20 of the Best: St George-Illawarra Dragons

As we wait for season 2011 to get underway, the Making The Nut team will take a look back over the last 20 years to name the 20 best players at all sixteen teams. Merged teams will take account of both clubs pre-merger and the only rule is that a player must have played at least three years post-1990. A player's time at the club is the only time that is taken into account.

Here, Aaron Marriott caused himself no end of angst figuring out the top twenty St George-Illawarra Dragons of the last twenty years, including both St George and Illawarra pre-merger.

20. Shaun Timmins

A Steelers mainstay prior to the formation of the joint venture, Timmo became a mainstay in rep teams following a breakout 1999 season. Came back from horrific degenerative knee injuries to win Saints player of the year in 2003 after two seasons on the sidelines. Able to play mulyiple positions, Timmins wound up in the backrow after playing for NSW in the 4, 6 & 13 jumpers.

19.  Nathan Blaclock

Tingha The Winger was the greatest try scorer since the great Ken Irvine. Blacklock topped the try scoring lists with in excess of 20 tries for three straight seasons. More than that, he was a true entertainer, bringing crowds to their feet with freakish anticipation, sublime skill and blistering speed. "Ting" scored two of the best tries of the last 20 years – the first in the 99 GF and the second a buzzer beater at Leichardt against the Tigers in 2001. How he was never good enough to play for NSW is a question only the old meat heads who select the team could answer. One of the great showmen. Had a telepathic link with Anthony Mundine.

18. Nathan Brown

Came down from McLean on the Northern Rivers in the early 90's and, apart from a brief flirtation with the Sharks, spent his entire playing career at Saints, playing in three losing deciders. A crafty hooker with a smart kicking game and an exceptional niggling ability, Brown had many a fine game for the Dragons and had outstanding finals series in '96 & '99 en route to the Big Dance. A severe neck injury brought his playing career to a premature close in 2001.

17. Trent Barrett

There will be many Steelers fans who scream at this. Baz was a wholehearted performer for many years and the Saints' highest profile player and captain. A tremendous defender with an outstanding running game, Barrett always caught the eye and enjoyed his best season in 2000, when he claimed the Dally M Medal by a good margin. Baz would have to go down as one of the best Rep players of all time, but he often over played his hand at the Dragons and tried too hard. No faulting his passion, but his inconsistency sees him lower than his ability would dictate.

16. Ricky Walford

The legend. came to saints via Norths & Easts and became an enduring figure at Kogarah. A sublime player, Walford was a Blue in Jack Gibson's 1990 Origin winning team and desperately unlucky to miss the Roo tour that year. Leading pointscorer in '91. Walford played in the '92 and '93 GF losses, but offered to play on in 1996 after he retired as the Saints were torn apart by Super League. Ricky could walk into Kogarah now and his feet would never touch the ground. Legend.

15. Lance Thompson

Saints junior who had an unrivalled passion for the club. Made his debut in 1995 as a Year 11 student and played for the Red V with distinction for the next decade, before leaving the club in controversial circumstances at the end of 2005. Thommo played in the '96 & '99 GF's and also gave Peter Shiels quite a touch up at Necastle in 1999. A 110% player, rated by some good judges as the best schoolboy footballer of all time, Thommo was the personification of St George in the joint venture era.

14. Paul McGregor

Steelers legend and regular Australian rep, "Mary" was one the finest centres of the 1990's holding his own against the likes of ET, Meninga & Renouf. Was St George-Illawarra's innaugrual captain in 1999 (with Mark Coyne) and has been a fine contributor to the success of the joint venture since the beginning. An intimidating ball runner with a lethal left hand fend and deceptive pace, Mary was a giant of a man who led with distinction. Came within three minutes of  being a Grand Final winning captain.

