50 Years of Deadly: Men's forwards

This week marks a half-century of celebrating NAIDOC Week and as a result, it’s appropriate that we reflect on the impact Indigenous players have had on rugby league over the past 50 years.

In partnership with the NRL, Nine.com.au is putting a spotlight on some incredible athletes.

Fans can vote on who they believe are the best Indigenous players of the past 50 years in both the men’s and women’s game.

In this piece, we’re focusing on the workhorses and enforcers that occupy the toughest part of the field as we run the rule over the top men’s forwards.

Gorden Tallis

Perhaps the most feared player to ever step foot on a rugby league field, Gorden Tallis was as physical and ferocious as legally allowed.

At times, he even stepped over that red line, earning him the “Raging Bull” moniker that still follows him to this day.

Tallis had it all - speed, power, footwork, aggression, tenacity - making him arguably the greatest edge forward from his generation and one of the best of all-time.

He won three premierships with the Broncos as well as captaining both the Maroons and Kangaroos in a storied representative career.

The enforcer was part of some iconic Origin moments, from his run-in with Bill Harrigan that saw him sent off and his jersey-grabbing biff with Blues star Terry Hill, to his slinging tackle on Brett Hodgson that is replayed every year.

Tallis has remained a prominent figure in the game since retirement as a pundit on national radio and television shows. He also previously dabbled in coaching.

Sam Thaiday

He’s the larrikin who loves getting his kit off and making jokes on TV, but don’t lose sight of the fact Sam Thaiday is one of the best forwards this century.

Thaiday’s record and longevity was phenomenal, playing all 304 of his NRL games for the Broncos - including a premiership in 2006 - as well as 29 matches for Queensland and 34 games in the green and gold for Australia.

The tackle-busting back-rower was a constant presence in Queensland’s eight-straight Origin series wins, bringing brutality on the field and good vibes off it.

Since hanging up the boots, Thaiday has become a popular member of the Nine broadcast team, while also giving back with countless hours of community work.

Andrew Fifita

Controversial and brash yet incredibly dominant and effective, Fifita was one of the best front-rowers in the world for a large portion of his career.

With a massive frame but footwork as good as a man half his size and the ability to offload like few others, Fifita was a damaging attacking weapon who could also cause havoc with bone-rattling shots in defence.

Fifita scored a crucial try in Cronulla’s maiden grand final win in 2016 and there’s a believable theory that he only missed out on the Clive Churchill Medal because of lingering off-field issues.

He also produced one of the great individual performances by a forward in the 2017 State of Origin opener, while his defection to Tonga that same year helped lay the foundation for the growth of the international format.

Since retiring, Fifita has remained involved in the grassroots level of the game in the Shire and has played local A Grade for De La Salle.

Greg Bird

He might not get the accolades as others on this list, but in his prime the Bird Man was one of the most feared and tough forwards in the game.

Despite coming into first grade as a strong ball-running five-eighth, Bird made the transition to the back-row and became a representative-calibre player.

Bird was a rare shining light for the Blues during a horror run of eight Origin losses in a row, often tiptoeing the line and creating great theatre.

He finished his career with 316 first grade games across the NRL and Super League, as well as 18 games for NSW and 17 for Australia.

And who could ever forget when he told Queensland coach Mal Meninga to ‘run at him’ in the middle of a series, adding fuel to the fire in NRL’s toughest arena.

Reuben Cotter

In the modern game, few are as tough and durable as Reuben Cotter.

In one of the more unlikely rises to the top, Cotter battled through three ACL ruptures in as many years before his career ever got off the ground - but once he started to cement himself with the Cowboys, he never looked back.

Cotter has since become a staple at club and representative level as the captain for North Queensland and a constant fixture for Billy Slater’s Maroons for whom he’s won a Wally Lewis Medal.

At 180cm and 95kg, Cotter plays well above his weight, roughing it up with some of the most destructive middle-forwards in the game on a weekly basis.

With plenty of Origin football still in his future, the 27-year-old is on track to become one of Queensland’s most capped forwards.

Full list of forwards

Sam Backo, Arthur Beetson, Greg Bird, Reuben Cotter, Andrew Fifita, Wade Graham, Gorden Tallis, Sam Thaiday, Carl Webb.

• Have your say: Head to WWOS to vote for the best Indigenous player of the last 50 years.
• Click here to view the Men's nominees
• Click here to view the Women's nominees