The 1990’s was an interesting time in the games history that you could almost split into three parts. The growth of the game coming out of the late 1980’s, the few years in the middle of the decade where the game looked ready to really kick on, and then the devastation that followed due to The Super League War.
Throughout the decade though we saw many great players, many of whom are all time greats. The strength of the talent is probably show in who got left out of the side below.
So, this is it, my best team of the 1990’s.
1. Tim Brasher
Super reliable player that played his best football at representative level. Possibly the best fullback New South Wales has ever had in the Origin era.
2. Andrew Ettingshausen
A great player that tended to end up playing on the wing a fair bit, especially at test level.
3. Steve Renouf
With the ability to tear an opposition to shreds, Renouf was one of the first players picked at every level for a number of years.
4. Mal Meninga
Even by todays standards Meninga was a giant of a center. In 1994 he became the first player to have played in four Kangaroo Tours.
5. Martin Offiah
One of the games biggest stars, an athlete that could have walked into todays game and still be in the very elite class, Offiah’s try scoring record in his era was so far beyond that of his peers that he stands out of a statistical anamoly.
6. Brad Fittler
Started the decade as a teenager, by the mid 90’s he was captain of New South Wales and Australia.
7. Andrew Johns
People tend to forget that even as far back as 1995, Andrew Johns was showing his class against elite opposition. He was the man of the match award in the 1995 World Cup Final, playing at hooker!
8. Glen Lazarus
A premiership winner for the Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm. Lazarus was the best prop in the game during the 1990’s.
9. Steve Walters
A class player that was a winner at ever level he played at. His battles with Benny Elias are legendary.
10. Shane Webcke
Before the decade had ended he was the best front rower in the game.
11. Paul Sironen
A great player at club level, he lifted when he played for New South Wales and Australia. At test level in particular he was outstanding.
12. Steve Menzies
Its hard to argue against the player with the most tries for a forward in Australian Rugby League history that was one of the best players in the game in the mid 1990’s and who is still playing at the professional level with the Catalan Dragons in 2012.
13. Bradley Clyde
The complete package at lock. His work rate wwas outstanding and he had enough ball playing ability to trouble an opposition defense.
Do you think someone was hard done by in missing out in this team? Let your thoughts be known! Log in and have your say in the comment section below.
Nice team, but would’ve picked Mullins over Brasher
The thing that swayed me Brasher’s way is that he simply was better for longer than Mullins. Mullins at his best was outstanding, but his peak was pretty short.
Superb team, but I’d put Hanley at lock and move Clyde to second row in front of Menzies
Thats a big call! Why would you get rid of Steve Menzies?
He’d make the bench as a ‘utility’, could play centre or in the pack- had to make room for Ellery!!
See Menzies played in two Grand Finals and scored 104 tries in the 1990’s alone. He’s hard to leave out I think.
Tawera Nikau, Wiz, Matthew Ridge, maybe one kiwi would be good enough?
Daryl Halligan? Jason Smith?
Offiah out, willie carne in