Do you think you can rate players you have never seen?

You have a point there but I can say that I will back the big Mal, Talis, Wally Lewis coz I have seen real old games and thought they were awesome. the lights of Laurie Daley, and Greg Alexander were choice in their prime too. But then i probably couldn't really see past them anyway.

But I get your point.

Nothing wrong with respecting the opinions of fans who have been watching many many years longer than myself if they say Beetson is the best or Gasnier (Reg). They not immortals for no reason remember!

But to me Mal Meninga is the greatest because I was fortunate enough to enjoy and idolise the mans career when I was younger!

Your statement actually bothers me, I hold the opposite opinion. You can't just forget history (I'd be outraged if I heard someone proclaiming J.Hayne or G.Inglis were the best league players). Its bad enough hearing Lockyers name amongst the greats. Andrew Johns is the only player in last 15 years you wouldn't laugh of someone calling him the greatest.

Same in any sport, how could you begrudge me if I said to you Bradman was the greatest cricketer, Babe Ruth was the greatest baseballer, Ali was the greatest boxer, Colin Meads was the greatest rugby player - you can't. I never saw any of these greats play! But you will struggle to find anyone who doesn't name these the greatest in their sporting field!

It's called critical thinking.

Any historian is naturally biased. They have a view and try to be impartial. We read the literature or if we're lucky watch the video's and try to step back in time. Then form an opinion.

If we didn't rate players constantly we'd be shovelling another pile of dirt on their memory and not have any way to judge if we are getting better with this great game.

Well I rate players such as Meninga and even further back and didn't see them play at the time. Don't mean I haven't watched them play on dvd or seen their games some other way.

Stats also mean something too.

What a great point. Never thought of it.