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Chris

Chris

QLD Cup
Joined
Mar 15, 2023
Messages
756

Dolphins’ burning question: ​

Is Herbie Farnworth the best centre in the game? ​

What a player he is. In what has already been a strong season, Farnworth had arguably his best game of 2025 in the upset win over Melbourne. In addition to 140 metres and a try, the Englishman had nine tackle busts and three offloads while also making 21 tackles. In terms of attacking potency, it’s hard to find a better centre in the world than Farnworth.

There’s the bloke over at the Bulldogs (Stephen Crichton) who is a special player, but with ball in hand, he’s not on Farnworth’s level. Crichton is the game’s best defensive centre, which is why entering the season, most would give him the edge over Farnworth but this year, the UK import has made strides defensively. They are clearly one-two in the league, but Farnworth’s strike power may have just edged him ahead of Crichton.
 
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257Matt

QLD Cup
Joined
Nov 18, 2024
Messages
894
Dolph said:
Who is Joe Gould?
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Joel Gould is the Queensland based AAP reporter does more articles in the print on Dolphins than any other journo including Kylie Knight. Joel and Kylie are the two constants at most Dolphins player and coach media sessions asking the questions. Follow him on Twitter he posts links to all his articles there he also covers Broncos, Titans and in Cricket season the BBL Heat & Gabba Test.
 
2

257Matt

QLD Cup
Joined
Nov 18, 2024
Messages
894
Chris said:

Dolphins’ burning question: ​

Is Herbie Farnworth the best centre in the game? ​

What a player he is. In what has already been a strong season, Farnworth had arguably his best game of 2025 in the upset win over Melbourne. In addition to 140 metres and a try, the Englishman had nine tackle busts and three offloads while also making 21 tackles. In terms of attacking potency, it’s hard to find a better centre in the world than Farnworth.

There’s the bloke over at the Bulldogs (Stephen Crichton) who is a special player, but with ball in hand, he’s not on Farnworth’s level. Crichton is the game’s best defensive centre, which is why entering the season, most would give him the edge over Farnworth but this year, the UK import has made strides defensively. They are clearly one-two in the league, but Farnworth’s strike power may have just edged him ahead of Crichton.
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The two best centres don't play centre for their club Hammer and Mitchell.

Crichton is 1, Herbie probably 2 and after that the likes of Staggs, Best and Xerri.

Herbie been amazing this season really competes in every run.
 
Equaliser

Equaliser

Dolphins Pod squad member
Joined
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Messages
1,352
257Matt said:
The two best centres don't play centre for their club Hammer and Mitchell.

Crichton is 1, Herbie probably 2 and after that the likes of Staggs, Best and Xerri.

Herbie been amazing this season really competes in every run.
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  1. Tom T
  2. Mitchell
  3. Herbie
  4. Crighton
  5. Hammer
  6. Howarth
  7. Best
  8. Lomax
#6 is rising fast as a specialist centre. Herbie is far better than Crighton. Breaks far more tackles and misses just as few though Crighton's goal kicking is a big bonus for him.

Hammer might be a bit lucky. He played very well at centre in Origin 2 years ago but can't remember if he did anything last year.
 
P

Phins Phan

Dolphins Junior League
Joined
Jul 26, 2023
Messages
66
Crichton is the number one centre for mine, and by a margin. Cleary's performance in the last 20 minutes of the 2023 GF overshadowed Crichton's contribution but he also came up with two or three big monents plays that kept Penrith in it. And his defence is second-to-none - everyone agrees centre is the toughest position defensively and it's no coincidence that the team with the best defensive centre has the best defence overall.
 
