrow ... won't be so easy ...

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Agree .. will start Silvertail's props tomorrow ... won't be so easy ...

Mmmm, harder , because there’s been some outstanding ones

 

[40 years an eagle]

" Longevity and number of years played not important "

Are toughness and resilience not important as well? Heart and determination?

I am a devout Freddy Jones fan...admired his contribution for years while most here never saw him play. The guy was tough as teak, resilient and a FAR more damaging defender than any other on the list in an era when those attributes meant a hell of a lot. The only Manly player I know that bled more Toovey. Max was a different shape, size and style of player with different types of tactics and players surrounding him. Max by a whisker...daylight third.

 

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

John Gray - Playing Career - RLP

A summary of the career stats for Great Britain RU international also played County cricket for Warwickshire and the MCC before changing codes to play for Wigan in 1973. Gray came to Australia on Great Britain’s 1974 tour and made his Test debut in the Lions’16-11 Second Test win, while his 6...

www.rugbyleagueproject.org

Despite playing all those games for Norths, Gray seemed to be an enlightened and committed Manly man.

I recall seeing him regularly at Brookie on game day right through to the late 90’s.

 

[eagle66]

" Longevity and number of years played not important "

Are toughness and resilience not important as well? Heart and determination?

I am a devout Freddy Jones fan...admired his contribution for years while most here never saw him play. The guy was tough as teak, resilient and a FAR more damaging defender than any other on the list in an era when those attributes meant a hell of a lot. The only Manly player I know that bled more Toovey. Max was a different shape, size and style of player with different types of tactics and players surrounding him. Max by a whisker...daylight third.

Wasn't it great back in those days. A team could have a champion player in a position eg Freddie Jones and have his incumbent in Max Krilich in reserves for a few seasons picking up the skills and prepared to wait his turn. Doesn't happen anymore. Don't forget, Max was selected for City Seconds in 1973 from reserve grade and didn't own first grade until 1974 after starting in grade in 1970.

 

[Woodsie]

" Longevity and number of years played not important "

Are toughness and resilience not important as well? Heart and determination?

Only not important in the context of being included in the poll ... not in how you vote ... otherwise we would have had only 2/3 choices ... and a player like Kevin Ward would have been left out of the props poll ... at the end of the day it is just a good discussion vehicle for the off season ...

 

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

Wasn't it great back in those days. A team could have a champion player in a position eg Freddie Jones and have his incumbent in Max Krilich in reserves for a few seasons picking up the skills and prepared to wait his turn. Doesn't happen anymore. Don't forget, Max was selected for City Seconds in 1973 from reserve grade and didn't own first grade until 1974 after starting in grade in 1970.

If the players these days had a trade or profession (like Max's plumbing) to rely on for income they could afford to bide their time in reggies learning from the incumbents.

 

[manly al]

Pretty sure that Ken Athurson [ Arko ] would have done all that he could to keep players like Max in the Manly fold with a decent contract even if he had to bide his time for a few seasons as an understudy . Manly did not have a bottomless pit of money back then but obviously one of the more financial clubs Certainly different times back then and with combining work and footy playing in first or reserve grade Not too sure when the transition to full time footy started happening , maybe just before and after the super League drama