Lockyer better than Wally?

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Dean Ritchie says Darren Lockyer is a better five-eighth than Wally Lewis

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I HATE people who live in the past.

Those who just can't utter anything nice about the modern game or its current players, who say everything was bigger and better in the '60s, '70s and '80s.
Well, I am going to utter the words that many fans over the age of 40 will find abhorrent.

Darren Lockyer is a better five-eighth than Wally Lewis.
Yes, comparing players from different generations can be difficult and dangerous. You always seem to find a grumpy old bloke who wants to bag you.

"Bill Bloggs kicked a goal at Redfern in 1951 from 60m out and with a wet, leather ball."
But take a good, hard look at Lockyer, the man who carved up Benji Marshall on Friday night.

He has played at the elite level for 17 years, which shows an extraordinary physical longevity and mental strength.
Lockyer has played 340 first grade matches and should break the all-time record of 349 - held jointly by Terry Lamb and Steve Menzies - later this season.

He has played 58 Tests (including four with Super League) and 33 Origin games.
I know some will say football isn't always about statistics. But these stats clearly demonstrate just how long Lockyer has been at the peak of rugby league.
Lewis was the master of State of Origin. The greatest Origin player of all time.

But he only played 80 first grade matches for two clubs, Brisbane and Gold Coast.
Brisbane didn't join the Sydney competition until 1988, so that isn't entirely the fault of Lewis.
But I ask: is Lewis remembered so highly because he emerged in Queensland's first golden era - a time when poor Queenslanders could finally fire back at NSW?

Lockyer has played more than four times the NRL games of Lewis. All at 85kg. And he has somehow managed to play at a consistently brilliant level since his Broncos debut in 1995.

Wayne Bennett recently made a valid point. Not too many players can lay claim to be among the greatest in two positions. Lockyer can, at fullback and five-eighth.

On Friday night, he really did show Marshall who was boss. And how good were the Broncos? They showed they are the real deal.
Six wins in succession is a tribute to a young side that is ready to turn rugby league on its head.

And leading them all the way will be Lockyer - Queensland's greatest five-eighth.
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I hardly think that listing Wally's 80 NSWRL games is a fair comparison. He also played 135 games for Valleys Diehards, 10 for Wakefield Trinity and 76 for Wynnum-Manly. The BRL was still a reasonable competition back in those days, not as much difference as there is now. That still falls short of Lockyer but makes him part of the elite 300 club.
 
yeah I would say that locky is better...look at todays players they are bigger,fitter,stronger more skillfull and just better all over and locky has dominated the comp for ages...one of the all time greats IMO...
 
Todays game may not be as hard and tough as those days, but the coaching, skills and all those little things (ruck slowing, ruck plays, kicking game, getting over the advantage line through playing flat not deep like in those days, etc) would force any modern day team to beat the teams of wally's era IMO.

p.s, Joey is better than them all by a country mile! all bias aside
 
I dont rate either of them, lockyer throws a cut out pass and the commentators react like they havent seen one before.
 
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