Chang, you only made the bench for the Team of the Century – were you a bit dirty?
GL: Oh mate, there’s plenty of other blokes who didn’t even get on the bench. Just to be in the team’s a great honour. At least I’ll get a run – there’s plenty who can’t say that.

Who should be the next bloke inducted as an Immortal?
GL: I’m not being one-eyed when I say this, but the chap who deserves it - played in ten winning grand finals and captain-coached a lot of them - is Norm Provan. That’s my pick

JR: Yeah, Norm Provan. Any player who has played in as many premierships as that man deserves to be an Immortal. His leadership, his greatness, his acclamation, all that sort of thing ... We just loved him. He really lifted our game.

Want to see Andrew Johns join your number?
JR: His time is going to come, there’s no doubt about that.

Who’s the best player in the world today?
GL: When he’s fit – Darren Lockyer.

JR: I wish Andrew Johns was still going around, because I had a great opinion of him. I think Billy Slater’s got to be one of the best going around … But I don’t like talking about the best player today because it puts too much pressure on the bloke.

Is there a player running around today who reminds you of yourselves?
JR: Nah, it’s too different a game. My game was playing behind and covering and all that sort of thing. The game today, they play six forwards defending in the line. I couldn’t pick a single bloke because most locks these days play like a front rower.

We’ve got the World Cup later this year – do you worry it’s going to be a one-sided farce?
GL: Yeah, I do, because Australia are a full head above any other side. When the Poms were going good, it was great to watch them. And the Kiwis showed glimpses a few years back. But now, it’s just so one-sided.

I don’t think it will hurt league in Australia, but it’ll hurt the game around the world. The others’ve got to catch up. I thought England might catch up because there’s a lot of Australians playing over there in England and you’d think that their experience would pass on to the Poms. But it doesn’t seem to have worked. I can’t see ‘em catching up for a few years anyway. Australia’s going to be on top for a long time yet.

JR: No, I don’t think so. I think people will lift their game, the players will lift their game. Those coaches overseas know our game and they’ll make it hard for us.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Features Archive  >>