Mini

[Johnny Brass]

mini was a gymnast in his early days accounts for much of his core strength and instant pinball speed?

If you want to build an athlete in any sport the best way is to start them off in gymnastics where they develop flexibility, core strength and co ordination.

[Johnny Brass]

I think what sets Mini apart from those other greats was his dedication and resilience to overcome debilitating injuries that might have ended most careers.

Not only did he come back culminating in leading the 2013 team to victory, but was integral to the success that year with his unparalleled on field defensive organisation and leadership.

A one-club legend of the game.

I use to see mini training with Roger fabri at centennial park when he was coming back from those injuries. He would do endless sprints over hurdles he had phenomenal stamina and was an amazing athlete.

[Mickie Lane]

Mickie I don't know whether you ever witnessed Artie play for us but it's a tall order to be touting Mini as better. Artie had far more influence over the outcome of the contest and masterfully led the greatest side that most of us here have ever laid eyes on. And I'd put Freddy second as the man at the controls. Both players right out of the box. Playing the most games should not be the barometer, or it makes Ricketson the second best and puts blokes like SKD right up there. They were good players but no match for Beetson - who is one of the Immortals and Freddie who has his supporters to become one too.

Consider to that Artie was a great scout for the Roosters and you could name more than one Roosters side full of champions that Artie spotted and ensured they were wearing red, white and blue. They rank from Trevor Gilmeister down to our current captain Jake Friend. He even picked out Petero Civoniceva as a 16 year old and he was ready to come, but the Broncos jumped in and offerred a scholarship at the 11th hour. Boyd Cordner rates Artie as the greatest Rooster ever. We're all going to have varying opinions Mickie, but Artie was the best I saw and that's not just going back to the 'old days'. It's considering everyone I've seen from the 60's until today.

The player that reminds me a lot of Artie is Latrell. Not because he is an indigenous Australian. But he plays with the same aggression and has enormous natural ball skills and strength. Beetson started out as a centre when he first came down from Queensland too.

Heya Louis
Artie was at the club from 1971 to 1978, 8 years. I was 5 in 71 so I was more interested in meeting other kids at the footy than the actual footy. Same for when I was 6,7,8,9,10. But I knew Artie was good because my dad always talked about him. I did meet Artie on probably at least 20 occasions because my pop, dad, brother & I used to go into the dressing rooms at the sports ground after the games, I have his autograph 3 times. By the time I really got interested in players the whole 74-75 team was gone so the best Rooster players that I saw when I was between 13 to 18 was Horrie Hastings, Hugh McGahan & Ian Barkley. The Roosters were average in the early 90,s but I thought Gary Freeman was a champion. The next top player that came along was Freddy who I personally believe is the best player that I have seen play for the Roosters over a period of years & those years where in the 2004-5-6. But the best player that I have ever seen at the Roosters was Todd Carney in 2010.
In my original post I said Mini has the credentials to being the all time best ever Roosters player but in my time following the Chooks as I said earlier Carney is the best Ive seen but his credentials are up ship creek.
And Louis I do rate Artie in the highest degree but I just believe Mini has better credentials.

[rented tracksuit]

Heya Louis
Artie was at the club from 1971 to 1978, 8 years. I was 5 in 71 so I was more interested in meeting other kids at the footy than the actual footy. Same for when I was 6,7,8,9,10. But I knew Artie was good because my dad always talked about him. I did meet Artie on probably at least 20 occasions because my pop, dad, brother & I used to go into the dressing rooms at the sports ground after the games, I have his autograph 3 times. By the time I really got interested in players the whole 74-75 team was gone so the best Rooster players that I saw when I was between 13 to 18 was Horrie Hastings, Hugh McGahan & Ian Barkley. The Roosters were average in the early 90,s but I thought Gary Freeman was a champion. The next top player that came along was Freddy who I personally believe is the best player that I have seen play for the Roosters over a period of years & those years where in the 2004-5-6. But the best player that I have ever seen at the Roosters was Todd Carney in 2010.
In my original post I said Mini has the credentials to being the all time best ever Roosters player but in my time following the Chooks as I said earlier Carney is the best Ive seen but his credentials are up ship creek.
And Louis I do rate Artie in the highest degree but I just believe Mini has better credentials.

credentials? Martin Offia had pretty good credentials. I reckon he was our player of the year in 1993 based on his credentials!

[Johnny Tobin]

Mickie I don't know whether you ever witnessed Artie play for us but it's a tall order to be touting Mini as better. Artie had far more influence over the outcome of the contest and masterfully led the greatest side that most of us here have ever laid eyes on. And I'd put Freddy second as the man at the controls. Both players right out of the box. Playing the most games should not be the barometer, or it makes Ricketson the second best and puts blokes like SKD right up there. They were good players but no match for Beetson - who is one of the Immortals and Freddie who has his supporters to become one too.

