Your favourite match 17

[SuffolkTiger]

Throughout my 45 years watching our club I've been fortunate to see both some brilliant players and also some great characters who could lift the crowd.

In that time my favourite players have not necessarily been technically the best in their position over the 4 decades but have got me jumping up & down and also brought a smile to my face. I've also included players that, if they were playing, I knew we would be up for the battle and those I knew the opposition hated playing against.

Here's mine. It would be good to see some other selections from across the forum while we are all waiting for the restart....

1. Luke Dorn
2. Justin Carney
3. John Joyner
4. Jake Webster
5. St John Ellis
6. Tony Kemp
7. Mike Ford
8. Kevin Ward
9. Paul McShane
10. Lee Crooks
11. Ronnie Gibbs
12. Tawera Nikau
13. Malcolm Reilly (only saw him live after his Manly stint but couldn't leave him out)

14..Dean Sampson
15. Junior Moors
16. Adrian Vowels
17. Grant Millington

Unlucky not to make it:
Bruce Burton
Graham Stedman
Steve Fenton
Steve Norton
Dale Fritz
Luke Gale
Dave Finch

[nottinghamtiger]

For pure excitement, I’d go:
1. Graham Steadman.
2. St John Ellis
3. Richie Blackmore
4. Tony Marchant
5. Denny Solomona.
6. Rangi Chase.
7. Danny Orr
8. Danny Sculthorpe
9. Daryl Clark.
10. Lee Crooks
11. Willie Manu.
12. Dean Widders.
13. Tawera Nikau.

[jackknife]

Dorn
Carney
Shenny
Eager
Rodgers
Orr just pipping chase
Davis
Crooks
Clark
Sampson
Holmes
Manu
Vowles

Widders
Nikau
Millington
Fritz

[Ken Smith]

For me it would have to be :-
Zak Hardaker
Justin Carney
Richie Blackmore
Michael Shenton
Greg Eden
Alan Hardisty
Keith Hepworth
Dennis Hartley
Paul McShane
Bill Bryant
Brian Lockwood
Ronnie Gibbs
Mal Reilly
subs.
Roger Millward
Lee Crooks
Steve Norton
Tawera Nikau

[tigerfeat]

Flowers
Carney
Eager
Shenton
St John Ellis
Rangi
Ford
Nutley
Bartrim
Millington
Finch
Ketteridge
Reiley

Clark
Gibbs
Vowles
Watts

[TT Tiger]

Dorn
Wainwright
Webster
Eager
Solamona
Chase
Davis
Tonks
Bartrim
Sampson
Micheal smith
Smales
Vowels

Brad Hepi
Tutta
Mcgoldrick
Junior moors

Not picking on skill or class just players that made me enjoy rugby. Some in their for heart. Some for enthusiasm.

[Sharlotiger]

1. Wraith
2. Fenton
3. Blackmore
4. Webster
5. Singe
6. Burton
7. Chase
8. Hartley
9. Clark
10. Sampson
11.Atkins
12.Bryant
13.Reilly
Subs
14. Steadman
15.K.Ward
16.Nikau
17.K.Beardmore

All have been a joy to watch over the years along with many many others.

[daytona]

1 Hardaker
2 St John Ellis
3 Blackmore
4 Webster
5 Eden
6 Chase
7 Ford
8 Kev Ward
9 McShane
10 Crooks
11 Jesse
12 Fritz
13 Nickau

14 Sampson
15 Steadman
16 Watts
17 Vowles

I’d pay good money to watch that team play!

[Fumper27]

1 Graham Steadman
2 Justin Carney
3 Richie Blackmore
4 Michael Eager
5 Denny Solomona
6 Rangi Chase
7 Luke Gale
8 Lee Crooks
9 Daryl Clark
10 Kevin Ward
11 Willie Manu
12 Dale Fritz
13 Tawera Nikau

14 Michael Smith
15 Grant Millington
16 Dean Sampson
17 Aaron Raper

Gone for a team from players I’ve seen live. Think that team, in their pomp, would take some beating.

[tigerfeat]

1. Wraith
2. Fenton
3. Blackmore
4. Webster
5. Singe
6. Burton
7. Chase
8. Hartley
9. Clark
10. Sampson
11.Atkins
12.Bryant
13.Reilly
Subs
14. Steadman
15.K.Ward
16.Nikau
17.K.Beardmore

All have been a joy to watch over the years along with many many others.

You forgot players over time well I do I went to school with Steve Fenton very good player played a game for England I think

[SuffolkTiger]

1. Wraith
2. Fenton
3. Blackmore
4. Webster
5. Singe
6. Burton
7. Chase
8. Hartley
9. Clark
10. Sampson
11.Atkins
12.Bryant
13.Reilly
Subs
14. Steadman
15.K.Ward
16.Nikau
17.K.Beardmore

All have been a joy to watch over the years along with many many others.