Equaliser

Equaliser

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Messages
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Phins Phan said:
Crichton is the number one centre for mine, and by a margin. Cleary's performance in the last 20 minutes of the 2023 GF overshadowed Crichton's contribution but he also came up with two or three big monents plays that kept Penrith in it. And his defence is second-to-none - everyone agrees centre is the toughest position defensively and it's no coincidence that the team with the best defensive centre has the best defence overall.
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Jesus! Don't encourage Matt anymore. He stated a bit ago Crighton was the best centre since Reg Gasnier or better or something like that. Give him an inch and Burton will be a better 5/8 than Wally Lewis, Sexton a better halfback than JT, Kikau the best backrower that ever lived. Connor Tracy better than Slater, Cameron Ciraldo better than Benny and Bellamy and course Gus Gould will be transformed from a failed administrator at Penrith to a RL god.
 
Liverbird with Phins up

Liverbird with Phins up

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Equaliser said:
Jesus! Don't encourage Matt anymore. He stated a bit ago Crighton was the best centre since Reg Gasnier or better or something like that. Give him an inch and Burton will be a better 5/8 than Wally Lewis, Sexton a better halfback than JT, Kikau the best backrower that ever lived. Connor Tracy better than Slater, Cameron Ciraldo better than Benny and Bellamy and course Gus Gould will be transformed from a failed administrator at Penrith to a RL god.
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BHAHAHAHA.

Bob Fulton was some sort of centre. Big Mal, The Black Pearl. Brad Fittler. There is a few i'd have in front of Crighton. However, it's a good discussion. Id even have Arthur Beetson in front of him (Yes he started as a Centre or 5/8th as a teenager).

The only thing I will say is that era's are hard to compare as rules have changed, gear has changed etc etc. So its hard to compare across decades.
 
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2

257Matt

QLD Cup
Joined
Nov 18, 2024
Messages
894
Equaliser said:
Jesus! Don't encourage Matt anymore. He stated a bit ago Crighton was the best centre since Reg Gasnier or better or something like that. Give him an inch and Burton will be a better 5/8 than Wally Lewis, Sexton a better halfback than JT, Kikau the best backrower that ever lived. Connor Tracy better than Slater, Cameron Ciraldo better than Benny and Bellamy and course Gus Gould will be transformed from a failed administrator at Penrith to a RL god.
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Mal Meninga is the best centre I've seen but Crichton is in the battle for 2nd - in my life time.
 
P

Phins Phan

Dolphins Junior League
Joined
Jul 26, 2023
Messages
66
Also Rogers, Cronin, Miles, Lyon - even Mitchell, Manu and Trbojevic ... it's a nonsense argument trying to compare across generations
 
Equaliser

Equaliser

Dolphins Pod squad member
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Messages
1,352
257Matt said:
Mal Meninga is the best centre I've seen but Crichton is in the battle for 2nd - in my life time.
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Was he up against Staggs or Shibasaki last night? If Staggs, he was given a bath. If Shibasaki, I'll be kind to him and call it a draw. Kikau was good last night. Only Bullgrubs player who deserves his paycheck. Best I've seen him play since his days at Penrith.
 
G

Gary

QLD Cup
Joined
Dec 19, 2023
Messages
185
257Matt said:
Mal Meninga is the best centre I've seen but Crichton is in the battle for 2nd - in my life time.
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You can’t have seen a lot of games to think Crichton is the 2nd best centre. Couldn’t lace the boots of Schofield, miles, renouf, Kenny, Inglis, cooper,
 
Equaliser

Equaliser

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Gary said:
You can’t have seen a lot of games to think Crichton is the 2nd best centre. Couldn’t lace the boots of Schofield, miles, renouf, Kenny, Inglis, cooper,
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Mark Gasnier, Hodges.

IMO Creighton is neck and neck with Will Chambers.
 
Liverbird with Phins up

Liverbird with Phins up

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Gary said:
You can’t have seen a lot of games to think Crichton is the 2nd best centre. Couldn’t lace the boots of Schofield, miles, renouf, Kenny, Inglis, cooper,
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Fuck I forgot Brett Kenny and Steve Ella. Holy shit they were good. I know Mark Ella didn't play League, but he is one of the best players I have seen in both codes
 
Liverbird with Phins up

Liverbird with Phins up

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Another one I haven't seen mentioned. And I think he would go close to the best of all time.

Steve Rogers. He was on another planet.
 
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