Who is Rugby League’s Best?

In the lead-up to Friday night’s Test between Australia and New Zealand much has been said about who will take over as the world’s best rugby league player, following the retirement of Andrew Johns. This is an interesting question. The question itself however is flawed.

Andrew Johns has been a great rugby league player, dominated the game for over a decade and will be a worthy immortal. It is however very unfair to suggest he has been the world’s best player for the last two or three seasons. That distinction currently belongs to Darren Lockyer who has dominated at five-eighth and captained every single side he played for, club or representative, to victory last year.

Interestingly the person most likely to challenge Lockyer for world’s best is his Australian halves partner, Jonathon Thurston. The Cowboys, Queensland and Australian playmaker has kicked on from a great season last year and started 2007 in stellar form. He finished last year on a high after his step put Lockyer through a gap to secure Australia Tri-Nations victory. The laid-back 23-year old has dominated the early rounds of NRL competition and has ensured the Cowboys sit in the top-four.

Yet there are other names that spring to mind when thinking of who could dominate rugby league in the coming years. Most notably Greg Inglis, the Melbourne Storm flyer has the ability to play in many different positions and can dominate from them all. Inglis has vision, as well as speed and strength. He stands at over six foot four and is a shade under 100 kilograms and certainly is the complete package. At just 20 years of age it is hard to argue against him stamping his authority on rugby league.

Another player tipped for great things in rugby league is Canberra Raider Todd Carney. Jason Smith who mentored Carney at the Raiders has come out this week singing the youngsters praises and believes the five-eighth has the potential to become one of the NRL’s elite players. Carney led Canberra to success over the Sydney Roosters last weekend and with more experience in the top grade will hope to challenge Lockyer, Thurston and Inglis for league’s best.

So while rugby league is always looking for another player to stand up and challenge for the world’s best mantle, the world’s best rugby league player did not just retire. Instead he will be leading out Australia on Friday night, looking to add another victory in the green and gold.