You forgot players over time well I do I went to school with Steve Fenton very good player played a game for England I think

Fizzer went through a fantastic spell in the mid/late 70s where he was lethal in open field.

Watched him from the terraces as a kid. I vaguely remember his younger brother being at Cas High in a different year to me around that time.

[SuffolkTiger]

Bruce Burton was a sight to behold in his pomp. Exceptional finisher and lethal when backing up.

Some interesting discussions amongst supporters at the time on whether he was more more effective when playing outside Clive Pickerill as opposed to Gary Stephens.

[Mysterio]

1 Graham Steadman
2 Justin Carney
3 Richie Blackmore
4 Michael Eager
5 Denny Solomona
6 Rangi Chase
7 Luke Gale
8 Lee Crooks
9 Daryl Clark
10 Kevin Ward
11 Willie Manu
12 Dale Fritz
13 Tawera Nikau

14 Michael Smith
15 Grant Millington
16 Dean Sampson
17 Aaron Raper

Gone for a team from players I’ve seen live. Think that team, in their pomp, would take some beating.

That’s up there with the best of teams I can ever imagine. What a bench. I’d only maybe consider replacing Carney with Ellis and Raper with Danny Orr.

[Tiger53]

1. Derek Edwards
2. St John Ellis
3. Ritchie Blackmore
4. John Joyner
5. Alan Lowndes
6. Alan Hardisty
7. Keith Hepworth
8. Denis Hartley
9. Kevin Beardmore
10. Grant Millington
11. Bill Bryant
12. Brian Lockwood
13. Mal Reilly

14. Graham Steadman
15. Kevin Ward
16. Lee Crooks
17. Tawera Nikua

A few tough choices and very close include Danny Orr, Roger Millward, Justin Carney, Denny Solomon’s, Brad Davis, Clive Dickinson, Johnny Ward and probably a few more that I have forgotten for the moment.

[Tiger53]

1. Derek Edwards
2. St John Ellis
3. Ritchie Blackmore
4. John Joyner
5. Alan Lowndes
6. Alan Hardisty
7. Keith Hepworth
8. Denis Hartley
9. Kevin Beardmore
10. Grant Millington
11. Bill Bryant
12. Brian Lockwood
13. Mal Reilly

14. Graham Steadman
15. Kevin Ward
16. Lee Crooks
17. Tawera Nikua

A few tough choices and very close include Danny Orr, Roger Millward, Justin Carney, Denny Solomona, Brad Davis, Clive Dickinson, Johnny Ward and probably a few more that I have forgotten for the moment.

[Spanishtiger]

Steadman

Ellis
Blackmore
Joyner
Solomona

Burton
Ford

K. Ward
McShane
Crooks
Fritz
McMeeken in 2017
Nikau

From what I've seen since 1977.
But you could pick 4 or 5 teams of that quality...

[Mysterio]

Crooksy at #8 replacing Massey (who i highly rate) would be absolutely amazing leading our pack today and would fit right in with daryls expansive style.

Joyner or Nikau to finish our pack off at #13 alongside the arrival of evals and we'd win the comp

[ChunkyMonkey81]

From what i’ve seen live

Hardaker
Carney
Eagar
Shenton
Solomona
Chase
Gale
Watts
McShane
Millington
Fritz
Moors
Vowles

Clark
Nutley
Lynch
Manu

[Hepworth7]

For me it would have to be :-
Zak Hardaker
Justin Carney
Richie Blackmore
Michael Shenton
Greg Eden
Alan Hardisty
Keith Hepworth
Dennis Hartley
Paul McShane
Bill Bryant
Brian Lockwood
Ronnie Gibbs
Mal Reilly
subs.
Roger Millward
Lee Crooks
Steve Norton
Tawera Nikau

Now that Ken for someone of my generation is absolute genius. Having seen every one of them in their pomp that 1-17 makes my skin tingle
:clap:

[SuffolkTiger]

For me it would have to be :-
Zak Hardaker
Justin Carney
Richie Blackmore
Michael Shenton
Greg Eden
Alan Hardisty
Keith Hepworth
Dennis Hartley
Paul McShane
Bill Bryant
Brian Lockwood
Ronnie Gibbs
Mal Reilly
subs.
Roger Millward
Lee Crooks
Steve Norton
Tawera Nikau

Now that Ken for someone of my generation is absolute genius. Having seen every one of them in their pomp that 1-17 makes my skin tingle
:clap:

The only criticism you could probably level at that team is that they looked a bit disorganised while walking into the sheds at half time.

A fearsome side