Bulldog’s Bite: Mitchell and Inglis, Grant and Elias – similar traits from different times in rugby league history

The more I see of Latrell Mitchell, the more he reminds me of Greg Inglis, writes DEAN RITCHIE. He’s not the only NRL star of today that brings back memories of players of yesteryear.

The more I see of Latrell Mitchell, the more he reminds me of Greg Inglis.

Both big-bodied game-breakers who possess an aggressive running style coupled with sublime skills.

Mitchell and Inglis offer brute power with both ending up at Souths amid generational legacies. There is a striking similarity and affinity.

Inglis was aesthetically athletic, Mitchell is visually appealing.

Mitchell switched from centre to five-eighth last week when Cody Walker was injured. Can you recall another centre who moved to No.6? Yep, Inglis.

Inglis and Mitchell – then and now.

It got me thinking about more of my favourite current players and which stars of yesteryear they remind me of and why.

Latrell Mitchell. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Greg Inglis. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Bulldog’s Bite pinpoints the similarities of players from yesterday with those playing NRL today.

BEN ELIAS (Balmain) – HARRY GRANT (Melbourne)

Cagey and creative dummy halves with unconventional styles. Elias was the first dummy half to run, dummy, kick and chip kick. A true revolutionist. Grant offers the same skills and cheeky temperament.

GORDEN TALLIS (St George, Brisbane) – LIAM MARTIN (Penrith)

Wired differently, Tallis was the most feared forward of his era; a spirited firebrand who was raw and in-your-face. Martin has the same wild-eyed aggression and untamed aura.

CLIFF LYONS (Norths, Manly) – CODY WALKER (Souths)

Wonderfully gifted through spontaneity and a touch of genius. Lyons was the master of deception, a player who could slow the pace of a game down and then suddenly accelerate. Walker can conceal his skills until the last nanosecond. A gifted duo.

DARREN LOCKYER (Brisbane) – KALYN PONGA (Newcastle)

Lockyer floated across the grass with ease and grace. He was beautifully balanced and a player who could claim the clutch moments. Ponga has the same fluent running style and, like Lockyer, has the remarkable ability to break tackles.

TREVOR GILLMEISTER (Easts, Brisbane, Penrith, Crushers) – VICTOR RADLEY (Roosters)

Gillmeister, nicknamed The Axe, only stood 178cms but his body-snapping tackling technique ensured opponents dare not run at him. He would terrorise opponents by hitting them under the ball, or under the ribs. Radley also has an old-school tackling technique who can also chop an opponent in two.

PETER STERLING (Parramatta) – NATHAN CLEARY (Penrith)

Not the fastest but quick between the ears. Two brilliantly thoughtful players who read a game better than most. Sterling possessed a faultless kicking game, was brave in defence and thought two rucks ahead of his rivals. An intuitive Cleary is exactly the same.

BRETT MULLINS (Canberra, Roosters) – REECE WALSH (Brisbane, Warriors)

Mullins had scary speed and could tear a team apart, just like Walsh. At 190cms, Mullins had a long stride and was untouchable in 1994 and ’95. Walsh is probably quicker over 40 metres and can, like Mullins, torch opponents.

GLENN LAZARUS (Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne) – PAYNE HAAS (Brisbane)

Lazarus’ go-forward was beyond belief and gave his side unprecedented momentum. Could you imagine post-contact metres he would log these days? Haas has similar impetus along with the same power and mobility and is a pure athlete.

ERIC GROTHE (Parramatta) – SELWYN COBBO (Brisbane)

Grothe was the elite winger of his era. Immensely strong with a wonderfully balanced running style, he proved invincible during Parramatta’s golden era. Cobbo has the same force, pace and punch and will develop into one of the greats.

KEVIN HASTINGS (Easts) – ADAM REYNOLDS (Souths, Brisbane)

Tough, durable with superb kicking games. Hastings and Reynolds are exceptionally similar. Hastings was a gem; a lion-hearted player who had a terrific passing game and varied kicking game, just like Reynolds. Both were raised in Sydney’s east.

PAUL SIRONEN (Balmain) – DAVID FIFITA (Brisbane, Gold Coast)

Giant frames with an appetite for contact. Sironen was a colossal figure whose surging runs were intimidating and uncompromising. He tore into defensive lines with vigour and rigour. Fifita offers the same physical qualities and can ravage opposition sides, when in the mood.

BRADLEY CLYDE (Canberra, Canterbury) – ISAAH YEO (Penrith)

Clyde forever changed the role of a back-rower. Constantly mobile, Clyde had an ability to bust a tackle and then be first defender chasing a kick. Yeo offers similar traits. He can run, tackle, ball-play and roll up his sleeves.

GRAHAM EADIE (Manly) – TOM TRBOJEVIC (Manly)

Same position, same force and same club. With his tree-trunk thighs surging, Eadie would power into the Manly backline during his reign at Brookvale. While the game has changed, as has the role of a fullback, Trbojevic has equivalent attributes with his power running game.

BENJI MARSHALL (Wests Tigers, Brisbane, St George Illawarra, Souths) – CAM MUNSTER (Melbourne)

Munster doesn’t have the zip of Marshall but both are running five-eighths with tremendous footwork. The flamboyant brilliant Marshall gripped a generation with his sizzle with Munster also unscripted and unpredictable. Munster has a stronger kicking game.

DOG BRIEFS

We hear that punches were thrown and racial abuse hurled at an under 15s junior rugby league game on Sydney’s northern beaches last weekend.

Police were called after fans from Narrabeen Sharks and Forestville Ferrets clashed violently on the sidelines.

One man required stitches from a blow to the head and an elderly lady was pushed over. The abuse being yelled was racist and filthy.

Onlookers claim the behaviour was disgusting. The perpetrators fled quickly but police know their identities.

It’s an under 15s game, people – if you can’t control your anger then stay away. The Manly Junior Rugby League is investigating.

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We have dug around bush footy to find out who is behind the anonymous Waldorf and Statler rugby league column which appears in local Wauchope media.

Bulldog’s Bite can now reveal that one of the authors is none other than the great Noel Cleal. Nice to have you join the Fourth Estate, Crusher.

Noel 'Crusher' Cleal on the charge for the Blues. Picture: NRL Imagery

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More than 60,000 tickets have been sold for Australia’s upcoming three-Test Kangaroo tour of England.

The third Test at Headingley in Leeds has already sold out and there is unprecedented interest in the opening Test at Wembley.

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The happiest fan inside CommBank Stadium to watch Parramatta’s thrilling one-point win over St George Illawarra? None other than ex-Eels legend Jarryd Hayne.

A smiling Hayne posted: “What a way to finish. Zac (Lomax) with the clutch field goal to finish the game.”

*****

Former Manly and Test hooker Max Krilich had a glorious day on the Monash golf club putting greens last week.

Unbelievably, Krilich had just 11 putts over the front nine holes. That’s seven one-putts and two two-putts. He plays off a Golf Australia handicap of five.

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We often see NRL players looking at themselves on the stadium big screens during games. But which referee kept taking sneaky peaks at himself during a match last weekend?

Originally published as Bulldog’s Bite: Mitchell and Inglis, Grant and Elias – similar traits from different times in rugby league history