18 June 2008

THE HALF STORY – OR IS IT HALF THE STORY??

Why is everyone suddenly down on George Gregan?

Luke Burgess has come along and suddenly we’re all comparing them…..I thing there’s a bit of Brumbies-bashing going on……yet another Waratah conspiracy, no doubt.

Yes, I will agree that if Gregan and Burgess both started the same year, then Burgess may well have got the nod, but, hey, they are from two different eras.

Let’s not forget that George Gregan was the first Australian half of the professional era from 1995 until 2007 – 12 years!! If he was so ordinary, why was he always the first pick?

So what if he ran sideways? More often than not, he had a runner (such as Owen Finegan, or Joe Roff, or Graeme Bond, or Craig Wells, or Rod Kafer, or Clyde Rathbone, or Adam Ashley-Cooper, or Mark Bartholomeusz or….?? – you get my drift) coming on the angle.

He was a patient half who re-cycled the ball in an era when the Brumbies played multiple phases, and he got his runners away.

Those who never experienced the sheer joy of watching Gregan, Larkham, Roff, Kafer, Finegan, Mortlock etc etc combining in the mid-field on a Friday night at Canberra Stadium, should not have the temerity to make comments on such a fine Rugby player.

Here endeth the lesson. Welcome Luke Burgess, but let’s never forget George..he’s a bit of hero around these parts!