13. Anthony Mundine

Choc was a magician. Plain and simple. Played a leading role in Saints charge to the '96 decider. Single handedly got the Saints into the '99 GF with one of the most purely dominant displays of finals football in living memory in the Prelim against Cronulla. Trailing 8 -0 at half time, Mundine went ballistic in the second half, scoring three tries himself and setting up the game winner for Luke Patten. An outspoken player, Mundine had a great combination with Nathan Blacklock and left Saints for a second time in 2000 to pursue a career in boxing, thus leaving us all wondering what he could have been (and if only he passed that ball in '99).

12. Jason Nightingale

Gets the chocolates over Brett Morris here because I cannot split them apart from Nightingale's unbelievable performance in the 2010 decider. Florence is a vastly underrated player and club man who simply does not make errors – in fact, since he fumbled his first ball in the NRL in 2007, the local junior has rarely put a foot wrong. Nightingale makes other players around him look good and not just because of his awkward gait – he's simply a tremendous and reliable all around pro who makes big plays every game.

11. Jeremy Smith

This guy's name is revered in Red & White heartland. Over only two seasons and less than 50 games in the Red V, Jezza cemented himself as a legend by bringing a ruthless streak to Saints after leaving Melbourne at the end of '08. A frightening & durable warrior who hurts you with and without the pill, Smith is not only a true hard man, he's also at present the best big game player in Rugby League as evidenced by his '08 World Cup Final & '10 Four Nations finals performances. Was easily Saints best player over all three finals in 2010 and his performance in the Prelim against Wests was superhuman. Backed it up with a Clive Churchill worthy performance a week later in the drought breaking Premiership win. No coincidence that Smith has won five straight JJ Giltinan Shields. A winner.

10. Luke Bailey

Bull gets a nod here ahead of so many outstanding props who have worn the Red V over the last 20 years simply because I believe he is the best prop the club has produced in that time. A massive motor for a big man and a mainstay of the all star outfit of the mid 00's, Bailey at his best was matched only by the legendary Broncos book ends Webckeand Petero. Had massive games in the sky blue & led from the front with pride in the jumper for Saints over seven seasons. Hasn't been the same player since leaving for the Titans in 07, but is still in the upper echelon of front rowers getting around.

9. Darius Boyd

Unwanted at Brisbane, Boyd's improvement at Saints over the last two years has been sensational. A player who keeps adding more strings to his bow, he was clearly Saints best throughout 2010 and was probably awarded the Clive Churchill medal on that basis. A supreme athlete and unbelievably talented player, 'Darbs" is legitimately in the top five players in the game at present and could quite concieavably ne the best player in the game within 2 seasons if he keeps improving at his current rate. Winning two premierships by the time you're 23 and having Wayne Bennett compare you to Darren Lockyer is certainly an indication of this kids potential. Aside from that, he is at present the best kick reurner in the game and is an unselfish team player.

8. Jamie Soward

Another reject, this time form the Roosters. Soward has cast aside doubts on his toughness and big game temerament to stamp himslef as Saints best five eighth in five decades and he can only get better from here. An oustanding broken play exponent, Soward has blinding pace and unmatched anticipation for the bounce of the ball. Made big plays throughtout the 2010 finals and again in the WCC clash against Wigan.

7. Ben Creagh

Big Ben rightly cops stick for back pedalling from the Queenslanders in '09, but many forget he was the best player on the pitch that night. I've got him in here necause he is the best line runner in the game and is as tough as rust. A dynamic ball carrier and punishing defender, Creaghzy cops a bum rap from the knuckle draggers, but he somehow still manages to dominate oppositions with his all round play, despite being portrayed as soft. You wouldn't find a Saints fan who would swap this champion footballer for anyone else. Played his heart out in the 2010 GF, picking up the slack in the absence of Michael Weyman and along with Smith, Costigan, Saffy, Young and Prior, is the key reason Saints are the reigning champs.

6. Matt Cooper

A loyal clubman who never made a fuss about anything, Coops was the games premier centre in 2005 and remains to this day an outstanding pro who will forever be remembered as the best defensive centre of his generation. It's hard to recall Cooper, playing the hardest defensive gig in the game at centre, ever being isolated and outsmarted on a play, let alone over a whole game. Outshone by more illustrious teammates, Cooper has provided plenty of ball for his wingers over the years and is rightly regarded as a Dragons legend.

