Huddersfield Giants chief Paul Anderson recently hailed Danny Brough as arguably the club’s best player in the Super League era.
And the fans agree!
After having just led Huddersfield to a first top-of-the-table finish in 81 years, Brough has come out on top in a supporters’ poll run on-line by the Examiner.
The claret and gold faithful were asked to rate who they felt was the Giants top player in the Super League era from a shortlist of 10 – with Brough the overwhelming winner.
Two-thirds of those who took part voted the recently-crowned Super League Man of Steel their No1, with Brad Drew second and Eorl Crabtree third.
And here’s a taste of what some of the fans who took part in the survey had to say, and why they voted the way they did.
William Mellor, Beaumont Park, Huddersfield: My top three are Danny Brough, Brett Hodgson, Brad Drew. Exciting players on the ball. All three read games well, and have the ability to change the pattern of play to best advantage.
Oz, Leeds : Broughy is immense for us at the moment and the guy is a winner, Stanley, what can you say, as wide as he was tall but what a fantastic exciting rugby league player, Giants legend. Brad Drew, great player at nine or half-back, creative and a leader on the park. all great players.
Eddie Brook, Berry Brow: 1 Hodgson, 2 Brough, 3 Costin. All are great players, but Hodgson wins it because of his sheer will to win and never-give-up attitude.
Mick Ryan: 1 Hodgson – could win a game on his own and had a calming influence. World class.
Neil Bearcroft, Quarmby : As a relative newcomer to rugby league, only starting to support them from around 2007 onwards, all my players come from the last six seasons. Brough and Hogson are by far the best rugby league players I’ve had the pleasure to watch in a Giants shirt. Brough is by far the most skilful and inventive I've seen, Hodgson was fantastic as a full-back and his goal-kicking was great and played a huge role in transforming the team to a top side. Eorl is the heart of Huddersfield and has developed into a fantastic prop – our most influential in the Super League era. All are true greats and all have had a huge impact on the team.
Stephen Scott, Highburton: 1st Eorl Crabtree, never gives up and is a club man. 2nd Brough, for his skills and place kicking, these kicks win tight matches. 3rd Hodgson it was a mistake to let him go, one of the best readers of the game.
Sue, Brighouse: Thorman’s the man for my No1 – fastest hat-trick ever, a Geordie lad by birth but his blood runs Claret and Gold, gave his all to the club 110% even when coach Jon Sharp played him out of position at full-back, he took a lot of stick unnecessary stick from fans. Everlasting memory seeing him lead the boys out at Twickenham. Paul Reilly and Eorl Crabtree local lads done the Claret and Gold proud.
Trevor, Gomersal: Broughy No1 easily. What vision and his kicking game is the best in the world and he wants to win. Brett for No2 – gave the Giants so many options from full-back and great goalkicker as well. No3 Brad so quick from the play the ball and pulled the team over the field and led them with inspiration.
Ed Schofield, Aberdeen: #1, Danny Brough; after years of watching other teams control the play with their kicking game, we now have that man; hardly ever misses off the tee either; spots the weaknesses in the opposition and exploit them; able to turn the game in his team’s favour in the blink of an eye. Put simply, just magnificent. #2, Eorl Crabtree; a Giants institution, he embodies everything great about the game and the town he represents; difficult to put down in the tackle, and gets away some good offloads; always puts in the hard yards on the field; never gives less than everything. #3, Brad Drew; so often in control of the game from dummy half, very creative, and with a great kicking game, too.
Simon, Skelmanthorpe: The three selected, Brough, Costin and Drew, are players who have constantly changed games for the Giants, extra bit of quality and match winners. I find it difficult to understand why Dean Hanger is not in the top 10, at times he ran defences ragged, a complete joy to watch.
Ross McColl, Linthwaite: 1, Danny Brough because he is the best player in the world, simply. 2, Big Eorl, he is awesome and if he had been playing for England alongside Danny we would have reached the World Cup final! 3 Brad Drew, one of the many people who help build our great club.
Adam, Mirfield: Hodgson for the quality I saw during my first season as a Giants season ticket-holder, Brough for bringing us our first piece of silverware and Drew for taking us to Twickenham in 2006.
Shirley Dearnley, Huddersfield: Broughy is the best, he’s good at everything. Brilliant captain and fearless leader.
Josh Phillips: Danny Brough does things on a rugby pitch that no-one else in the league does. Brad Drew was the best hooker I have ever seen play for the club, he could be direct and run from dummy half like a Shaun Lunt and a James Roby. But he had an amazing kicking game and an excellent passing game, he is an all-round genius. Eorl Crabtree loves the club, is one of the best props of the modern era and gives 100% week in, week out. He has had chances to go elsewhere and he never has done, he has stayed true and seen the Giants as we grow.
Richard Briggs, Nuneaton: Broughy is clearly the most talented and influential Giants player I have seen and now a record breaker too.
Luke Newton, Newsome: #1 Danny Brough - captained a league-beating team (Warrington aside!) to a memorable 2013 League Leaders Shield win, 80 minutes from Old Trafford, and is just world class. #2 Eorl Crabtree – hometown guy and a massively loyal to the Giants cause through thick and thin! Never jumped ship. #3 Brett Hodgson – steered us to Wembley for the first time in donkeys years and kicked goals from anywhere on the field, and again was just a class player!
David Rothery, Dusseldorf, Germany: 3rd Paul Reilly. I never saw him have a bad game and he was there for 12 years or so. 2nd Eorl. If he wasn't such a nice guy he would probably have been the best prop this country has ever seen, and what service to the club. 1st Danny Borough. The best stand-off in the world. What more is there to say?