Consider to that Artie was a great scout for the Roosters and you could name more than one Roosters side full of champions that Artie spotted and ensured they were wearing red, white and blue. They rank from Trevor Gilmeister down to our current captain Jake Friend. He even picked out Petero Civoniceva as a 16 year old and he was ready to come, but the Broncos jumped in and offerred a scholarship at the 11th hour. Boyd Cordner rates Artie as the greatest Rooster ever. We're all going to have varying opinions Mickie, but Artie was the best I saw and that's not just going back to the 'old days'. It's considering everyone I've seen from the 60's until today.

The player that reminds me a lot of Artie is Latrell. Not because he is an indigenous Australian. But he plays with the same aggression and has enormous natural ball skills and strength. Beetson started out as a centre when he first came down from Queensland too.

You only had to be at the Captain's Table function recently to be reminded how large Artie looms over our club. He is beyond a legend. And that will always be the case.

Messenger. Brown. Artie.

The big three in no particular order.

[One Eyed Willy]

Heya Louis
Artie was at the club from 1971 to 1978, 8 years. I was 5 in 71 so I was more interested in meeting other kids at the footy than the actual footy. Same for when I was 6,7,8,9,10. But I knew Artie was good because my dad always talked about him. I did meet Artie on probably at least 20 occasions because my pop, dad, brother & I used to go into the dressing rooms at the sports ground after the games, I have his autograph 3 times. By the time I really got interested in players the whole 74-75 team was gone so the best Rooster players that I saw when I was between 13 to 18 was Horrie Hastings, Hugh McGahan & Ian Barkley. The Roosters were average in the early 90,s but I thought Gary Freeman was a champion. The next top player that came along was Freddy who I personally believe is the best player that I have seen play for the Roosters over a period of years & those years where in the 2004-5-6. But the best player that I have ever seen at the Roosters was Todd Carney in 2010.
In my original post I said Mini has the credentials to being the all time best ever Roosters player but in my time following the Chooks as I said earlier Carney is the best Ive seen but his credentials are up ship creek.
And Louis I do rate Artie in the highest degree but I just believe Mini has better credentials.

I’m a bit younger then you Mickey but agree with what you said above
never got to see Artie play but the videos are insane of him on the field.
I grew up supporting the Hugh McGans and Salvo era, very lean period for a young kid, then along cane Gus and Freddy who I also think is the greatest player of his era.
But in terms of individual brilliance, 2010 Carney was something special to watch.

[Lydon]

credentials? Martin Offia had pretty good credentials. I reckon he was our player of the year in 1993 based on his credentials!

I think he broke his arm in his first game against Penrith on his second stint with the Club,such a let down after all the hype..

[Cockadoodledoo]

Messenger. Brown. Artie, Sherlock.

The big four in no particular order.

Fixed it for you.

[Flipper Hands]

Fun discussion this one. Last week (the bye), I sat down with my son and re-watched the 2010 Qualifying Final against the Tigers. Mini was obviously at the end of his career at that point and past his best.

However he was instrumental in stopping 2 or 3 tries during the first half, without which the crazy ending to that game just doesn't happen.

For me Mini was amazingly complete, he had natural talent, attack, defence, the brain AND as others have said, he had the work ethic. On top of that he was a one club man, AND he is still giving back to the Chooks now.

How can you not speak of him in the same breath as other legends?

[Lydon]

Fixed it for you.

hahahahaha Sherlock was a special talent mate
Can’t believe he was a dual international

[rented tracksuit]

I think he broke his arm in his first game against Penrith on his second stint with the Club,such a let down after all the hype..

Exactly my point. Credentials aren’t everything.

[Cockadoodledoo]

hahahahaha Sherlock was a special talent mate
Can’t believe he was a dual international

Something Mini never achieved lol..

[Bondicigar]

Lol Taumalolo isn't fat, he isn't slow, and he definitely has a step.

You make him sound like Lance Thompson!

Fat slow with no step would not be how i would describe JT and i think you would have more luck swimming up niagra falls than pulling off a 1 on 1 strip with GI

[Bondicigar]

He is a good battering ram who basically walks around the field with the other JT going JASE JASE!!! NEXT ONE IS YOURS!!! BIG MAN ON LITTLE MAN YOU KNOW THE DRILL!!!!

Jason then runs straight at (for example) Maloney, busts his tackle, drags him 20 metres and finally gets pulled down by somebody.

In most games he will get zero line breaks despite getting more touches + tackle breaks than anybody. He will not get many tackles either (and if anything will tackle like a tackle bag because he gets gassed easily).

Telling. As I said, he is not an evasive ball runner, he is a big blob of dead weight that can take a while to grind to a halt. While he will break a few tackles, he will not break your line (which is way more important).

Oh and eeerm... despite being stacked with superstars, his team is currently sitting at 14th on the ladder. He is not scary because even with 20 strategically placed runs with favourable passes he will never break your line...he is just a big fat bludgeon. Mini (a true evasive runner) will pickup a cheeky grubber in-goal while heavily marked, slip 5 tacklers and put the team into an attacking position. Jason is the last person I would pass the ball to if I was in-goal and needed somebody to make some metres.

Should have went to specsavers. Your getting him mixed up with martin bella

[Mickie Lane]

Should have went to specsavers. Your getting him mixed up with martin bella

To many spliffs for ism22.