Who is our best ever half?

[Bearfax]

Its reaching the stage where the question will be asked. Is DCE as good as Toovey and where does he rank in today's halves? For mine DCE has passed Cronk as the best half playing in the NRL today. That's not to suggest he's yet up there with Cronk and Thurston at their best, but I cant see any half having the all round game and dominance of DCE today.

But where does this place him in Manly's all time best halves. There is only one half in my opinion in his league and that was Toovey. Very different players and each had strengths and weaknesses, but they stand out in my memory since 1965 as the one and two...but which is No 1? Maybe a little early to judge, but time is approaching when an assessment will be made. What's your thoughts.

 

[The Who]

1. Tooves
2. DCE
3. Phil Blake
4. Johhny Gibbs
5. Des Hasler

 

[HappilyManly]

Chez has a chance to be a multiple Manly Premiership half back.

All the other GF halfback bludgers only delivered 1 premiership each

http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/teams/manly-warringah-sea-eagles/summary.html

 

[The Wheel]

Another premiership or two and more rep games over the coming years might see DCE shade Tooves?

Currently both have one premiership and a Clive Churchill medal each, Tooves have more games, plus renowned toughness than Cherry.

Time will tell!

 

[Shoe1]

1. Tooves
2. DCE
3. Phil Blake
4. Johhny Gibbs
5. Des Hasler

6. Orford

 

[hozza]

Hands down Toovey. Pound for pound one of the toughest players to wear our famous colours. All fuking heart, and heart wins football games.

 

[47MVEagle]

No love for Cliffy or are you strictly speaking about the position of halfback (I.e. #7) only & not halves in general?

 

[Peter C]

Another premiership or two and more rep games over the coming years might see DCE shade Tooves?

Currently both have one premiership and a Clive Churchill medal each, Tooves have more games, plus renowned toughness than Cherry.

Time will tell!

Sure Tooves was tough, but I don't recall DCE missing a game through injury since he started playing with us.

 

[DUFFMAN]

No love for Cliffy or are you strictly speaking about the position of halfback (I.e. #7) only & not halves in general?

I thought the same if we are talking halves then Cliffy is well inside the top 5.
Talking halfback only than has to be Toovey.

 

[Harvies elbow]

Tooves by a fair way
DCE/
Ox
Gibbsy
Des
Blakey
Very honourable mentions to Dennis Ward, Johnny Mayes, Gary Stephens and Steve Martin, premiership winning halves all.

 

[Mal Cochrane]

Toovey
Des
DCE
Gibbs/Blake

Des never went missing in games, played his heart out every minute from day 1. DCE, as good as he is, has gone missing plenty

 

[Loobs]

I believe Ox won a Dally M and guided a team to a 40-0 premiership win the year after losing a GF. Solid credentials and I am in now way biased.

 

[double hoops]

I thought the same if we are talking halves then Cliffy is well inside the top 5.
Talking halfback only than has to be Toovey.

Top 5.

 

[lsz]

Halfback or halves?

Halves Cliffy / Bozo i would think (even though both played other roles)

Halfback would be hard to go past tooves for me.

 

[Brissie Kid]

I vote Toovey #1.

Hasler & Blake spent a lot of games in other positions.

Others were top class but weren't around as long either, such as Gibbsy, Gary Stephens, Matt Orford, Denis Ward.

A lot could be said for Wally O'Connell too. But was he a halfback or a 5/8th? He captain-coached Manly to the 1951 grand final. If not for injury he would have played in the grand final and Manly may have won. https://www.seaeagles.com.au/news/2017/06/28/passing-of-wally-oconnell/

 

[Ranga]

@Bearfax, I thought I’d save you some time. You gave a fantastic summary of your views on Manly’s halfbacks over the years in the off season - https://silvertails.net/threads/best-halfback.55993/page-3

 

[sheridanstand78]

Halfbacks

Toovey
DCE
Dessie
Orford
Gibbs

Five Eighths

Bozo
Cliffy
Alan Thompson
Foran

 

[brad]

Toovey was tough no doubt and if had a kicking game could have gone down as one of the best ever in any team . Dce in a close one.

 

[Harvies elbow]

Toovey was tough no doubt and if had a kicking game could have gone down as one of the best ever in any team . Dce in a close one.

His short kicking game was underrated but I know what level of kicking game you mean.
What was vastly underrated was his speed off the mark.
It rarely gets a mention totally overshadowed by his toughness as does his captaincy and ability to run a team on the field.
Had many talents the great man...

 

[brad]

His short kicking game was underrated but I know what level of kicking game you mean.
What was vastly underrated was his speed off the mark.
It rarely gets a mention totally overshadowed by his toughness as does his captaincy and ability to run a team on the field.
Had many talents the great man...

He was quick mate , straight through the hole , cut them to ribbons and a great captain leading by example. He put a daft kick through the dragon's defence for innes to score in the 96 gf I think, but he didn't have the long kick it tactical kick which is a shame. Great player though .