rhugh89
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Belting topic to tussle with
Source: The Daily Telegraph
SO you ask Johnny Lewis, the man who knows more than a little about footballers and fists, if he could name the greatest rugby league fighter he ever saw?
"Aaaah, geez," the Australian boxing Godfather says after a long pause, "I always thought Ian Roberts was the pick of them."But after Ian, there are just so many. I mean, a guy like George Piggins, you'd have to bring lunch and dinner for a fight with him. But where does it end?
"Nothing enlivens front-bar debate quite like the question: Just who is the greatest fighter to ever play rugby league?
Sure, new Rooster Sonny Bill Williams can throw 'em, but how would he go against Roberts, Piggins or the English terror, Vince Karalius?According to league historian David Middleton, parents around St Helens and Widnes in the 1950s warned misbehaving children not of the bogeyman but suggested "Vincent Karalius will be coming to get you".
Then there's Gorden Tallis, who once offered to take the entire Roosters side outside of a Darwin pub - wisely, they declined - while Ron Massey will quietly tell you how "no list would be complete without Jack Gibson".Then there's this column's pick, Barney Dalton, the Easts flanker who doubled as a standover man for Kate Leigh during the notorious razor gang wars, while boxing writer Paul Kent opts for Ian Roberts and Herb Narvo, the 1930s Kangaroo who also held the Australian heavyweight title "back when it meant plenty".Remember, this is not a boxing list, but a brawling one.
All events scheduled for the closest phone box."But as for who is last man standing?" says legendary Channel 9 commentator Ray Warren. "Well, Les Davidson would be up there. Reilly and Geyer too. But the Wild Bull of the Pampas, Vince Karalius ... he was a lunatic, meat axe and knuckleman all rolled into one."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/belting-topic-to-tussle-with/story-fni3fh9n-1226644831248
- JOSH MASSOUD
- THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
- MAY 17, 2013 12:00AM
Source: The Daily Telegraph
SO you ask Johnny Lewis, the man who knows more than a little about footballers and fists, if he could name the greatest rugby league fighter he ever saw?
"Aaaah, geez," the Australian boxing Godfather says after a long pause, "I always thought Ian Roberts was the pick of them."But after Ian, there are just so many. I mean, a guy like George Piggins, you'd have to bring lunch and dinner for a fight with him. But where does it end?
"Nothing enlivens front-bar debate quite like the question: Just who is the greatest fighter to ever play rugby league?
Sure, new Rooster Sonny Bill Williams can throw 'em, but how would he go against Roberts, Piggins or the English terror, Vince Karalius?According to league historian David Middleton, parents around St Helens and Widnes in the 1950s warned misbehaving children not of the bogeyman but suggested "Vincent Karalius will be coming to get you".
Then there's Gorden Tallis, who once offered to take the entire Roosters side outside of a Darwin pub - wisely, they declined - while Ron Massey will quietly tell you how "no list would be complete without Jack Gibson".Then there's this column's pick, Barney Dalton, the Easts flanker who doubled as a standover man for Kate Leigh during the notorious razor gang wars, while boxing writer Paul Kent opts for Ian Roberts and Herb Narvo, the 1930s Kangaroo who also held the Australian heavyweight title "back when it meant plenty".Remember, this is not a boxing list, but a brawling one.
All events scheduled for the closest phone box."But as for who is last man standing?" says legendary Channel 9 commentator Ray Warren. "Well, Les Davidson would be up there. Reilly and Geyer too. But the Wild Bull of the Pampas, Vince Karalius ... he was a lunatic, meat axe and knuckleman all rolled into one."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/belting-topic-to-tussle-with/story-fni3fh9n-1226644831248
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