Indeed. However, that contributor should first check his scrap books about the timing of ETs second Leeds stint before diving in to give a definitive opinion in support of my post.



I'd hate to be proven right, which of course I am, by a questionable source.

Questionable source with regards the timing of Andrew Ettingshausen's Test career, in relation to his Leeds career from memory ..... probably.



Questionable source on who faced Dave Heron at stand-off on the 19th November 1989, from match reports and contempory records kept at the time ..... I would hope not.

I would hope not either especially as I full expect you to prove me right and put old Batley out of his misery any time soon.

There was an interesting line in Trevor Watson's YEP match report: "Dave Heron maintained the excellent form he has shown since his switch to number 6, although he spent most of the game in the back-row."



And on the face of it that comment will have been basically true with Dave Heron needing to revert to the back row after first Hugh Waddell was assaulted by Paul Moriarty's elbow and the worrying as hell incident involving Roy Powell swallowing his tongue and the panic that followed as he lay on the ground while receiving medical attention. Leeds had been forced into using their only two interchanges by the 28th minute with Gary Lord replacing Waddell on 14 mins and Paul Delaney replacing the unfortunate Powell.



Either way it didn't prevent the Leeds starting stand-off having a wow of a game, scoring two tries himself and setting another up for the supporting Schofield after Coleman had sent Heron into the clear.



Leeds:

Warren Wilson

Phil Ford, Garry Schofield, Carl Gibson, Vince Fawcett

David Heron, Craig Coleman

Hugh Waddell, Colin Maskill, Paul Dixon

Roy Powell, Craig Izzard, Gary Divorty

Subs:

Paul Delaney, Gary Lord



Widnes:

Alan Tait

Brimah Kebbie, Andy Currier, John Devereux, Martin Offiah

Jonathan Davies, David Hulme

Joe Grima, Phil McKenzie, Mike O'Neill

Paul Moriarty, David Smith, Paul Hulme

Subs:

David Marsh, Jason Critchley



If anyone knows of a more incident packed pro/semi-pro game I'd like to hear about it.

After his first few games at 6 I heard Heron quoted as saying he'd wasted all his career at 13.

Brad Fittler initially was known (apart from being fat) as a 13 and switched to 6 to become a legend - if only. We simply wouldn't have a 6 in the British game now who could compare to Heron. A lot of the qualities of the younger Iestyn, except with much more pace. And I still have him on tape head butting Andy Gregory (and getting away with it

).

Tough choice between Sinfield, Hanley and Heron for me...but ya knowI would probably go for Dave. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I cannot remember being more excited about watching the talents of any other player... apart from John Holmes.

It is a legendary match. Recent supporters from the Super League Era would be sickened by it.



It's how Rugby League should be played.



Not many with the spuds to take on Joe Grima like Izzard did.

Dave Heron's misfortune was to be given his test debut at Hull in the opening game of the 1982 series against THE greatest team of all-time. He played in the 2nd Test at Wigan when GB couldn't even score a try against a 12-man Aussie team that had Les Boyd sent-off...and that was the premature end of his test career.



A terrible, terrible waste when you look at some of those who followed in his wake - the likes of Oldham's Terry Flanagan, David Hall (HKR), the recalled Mick Adams, Harry Pinner and Mick Potter. They were all steady club footballers but had none of the pace an flair of Heron.

And using all the above criteria is fine, though I'd be careful when singing Sinfield's praises WRT his career at international level. No offence intended but Sinfield's international career has been ordinary and it's often been a real struggle for him to make any impact. He's out of his depth against Australia and New Zealand for the most part. He's not, and never has been, a world class player. He is a fine club servant and organiser-in-chief at the level of Super League who has always worked hard at his game and made the best of his limited natural abilities. He's excelled primarily at goalkicking as a result of hard work and dedication, hence the points scoring records.



I've no idea what possessed a group of UK RL journalists nominate him for the Golden Boot one year apart from the fact that they always seem to include two or three British or English nominations each year. Sanity usually prevails in the end and an Australian or a Kiwi earns the accolade.



Ellery Hanley won the Golden Boot in 1988 and deservedly so. But then again, he actually was a world class player.

I deliberately didn't sing his praises with regards to his international performances. Merely mentioned he earned rep honours and been nominated. He had his best series at test level that year IIRC playing at hooker. I think most people recognise he has struggled to nail down any position at international level through a lack of pace and size.



I am not heralding him as a World class player, or as good as Hanley however he i still Leeds' greatest ever number 13 IMO, for all the reasons presented above.



I know you're probably only half serious but limited natural ability is harsh - he was recognised by the club as a talent from a very young age and although he has cetainly made the most of his ability that doesn't mean people who work hard and set high personal standards don't have some ability to begin with!



That's a sentence but it's late and you get my drift!

Sinfield has played 27 times for England/GB.



That's not a bad rep career however Keith may wish to paint it.



He might not have enjoyed significant successes against NZ and AUS but then again neither did Hanley in his 36 GB appearances.

I was recently watching an old Batley highlights DVD from the 1995 Centenary season, in which Dave Heron played 15-16 games for us. He was absolutely outstanding, scoring 7 or 8 tries at the age of 38 - one which featured a superb dummy and break from the halfway line and sprint to the posts for a score. He only had a relatively brief spell with the club, but I'd still stick him in by all-time favourite Batley XIII as one of the most talented players I've seen in our colours. His brother Wayne was a great player for us too, but the absolute antithesis of his brother! In short, Dave was the kind of classy footballer that we don't see in todays version of RL.