5. Mark Gasnier

The Prince of Centres, now in his second spell at the club, is, along with Greg Inglis, the most gifted attacking centre of the last decade. Hehas his quiet games, but once he finds his rhythm, Le Gaz has had days where he has been virtually untouchable, prompting an excitable Gus Gould to declare in 2006 that Gasnier was the best centre he had ever seen. Came back after two years in rugby union in mid 2010 and conformed with relish to the Dragons new selfless credo. Scored the first try in the GF and defended his chin off. Still has plenty left though.

4 . Dean Young

The very personification of heart and soul, Young isn't the flashiest player in the game, but he's probably just about the toughest. He has technical failings, but these are overcome by a tremendous work ethic, flammable passion for the jumper and an iron will to dominate and win. The scenes of an exhausted Young after the final siren in the 2010 GF crying tears of joy will long stay with this author. The player often overlooked because he's not flamboyant or has an arm full of tatts – but always the first man picked by his coach and team mates. Enough said.

3. Brad Mackay

Probably the Saints best local junior since the 70's, Mackay was a fantastic player. Great defender. Great attacker. Great clubman. All round champion for Saints, NSW and Australia, Brad's career faltered when he left for the western Reds in '95. In a fitting poetic twist, Mackay wound up at the Steelers after staying loyal to ARL, and then was back in the Red V for the final year of his NRL career, where he sadly played in his third losing GF. Mackay was so good that he not only kept Brad Clyde honest for his rep jumpers, but would often force selectors to push Clyde to the second row for NSW so they could both play. An out and out champion and St George, Illawarra and St. George Illawarra legend.

2. Ben Hornby

As unfashionable as his home town of Corrimal and just as trustworthy, "The Bag" is the kind of guy you'd be happy to have your daughter date. He'd pick her up in a sensible car, go for a nice meal and enjoy a PG movie. He'd have her home by 11 andhe'd  kiss her on the cheek good night and not even try for second base.

Oh yeah – he'd also rip anyone who disrespected your girl a new arsehole is a split second too. The description of only victorious GF skipper in a lifetime as a "Cuddly Tyrant" is apt. Hornby isn't flash, but he also doesn't make errors and executes and leads without fault and by example. His performance in the GF was well worthy of Clive Churchill Medal consideration. His dual role as premiership winning seven & skipper, as well as his devotion to the cause over a decade sees him aptly placed at number two as much as his ability.

1. Mark Coyne

GF losing skipper in '93 & '96. Losing player in '92. Innagrual skipper (with Mary MacGregor) of the joint venture, Coyne was THE epitomy of the the Red V in the 1990's. Tough, durable and talented, Coyne led the club through the 93 semis to the GF with a mesmerising month of football in which he destroyed Canberra and Canterbury, His and saints run was cut short of the winning post when he suffered tendon damage in his knee early in the match. A fantastic leader of men and hero to every Saints supporter, Coyne was and remains a man of the people whose greatest moments of on-field triumph were with Queensland and Australia, where he won the '95 World Cup.

Coyne's greatest legacy, however, will be rallying support to stave off the proposed and unholy merger with the Roosters. But for remaining at the helm of the good ship St George over the off season of '95-9'6 when Tallis, Stevens and many others had desserted, along with club legend and coach in waiting Rod Reddy, who was to take over from Brian Smith. Coyne declared allegiance to the cause and as players returned the fold, he managed not only to maintain pride and dignity in the famous jumper, but also to lead a 100-1 shot to the Grand Final that year, where, after David Manson cruelled Saints chances, endeared himslef even further to the faithful by declaring openly on TV that "David Manson is an arsehole".

Make no mistake, Coyne is the very reason the Red V still exists today with its heritage intact.

Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images AsiaPac