In his first season Trent Barrett was head and shoulders the best player in the SL, he may have had his quiet days when the team was getting battered but much of that was due to the fact he was playing with such a poor Wigan side. When the shackles were taken off him usually when Noble had no option but to allow the team to chase a game he was simply outstanding, I am not sure you will ever see a better display in SL of a 6 in the comeback game vs Bradford in the playoffs, without Barrett Wigan would have sank to the depths they have at the moment 2 years earlier, without Barrett Noble certainly would not have a job at Wigan, he papered over the cracks of what is a poorly coached team and was intrumental in every single game Wigan won in his 2 years at the club.

Greg Bird is not as natural a ball player as TB but he is more robust, and as a more natural secondrow has a stronger carry. Just like with TB any team in SL would stand a chance of a top 4 finish with him in the side.

I am not sure what Barrett had to do in some peoples eyes to be considered a top quality 6, especially given in his first year he was selected as the best 6 in the world, but personally after a slow by his standards start to last year he was head and shoulders the most naturally talented player in the league. I expect Greg Bird to hit the same heights, if he is here long enough.

I was not at the game on Sunday so have no valid take on why people rate Bird's performance, but i would expect it is because although his contribution may not have been outstanding, given the circumstances they saw some examples of the sublime skills and ability he has, that i feel will destroy some teams single handedly this year. In effect Trinity probably got him and Les Cats at the best time possible.

Can I propose an arbitrated settlement? Allbeit without the arbitration

Lets start with the common ground - we all accept that there is a chance that Bird will make a big impression on super league.

Vastman is within his rights to form an opinion on other posters evaluation of Brid. In this instance he is entitled to question an assersion that Brid was awesome on Sunday. He is also entitled to his opinion that some posters are overly quick to 'buy' a reputation and not make their own judgement based on their own observations. Further he is entitled to feel agrieved on behalf of our players that we run a thread to many pages about an opponants player.

At the same time other posters are entitled to believe that Bird is awesom and was awesome on Sunday.

I have to say Bird was impressive, all be it clearly underdone. Not awesome but displaying of sufficient nouse, skill, strength and organisation to suggest that he will make a big impact.

I agree with that assesment, it's brilliant(ish).

Don't agree with that for starters, yet another one of your ridiculous no compromise statements that leave no room for reasoned debate. Try putting IMHO behind it and then people like me won't assume you to be arrogant.

So is it an in your opinion or is it an I'm jonh I know everything?

B*gger I've started it all off again

Agree with everything you have said.

Thanks John for writing a coherant arguement. Nice to see.

It was the opinion of his fellow players both that he played with and against, and the opinion of the Professional Coaches and Journalists who selected him as the best 6 in the world. The fact he was over looked for an impact hooker for MOS suggests there were certain agenda's at work on that one.

Not starting anything again, the evidence is there and supported by what i have wrote.

Feel free to get on your high horse all you want Vastman, it still does not remove from the fact that in 2007 he was easily the best player in the comp.

P.S. Do you write IMHO or say it prior to every opinion you voice? It must be odd talking to you, i would assume seeing as i have writen it regardless of the supporting evidence they are words credited to me and clearly are my opinion. IMHO

IMHO it would be very odd speaking to someone who felt the need to qualify there thoughts by saying IMHO whenever it was deemed necessay. IMHO.

Ok, I know you are referring to myself and others on here, I would like to know who you think I have an obsession with outside of WTWRLFC and Greg Bird? (your opinion not mine)

I would also like to know which other players with a big reputation, I follow like a sheep ?

And the personal Insults are not required.

Because Jonh it is just your opinion, it's something you continually get wrong and what continually annoys. You come on here and talk as if you're a somebody but you're a nobody like the rest of us. Once you realise this you will be a happier person.

It simply is your opinion, it may be shared by others but it's still only an opinion. For me I'd say how the hell can Barrett man of plastic have been the best player in SL in 2007 when he played in a team that won feck all, and bottled it in the big games get real. However that is just my opinion all be it one shared by a few others.

Your continued Wigan obsession still amuses, why is it always adopted fans who are the most defensive. Must be really hard to bare at the moment

Nice to see you were as quick to leap to the defence of others when they were referred to as "knackers". Nice double standard.

I was referring to the general British RL publics obsession with all things Australian and their seemingly endless desire to heap praise on them. Yet at the same time being far harder on our own boys. I don't especially feel you fall in that catagory, I certainly don't feel TRB does but what can I do if you feel that way.

There are no personal insults in my post, it's humour, perhaps it's poor but there you go at least I didn't call you a "knacker". Hell you'd be up in arms if I did...oh hold on you wouldn't

Turncoat? Of course it is my opinion and the opinion of those in a better position to judge than both ourselves. Would never describe myself as a nobody, but I am fully happy to admitt i have no links with any club, i am a fan of the game just like everyone else.

I do not see how i am defensive at all to be honest i am more critical of Wigan than most from other clubs let alone as a supporter of the club.

It is really hard to bare and as i have stated on several occasions to see a team with the quality in the club that there clearly is play so poorly is genuinely making me fall out of love with the club, infact sadly across the board i think the quality of the product is a sad state of affairs. I currently look forward more to the NRL coverage than any SL game be it on tv or in the flesh.

I actually agree with your sentiments on this thread, but sadly its your inability to recognise or credit any other team than Trinity and the way you put that does you no harm, for somebody moaning about this thread and the length of it its quite ironic given you are the main poster running with it.

Everyone has an opinion, are you saying opinions cannot be wrong or right, when you consider the evidence to back them up? Barrett was voted the Players Player of the Year, The Top 6 in the World all opinions but pretty weighty evidence to back up my opinion.

What is interesting is that you have such an anti Greg Bird stance, do you watch the NRL, i think perhaps those that saw the quality in his game knew what to look out for having seen him play on several occasions in the past, with a bit of background knowledge, something perhaps you lack on this topic?

If you were not so bitter and one eyed i am sure you would be a more valid poster. IMHO