One thing that constantly annoys me about the sports media is the constant need to pump up todays superstars at the expense of the greats of the past. You always see it- so-and-so is so great- he's even better than Player-X-from-ten-years-ago! It's stupid and unnecessary- comparing players from different eras is futile anyway and shows a lack of memory and respect for the players upon which today's game- and larger salaries- are built.
I bring this up because I was jogging past the local newsagent (insert disbelieving/fat joke here) and saw the cover of this months Alpha magazine. I was going to upload the cover here, but their website only has the Victorian version which makes no mention of anything NRL related. The NSW version has the simian features of Johnathan Thurston with the caption- World's Best Rugby League player and then Better than Andrew Johns.
Well. I'm not sure if the second part of that caption was followed with an exclamation mark or a question mark- but it matters little. To even consider the notion that Thurston compares to Johns is a ridiculously stupid and insulting exercise- insulting to Johns and insulting to the readers' intelligence. The worst part of it is that anyone over twenty years old can still clearly remember Johns in his prime- there is not one thing that Thurston does better than Johns. Better ball runner, better kicker and passer, bigger, stronger, tougher, more consistent, better big game player and above all- 1000% better defender.
I would go as far as saying that the first part of the caption is strongly debatable- three of his Origin teammates,Folau, Inglis and especally Smith, could make that claim.
So, whoever is in charge at Alpha, think before you speak next time.
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Probably a gloating QLDer in charge of that magazine. Another media outlet pumping up Thurstons tyres because he is the Golden Boy. That is such a disgrace of an article and I feel very insulted that he is being put in Johns class and even above him. Johns is the best player I have ever seen, his mere presence on the field was worth 12 points to his team. Thurston is no more spoilt brat who plays ok footy.
ReplyDeleteThurston is not a ball hair on John's ballbag. Thurston is a limited player who only has a few dimensions to his game. Dummy and Run, Short Passes or kicks. Please tell me the last time a team Thurston was involved in scored a try off a long pass of his?
ReplyDeleteJohns had every dimension covered and could beat you with any he chose. I also think the Era that Johns played in was alot stronger across the board. At the moment I would say we have maybe 6 class and consistant halves and five eights in our game? Thurston, Lockyer, Prince, Kimmorley, Cronk and maybe Mullen?
In the days when Johns played each team had a class half or five eight. These days the game is about speed. Back even 6 or 7 years ago it was about smarts and reading the game. These current players will one day be held on a pedastal and compared to other generations. However I totally agree that it is insulting. I have doubts as to whether Thurston is the best halfback in the NRL. Kimmorley, Soward and even young Mortimer are playing alot better in my opinion.
One of the more dubious pics of 'The Drowned rat' on the front cover. Is that the mug shot taken from Coffs Harbour?? Deadset!
ReplyDeleteAgree with everything you have written there Deevs. Yes Thurston is the best half in the game at the moment, but as Box says, thats not that hard with the calibre of 'halves' in today's game. Rewind just a few months ago, and Thurston was in woeful form with the Cowboys struggling to win a game, mainly due to his form.
Alpha have lost me over this article. Struggling for quality stories obviously