NRL centenary snub

parragirl · NRL centenary snub

By Dean Ritchie
February 21, 2008 12:00am

MODERN-DAY champions Gorden Tallis, Ben Elias and Ricky Stuart have been snubbed in a contentious NRL list of rugby league's 100 greatest players.

As part of the Centenary season celebrations, the NRL and ARL commissioned a panel of 130 experts to select the best of the best since the game's origins in Australia back in 1908.

But there is anger and confusion that judges have again failed to recognise modern legends from the past two decades.

Among those to surprisingly miss selection include Tallis, Stuart, Elias, Ben Kennedy, Johnathan Thurston, Les Boyd, Steve Menzies and Danny Buderus. Garry Jack, Paul Sironen, Cliff Lyons, Nathan Hindmarsh, Max Krilich and Steve Renouf could also feel unlucky.

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Players included that many fans may not be familiar with include Jack Beaton, Vic Armbruster, Ted Courtney, Andy Norval, Mick Madson, Dan Dempsey, Billy Cann, Herb Steinohrt and Viv Thicknesse.

The full honour roll will appear in a special colour liftout magazine in The Saturday Daily Telegraph.

Queensland great Shane Webcke said of Tallis's omission: "I'm perplexed. I find it remarkable he's not there. I'm scratching my head."

Former Manly and Australian captain Max Krilich was amazed Lyons and Menzies were overlooked.

"I'm extremely disappointed. Steve Menzies is the greatest tryscoring forward of all time. It can't be right he has missed out," Krilich said. "No one in the game would have set up more tries than Cliffy, Arthur Beetson included."

Elias, the ex-Balmain Tigers hooker who was overlooked, could not believe old teammates Jack and Sironen also missed out.

"I'm obviously disappointed I'm not there but I'm more disappointed for 'Jimmy' Jack and Paul Sironen," Elias said. "What criteria are they using? It's beyond me."

Stuart was unlucky given five Canberra teammates - Laurie Daley, Mal Meninga, Steve Walters, Bradley Clyde and Glenn Lazarus - won selection.

"I might be biased but I thought Ricky was the best halfback in the game," said former Raiders premiership colleague David Furner.

Cowboys coach Graham Murray was stunned over Thurston's omission, saying: "I speak for a lot of people in saying Thurston should be there somewhere."

Former Australian, Wests and Newtown halfback Tommy Raudonikis was shocked to hear Magpies teammate Boyd had been overlooked.

"He was such a great defender and runner," he said.

Seventeen players and a coach will later be named from this list as the game's greatest ever team.

http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,23249123-5006066,00.html