Best League to Union convert
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="584466" data-time="1464744868">
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<p>SBW is the best for me.</p>
<p>Plus has he bought a skill set with him that was a true step up.</p>
<p>Miles ahead of Robinson, and slightly ahead of BBBT</p>
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Well Robinson was a better stepper and much faster. Thorn was better at every single facet of forward play.</p>
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<p>But of course, that means nothing up against SBW. You win.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="584461" data-time="1464742910"><p>
Bert Cooke read one pundit said he was the Cully of his day...all 61.6kg of him!<br><br>
Rugby union career[<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bert_Cooke_(rugby)&action=edit§ion=2">edit</a>]<br>
Cooke joined the Grafton <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union">rugby union</a> club in 1919 and graduated to senior club rugby in 1923. In that same year he made his <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_rugby_union_team">Auckland</a> debut and was a reserve for <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team">New Zealand</a> against <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_rugby_union_team">New South Wales</a>. He was then part of the 1924–1925 "<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invincibles_(rugby_union)">Invincibles</a>" side that toured Great Britain. He again played for the All Blacks in 1925 and 1926 but withdrew from the 1928 tour of South Africa for business reasons.<sup><a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-abs-2">[2]</a></sup> He did play twice in 1928 for New Zealand against New South Wales before making his last Test appearances in 1930 against Great Britain.<br>
Cooke played for the North Island in 1931 and spent 1932 with <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawke's_Bay_Rugby_Union">Hawke's Bay</a>, before switching codes. Cooke also represented <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wairarapa_Bush_Rugby_Football_Union">Wairarapa</a> and <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_Rugby_Football_Union">Wellington</a> while playing rugby union.<sup><a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-Statistics_at_espnscrum.com-3">[3]</a></sup> He finished his rugby union career with 121 tries in 131 first class matches.<sup><a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-abs-2">[2]</a></sup><br>
Rugby league career[<a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bert_Cooke_(rugby)&action=edit§ion=3">edit</a>]<br>
Cooke joined the <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Rovers">Richmond Rovers</a> club in the <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Rugby_League">Auckland Rugby League</a> competition in 1932 and made an immediate impact, racing away for three tries in the inter-island game only weeks later.<sup><a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-akl100-4">[4]</a></sup> He was selected for <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_national_rugby_league_team">New Zealand</a> that year against the <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain_Lions">Great Britain Lions</a>. Cooke also represented <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_rugby_league_team">Auckland</a> and captained New Zealand in two Test matches against <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_national_rugby_league_team">Australia</a> in 1935.<sup><a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup><sup><a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-Statistics_at_rugbyleagueproject.org-6">[6]</a></sup><br>
He coached <a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_rugby_league_team">Auckland</a> in 1936.<sup><a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby)#cite_note-akl100-4">[4]</a></sup><br><br><sup><a class="bbc_url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Cooke_(rugby</a>)</sup></p></blockquote>
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Where the old centre point building was in masterton there used to be a menswear shop, my old man said the Wairarapa rugby union paid to set Cooke up in the shop to get him to come and play for them . -
Tana was a leagie wasn't he? When did he first play union?
