Having just read a blog about the greatest players ever, I thought it timely to raise this topic. Taking my Eels hat off, I can truly say that I never rated Lewis as a great.
He was a very good player who would lift for 3 games every year - and we all know what games they were. And we also know how many of those Queensland players have lifted over the years but sucked in the weekly matches (anyone remember Lindner playing for the Eels?)
Lewis falls into that category of Queensland players could not lift week in and week out in premiership games. He was not a dominant player in the premiership. And remember that Bennett eventually released him. Yes he was older when Bennett let him go but he played on with the Gold Coast - and they finished at the bottom of the table.
Now to Brett Kenny.
The only player who could outplay Lewis in Origin.
A dominant premiership winning player.
The only aspect that he lacked was a kicking game.
And in his latter years he changed his game to help the team as it struggled in the early 90s becoming a tackling lock.
So if we make the judgement based on being dominant on a consistent premiership basis then Kenny wins hands down.
Replies
This just illustrates what a real team man he was as well.
He was that good that in 1990 Tim Seens in his sole stint as NSW State of Origin coach made overtues for him to come out of representative retirement for game 3 of that series.
Legend in every facet
Now Lewis I did admire the passion he played with for Australia and qld. Not saying Kenny played with no passion, just think Lewis was a tad more inspirational to his teammates. But as for ability and freakish talent Kenny was double the player.
The original blog is http://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/the-great-brett-kenny
Here are the re-posts - obviously IGNORE these if you have read them before - apologies if this is not the correct thing to do here
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Brett Kenny, is, was, and always will be my sporting idol. I was lucky enough to watch him play his ENTIRE career - and PLAY he did - Kenny played a type of game that was so UNIQUE that ONLY he could play that way - he was original, had tonnes of guile and deception in his bag of tricks and would often mesmorise opposing defenses with his individual brilliance. The closest player TODAY that plays a similar brand of football is Benji Marshall - Marshall also has the responsibilities of a kicking game, unlike Kenny but Marshall's and Kenny's attacking game through running and passing are very similar
Kenny was a BIG OCCASION player - the bigger the stage - the easier it seemed for Kenny to make decisive plays that could win a match
It is NO co-incidence that BOTH Brett Kenny and Wally Lews adorn the State of Origin shield. BOTH were without peer in the 80's and without Kenny to occupy Lewis -NO SINGLE PLAYER during the Wally Lewis era, except pehaps Peter Sterling's tactical play could match wits with Lewis
But does that make Kenny BETTER than Lewis ?
No
Both these champions were BRILLIANT and BIG GAMES with BIG OCCASIONS brought out the BEST in both players - and in my heart of hearts - I cannot single out EITHER player as BETTER than the other. Lewis was an outstanding LEADER of men capable of lifting his team from defeat into victory through his captaincy and never say die attitude - NEVER EVER underestimate the value of leadership on the field, Lewis had a BRILLIANT football brain and could set the tone of victory through is amazing kicking and passing games - but he could also turn a game with his SHEER will to win by either taking on the defense with UP TEMPO charges into opposing defenses and equallly DOMINATE a game with his ferocious head on tackling
Brett Kenny and Steve Mortimer are the PUREST tacklers that I have ever seen - Kenny gets little recogniion for his IRON defense and copybook technique - this, more than anything interfered with Lewis at State of Origin level - and then there is of course the Kenny brilliance in attack - he could beat ANYONE with a swerve, change of pace, sidestep, dummy and slight of hand with his passes
I was LUCKY to see BOTH these LEGENDARY superstars, in their prime and you really can't split them - their playing styles were so different, that a comparison is unfair due to their DIFFERENT playing styles, so it really isn't necessary to compare - BOTH players were supremely gifted & only seldom come along. YET Rugby League was blessed to have BOTH playing at the same time..............and to quote an old theme song........THEY were SIMPLY THE BEST
Let me say this right now - you are 100% correct in your assessment of Kenny & Sterling as the BEST halves COMBINATION in the 80's - I have compiled some interesting stats below
What I have discovered is that YES - when Kenny played 5/8 - NSW generally WON - I don't think occasionally being selected at centre was the problem with the selectors - THE PROBLEM was that the selectors RARELY picked Sterlo & Kenny TOGETHER in the halves
Here is a summary of Kenny's NSW career
1982 Position NSW Result Halfback
G1 DNP
G2 Reserve
G3 5/8 L Mortimer
1983
G1 Centre L
G2 5/8 W Sterlo
G3 5/8 L Mortimer
1984
G1 Centre L
G2 Centre L
G3 5/8 W Mortimer
1985
G1 5/8 W Mortimer
G2 5/8 W Mortimer
G3 5/8 L Hasler
986
G1 5/8 W Sterlo
G2 5/8 W Sterlo
G3 5/8 W Sterlo
1987
G1 5/8 W Sterlo
G2 5/8 L Sterlo
G3 Centre L
G4 DNP
In Summary
Kenny played 17 games for NSW - 12 at 5/8, 4 at Centre and 1 as Reserve
When playing 5/8 NSW was 8 Wins & 4 losses
When playing Centre NSW was 0 Wins & 4 losses..........NSW NEVER won a game with Kenny in the centres
When playing Reserve NSW was 0 Wins & 1 loss..............NSW did not win its match with Kenny on the bench
Even more remarkable is Kenny's statistics when he played alongside Sterlo in the halves for NSW
Sterling & Kenny played in the halves 6 times NSW Won 5 & Lost 1
Mortimer & Kenny played in the halves 5 times NSW Won 3 & Lost 2
Hasler & Kenny played in the halves 1 time NSW Won 0 & Lost 1
Now, don't get me wrong - Steve Mortimer was the RIGHT MAN at the right time in the 1985 series. NSW had not yet won a series against QLD - his leadership and inspiration led NSW to their first historic victory - I was at the SCG that evening when Kenny scored the SERIES winning try right underneath Wally's nose - I remember Kenny & Lewis changing jerseys and walking off the field with their arms around each others shoulders - pure magic in my books
But if statistics could ONLY predict the future instead of providing afterthoughts through hindsight - one can only wonder how State of Origin HISTORY could have turned out if STERLING & KENNY had played in the halves alot EARLIER than 1986 - a series NSW won 3-0. Sterlo and Kenny were only EVER paired together in the halves FOR MORE THAN 1 GAME in the 1986 & 1987 series - NSW won 1 series and lost the other
Yet - when paired together in the halves - Sterling & Kenny's 5 Wins to 1 Loss is certainly worth thinking about
A great player who like Sterlo had speed where it counted most - between the ears.