Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:20 pm  

Sebasteeno wrote:

Lose your wigan bias lads. Sullivan was the first black englishman to captain GB and is spoken of massively by both sides of the Hull divide after playing for both which is no mean feat.

There's no Wigan bias in saying that, fine player that Clive Sullivan was, he is not the front runner for this award.

If we take a like for like for instance, Martin Offiah and Billy Boston had better records than Sullivan did.

IMO the shortlist of 10 is too long. There are five names on there that I would discount - Sullivan, Neil and Don Fox, Todd and Davies.

That would leave the voting between Edwards, Hanley, Murphy, Offiah and Boston

I didn't see Murphy or Boston play so for me it has to be between the three Wigan players. A couple of weeks ago I was swaying towards Edwards but now I think Hanley. I think its ridiculous to say Edwards union coaching is a negative, whether he went on to be a top union coach or a taxi driver shouldn't matter, Edwards was a rugby league great.

But I think if we are only allowed to have one statue of a rugby league player then it's hard to look past Hanley. I reckon if you ask rugby league fans who was the greatest player of their time watching rugby league, then 90% of them who saw Hanley play, would choose Hanley and I bet you don't get that from any other player. Even compared to great Aussies like Johns, Fittler, Lockyer, Meninga, I don't think there has ever been a single handedly more influential player than Hanley.

Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:28 pm  

Where is the voting form on The RFL site?

Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:24 pm  

nathancroucher wrote:

Where is the voting form on The RFL site?

http://www.internationalrugbyleague.net/polls.htm

Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Tue Nov 08, 2011 1:38 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

There's no Wigan bias in saying that, fine player that Clive Sullivan was, he is not the front runner for this award.

If we take a like for like for instance, Martin Offiah and Billy Boston had better records than Sullivan did.

IMO the shortlist of 10 is too long. There are five names on there that I would discount - Sullivan, Neil and Don Fox, Todd and Davies.

That would leave the voting between Edwards, Hanley, Murphy, Offiah and Boston

I didn't see Murphy or Boston play so for me it has to be between the three Wigan players. A couple of weeks ago I was swaying towards Edwards but now I think Hanley. I think its ridiculous to say Edwards union coaching is a negative, whether he went on to be a top union coach or a taxi driver shouldn't matter, Edwards was a rugby league great.

But I think if we are only allowed to have one statue of a rugby league player then it's hard to look past Hanley. I reckon if you ask rugby league fans who was the greatest player of their time watching rugby league, then 90% of them who saw Hanley play, would choose Hanley and I bet you don't get that from any other player. Even compared to great Aussies like Johns, Fittler, Lockyer, Meninga, I don't think there has ever been a single handedly more influential player than Hanley.

Why would you discount Neil Fox?I would choose Hanley ,but it would be a close run thing beween him or Jim Sullivan or the great Neil Fox who I think is a very worthy candidate

Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Tue Nov 08, 2011 1:47 pm  

Personally I'd go for Hanley because he is the only British player I'd have no hesitation in picking an argument over including in a best 13 based on players I've seen since 1981. Having said that, the NRL champs trophy is more based round an iconic image of the game itself - although I'm not sure what message Don Fox in absolute hell says about RL!

Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:16 pm  

Someone mentioned on the VT that it would be a good idea to have the following double sculpture, Martin Offiah & Don Fox.
Both on bended knees / crouched, but for emotions on completely different ends of the spectrum.

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY.

Must admit, as it's meant to be a "Wembley statue" I can't think of anything better.

Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:48 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Someone mentioned on the VT that it would be a good idea to have the following double sculpture, Martin Offiah & Don Fox.
Both on bended knees / crouched, but for emotions on completely different ends of the spectrum.

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY.

Must admit, as it's meant to be a "Wembley statue" I can't think of anything better.

Yes I would lean something like that myself

Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Tue Nov 08, 2011 5:38 pm  

lionarmour87 wrote:

Why would you discount Neil Fox?I would choose Hanley ,but it would be a close run thing beween him or Jim Sullivan or the great Neil Fox who I think is a very worthy candidate

In all honesty because I did not see Neil Fox play I am biased towards players of my own era, if older fans would rate Neil Fox up with the ones I said then that's fair enough, I can't argue.

Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Tue Nov 08, 2011 5:40 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Someone mentioned on the VT that it would be a good idea to have the following double sculpture, Martin Offiah & Don Fox.
Both on bended knees / crouched, but for emotions on completely different ends of the spectrum.

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY.

Must admit, as it's meant to be a "Wembley statue" I can't think of anything better.

I made a post about this on the Wire board, I am not keen on having one of Don Fox after he missed the kick. He was a great player that has got remembered for that moment which is not really fair, it must have haunted him for his whole career and I'm not sure its appropriate to make that moment the image for which he is captured into stone.

It would be like saying the statue is going to be of Shaun Edwards but the image will be him getting sent off for high tackling Clyde.

Re: Wembley statue shortlist : Tue Nov 08, 2011 6:01 pm  

Bingo! http://www.therfl.co.uk/surveys/wembleystatue

Bingo! http://www.therfl.co.uk/surveys/wembleystatue