How long did he play international football?
I'm sorry i'm not criticising Cunningham as a player, he was one of the very best I've seen in a Red Vee, but let's not suggest that Smith who has been a massive influence on the international game is a lesser player.
They are completely different as players and it is difficult to compare the two because of that. Cunningham was all power and pace and his game was about running whereas Smith completely bosses a game from dummy half without really running at the opposition.
Also Cunningham benefited greatly from Roby's emergence which prolonged his career whereas Smith plays more or less 80 minutes every week and puts in a stint in defence averaging nearly 43 tackles a game.
KC international career was very erratic having to play for 2 international teams with inconsistent appearances, he always seemed to be missing with injuries in games that matter. The opposition fans always use to bait us by saying Cunningham cried off again and got himself injured.
Cameron Smith was the opposite played nearly 50 games the majority in a well oiled team of "all stars". The adage you are only as good as the players around you might also be true when you make the quality comparison of Australia with GB/Wales.
I agree with much of this and it is also worth noting that Cunningham was one of the very few players to emerge from the wreckage of the extended World Club Challenge in 1996 with any credit.
This was the year all Superleague clubs played the Australian clubs and the one sided nature of many of the matches was dreadful. Cunningham came out of that series with real credit and the Australian administrators were falling over themselves to try to get him to sign for one of their clubs.
The other thing that didnt help was the drug scandal. Cunningham took the rap for the RFLs incompetence in that one as well and basically sacked off the international games thereafter.
Danny Buderus told me once that he rated Cunningham as the best hooker to have played the game. That's good enough for me.
Not sure that's correct. He turned down a couple of Aussie clubs, they named him in a world 13 around 96, and though nothing to do with Aus, RLW named him the greatest player ever in SL. Having said that, while I rate him as Saints best hooker I wouldn't rate him as their greatest player.
I agree. Manly fans pretty annoyed they have allowed him to leave.
Think in SL this lad will rip it up, fast around the ruck, not afraid to take the line on. Leeds look like they've signed a rough diamond here to play that same style of rugby they where with Paul Alton at 9.
Also impressed with how they're handling the Segayaro situation. You can call Gary H all day but he doesn't seem to get mugged off by no one.
http://www.5thtackle.com/wests-tiger...t-kyle-lovett/
Probably nothing in it but some reports linking us with West Tigers' 23 year old 2nd row Kyle Lovett. For those who don't want to read the article it's reportedly between us, Hudds and Salford with Lovett being forced out due to salary cap restrictions.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
Sounds bang average.