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="584469" data-time="1464745126">
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<p>Well Robinson was a better stepper and much faster. Thorn was better at every single facet of forward play.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But of course, that means nothing up against SBW. You win.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Are you being intentionally dim?</p>
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<p>The skill step he bought was the off load, that whilst used in rugby before was a truly a leap above what union had seen before.</p>
<p>People had stepped like Robinson before. And BBBT bought what skill that rugby had never seen before? BBBT was a excellent AB with many fine characteristics.</p>
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<p>You can disagree as much as you like, but at least try and follow other peoples points before making dumb comments.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="584496" data-time="1464753240">
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<p>Are you being intentionally dim?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The skill <strike>step</strike> set he <strike>bought</strike> brought was the off load, that whilst used in rugby before was <strike>a</strike> truly a leap above what union had seen before.</p>
<p>People had stepped like Robinson before. And BBBT bought what skill that rugby had never seen before? BBBT was a excellent AB with many fine characteristics.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You can disagree as much as you like, but at least try and follow other peoples points before making dumb comments.</p>
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<p>No, I'm disagreeing with you and you're going on the offensive and being insulting. What a massive surprise.</p>
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<p>Until SBW achieves what those two did year upon year I might save the jizz fest for you if that's ok. I'm sure I remember Jonah being a terrific offloader when he wasn't trampling or running around guys but I guess I imagined that.</p>
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<p>I corrected your post for you as well. Hope you don't mind.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="584502" data-time="1464756903">
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<p>No, I'm disagreeing with you and you're going on the offensive and being insulting. What a massive surprise.</p>
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<p>Until SBW achieves what those two did year upon year I might save the jizz fest for you if that's ok. I'm sure I remember Jonah being a terrific offloader when he wasn't trampling or running around guys but I guess I imagined that.</p>
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<p>I corrected your post for you as well. Hope you don't mind.</p>
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<p>Achieve what they did? Well that is a different argument entirely. Way to move the goal posts and argue about something I never said. BBBT has arguably achieved more, but I dont think so as winning 2 world cups trumps all IMO. As for Robinson... I would be fascinated to see what argument could be made that he achieved more.</p>
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<p>And your 'jizz' comment is pathetic. I simply said that I think SBW was a better convert to union because his a particular skill set he bought across is at a new level... </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And good luck convincing anyone that Lomu was as good at off loading as SBW. Lomu had many incredible traits, and he could off load, but not at the level of SBW.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just because I think SBW was a better convert than Robinson and BBBT does not mean I think they were rubbish or that I think SBW is the best rugby player. </p>
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<p>But least I know you were not intentionally being dim.</p> -
<p>It's really hard to rate SBW in relation to the others because he hasn't been with the ABs for very long at any one time and has never been first choice. His only full seasons were in 2011 and 2015 and he was always a bench option. Now we get to see what he can achieve with 3 straight seasons of just union. I think we'll get a much better indication after that.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="584509" data-time="1464759852">
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<p><strong>Achieve what they did? </strong>Well that is a different argument entirely. Way to move the goal posts and argue about something I never said. BBBT has arguably achieved more, but I dont think so as winning 2 world cups trumps all IMO. As for Robinson... I would be fascinated to see what argument could be made that he achieved more.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And your 'jizz' comment is pathetic. I simply said that I think SBW was a better convert to union because his a particular skill set he bought across is at a new level... </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And good luck convincing anyone that Lomu was as good at off loading as SBW. Lomu had many incredible traits, and he could off load, but not at the level of SBW.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just because I think SBW was a better convert than Robinson and BBBT does not mean I think they were rubbish or that I think SBW is the best rugby player. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>But least I know you were not intentionally being dim.</p>
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<p>Well yeah, that was the whole point in the thread. If SBW has a great few years perhaps he'll get there.</p> -
<p>Well maybe you should have been more accurate in your thread title and OP.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Because you just said best, not who has achieved more. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>But lets go with your achievement criteria then.</p>
<p>How has Robinson achieved more than SBW? (is there where I accuse you of jizzing over Robinson?)</p> -
<p>I would not be at all surprised to see the Blues win another title within the next three years.</p>
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<p>I don't really buy SBW simply because he hasn't been able to get the 1st choice starting spot in the ABs. Robinson was starting 15 for England & the Lions almost from word go. Folau unchallenged for the Wobblies etc. Thorn owned the power lock slot for a couple of years.</p>
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<p>I think its pretty certain SBW will get there - he should be 1st choice later this yerar & for the next 3 or 4. But up till now he's been our bench cover at 2 world cups & gets in the team when Nonu is on a break. Thats not "worlds greatest"...</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="584534" data-time="1464765755">
<div><br><p>How has Robinson achieved more than SBW? (is there where I accuse you of jizzing over Robinson?)</p>
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<p> 1st choice starting player in his position at a WC & a Lions tour helps... </p> -
Back - Folau<br>
Forward - Thorn<br><br>
Mentions for Sonny and Jason. -
I was a huge fan of Robinson and thought he was an excellent player, but England have been my second team since I was a kid so perhaps I've always favoured a Pom over others. But in the clear light of day he was probably on par with Mat Rogers. <br><br>
Both good with ball in hand and under the high ball. Good decision makers and knew how to evade/bump off a defender. <br><br>
For me the best has been Sonny Bill because of what he brought to union was an offloading game that we hadn't seen from a backline player of his size and skill. Does it mean he is the bestest player the world has ever seen or the bestest 2nd 5 in the history of AB rugby - no! But for me the best convert suggests someone who brought a skill from his old code and help to transcend it in the new code. <br><br><br>
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