After a little bit of a break, we return to discuss the halfbacks.
Full disclosure, the reason for the gap between articles was that I was waiting for the trials to finish to see if Ronald Volkman could potentially squeeze into the list.
Spoiler alert, despite showing some positive signs, I didn’t see enough out of Ronald to include him in this list (yet).
The general of the team, the organiser, the halfback is the player who touches the ball more than any other. It’s rare to have a successful rugby league team that doesn’t have a very good halfback.
The top name on this list won’t surprise anyone and in fact, that name has loomed large over all halfbacks who have succeeded him in the famous number 7 jersey.
That said, Parramatta has had some excellent players at the position over the past 50 years, so let’s get this started before my editor gets too cranky at me for delaying this any further.
Honourable Mentions
Tim Smith
Tim Smith is the player who came closest to living up to the tag of ‘the next Peter Sterling’ when he burst into the NRL as a teenager in 2005.
That season was an incredible introduction to the top level for Smith, winning the Dally M Rookie of the year award and setting a record for most try assists in one season which has still not been broken.
Outside of Jarryd Hayne, it’s hard to remember a young player who seemingly had it all to the level that Smith did. A brilliant passing and kicking game, coupled with super vision meant that Tim Smith had the rugby league world at his feet.
Sadly, this was as good as it got for Smith, and he could not maintain his early promise. Mental health issues, combined with off field problems, meant that his form faded and by 2008 he was pretty much out of the league.
Short stints with Brisbane and Cronulla, as well as time in Super League marred by off field incidents, meant that his career ended with barely a whimper. A hugely disappointing way for the career of such an incredible talent to play out.
Some recent interviews reveal that Tim is in a good head space and has fond memories of his career, which is ultimately the most important thing.
Although our passion for the game and the club mean we take results very seriously, it’s a reminder that this is just a game, and the mental health and wellbeing of players is something we should always be cognisant of.
Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor only played one year for the club but what a memorable year it was.
Although best known for his time at Wests and Norths, “JT” was the fulcrum for the juggernaut 2001 Parramatta side, a team which still holds the regular season record for most points scored in a season.
For his part, Taylor scored 265 points that year, second only to the great Mick Cronin for most points scored in a year for the Eels.
Despite many critics saying that Taylor was past his best, he proved them wrong that season, winding back the clock to do everything but deliver a premiership to O’Connell St.
I have a personal anecdote regarding Jason Taylor.
I played touch football at a reasonable level in my younger years. In 2003, I had the honour of going up against a side led by JT at the Macquarie Uni fields.
As a brash 21-year-old, I took it on myself to mark up on Taylor and proceeded to sledge him about how he was over the hill. Around 15 minutes later, JT had completely embarrassed me by shredding me on nearly every possession. I was eventually subbed out of the game, and left to lick my wounds in humiliation on the sideline.
Although this story isn’t relevant to his place in the pantheon of great Parramatta halfbacks, there’s a lesson in there somewhere for youngsters reading this.
John Simon
A personal favourite of mine, and someone whose addition to the team coincided with Parramatta’s first finals appearance in over a decade.
John Simon was a nuggety build, and few spoke about his athleticism. However, he was one of the sharpest rugby league minds I have seen at work in the game.
Brilliant at summing up the game situation and choosing the right play, Simon was the definition of a game manager. He had a deft passing game and one of the finest kicking games in the competition.
Simon also had a knack for kicking field goals, memorably kicking three in one game in a 17-10 win against Manly in 1997 as well as a match winning field goal for NSW in game two of the 1997 Origin series.
A NSW and Australian representative while at the club, John Simon is a worthy addition to this list.
Graham Murray
Although most people these days would remember Graham Murray for his decorated coaching career, he was an underrated halfback for Parramatta in the years leading up to Peter Sterling joining the club.
In games where “Little Artie” was halfback for Parramatta, the club won 34 games and only lost 16. Though held in high regard by some good judges, Murray unfortunately had a career that saw his best year’s coincide with the emergence of Sterlo.
In his post playing days, Murray went on to become the Illawarra Steelers most successful coach ever, before leading the Leeds Rhinos, the Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys to Grand Final losses. He also guided the Hunter Mariners to a runner up position in the 1997 World Club Challenge.
On the representative front, Murray coached NSW for a couple of losing series, going up against the beginning of the great Cameron Smith led sides that dominated Origin for the best part of a decade.
Graham Murray passed away aged 58 in 2013, after a period of poor health.
Vale Muzz, you’ll be fondly remembered by the Blue and Gold faithful and the broader Rugby League community as a gentleman of the game.
Third Place: John Kolc
Years at Parramatta: 1972-1981
1st Grade games for Parramatta at the position: 120
Premierships: 0 (2 x Runner up 1976/77)
Representative Games: 1 x Australia
Personal Honours: NA
The gap between the top two names on this list and third place is significant but this should not diminish from what was a very good first grade career for John Kolc.
In 1976, Kolc had the distinction of being the halfback in Parramatta’s maiden first grade grand final appearance. The following year he represented Australia.
Close to half of Kolc’s first grade career occurred before the 50 year criteria used in this series, but given his achievements from 1976 onwards, I’m very comfortable in including him in my list.
Although I am too young to have seen Kolc play in person, the footage I have watched documents that he was one of the smallest players to have ever played first grade (160cm, 67kg), who made up for his lack of size with deceptive pace and a crafty passing game.
His partnership with Bomber Peard was a strong 1-2 punch for the side at the start of a golden decade for the club which saw seven grand final appearances in eleven years.
Second Place: Mitchell Moses
Years at Parramatta: 2017-Current
1st Grade games for Parramatta at the position: 159
Premierships: 0 (Runner up 2022)
Representative Games: Australia x3, Lebanon x8, Australia PM 13 x 2, NSW Origin x5, Australian 9s x4, World All Stars x3
Personal Honours: 2019 Dally M Halfback of the year, 2019 Ken Thornett Medal winner, 2022 Jack Gibson Coaches award,
The book isn’t yet fully written for Mitchell Moses and many Parramatta fans are hopeful that his best years are still to come. Indeed, despite winning the Dally M halfback of the year award in 2019, recent signs are that he is becoming a more complete player every year.
Though his 2024 season was riddled with injury it was also punctuated with superb performances for Parramatta and starring turns at halfback for NSW and Australia.
Although the writing may have already been on the wall, it’s possible that Brad Arthur may still be with the club had Moses not fractured his foot against Manly in rd. 3 of last season, with the Eels looking very solid in starting the season with a 2-1 record.
Moses is best known for having one of the best kicking games in the competition, and his kit bag also contains an electric running game. That iconic long range try at the opening of the new Bankwest Stadium in 2019, is a moment that will live long in the memory of current Eels fans.
Back in 2022, Moses went close to achieving his premiership dream when the Eels fell to defeat in the decider against what is now the four times premiership winning Panthers.
Though previously targeted in defence, Moses is now one of the most reliable defenders in the halfback ranks.
A fan of the club as a child and a junior of the club, Mitch has been handed the keys to the kingdom in 2025 by Jason Ryles, taking over the captaincy from Clint Gutherson.
Having won a State of Origin series and Four Nations title in 2024, all that is left for Mitch to achieve is NRL premiership success.
As fans, we are all rooting for Moses to achieve his dream of hoisting the NRL Provan Summons trophy on grand final day in a blue and gold jersey.
First Place: Peter Sterling
Years at Parramatta: 1978-1992
1st Grade games for Parramatta at the position: 228
Premierships: 4 (1981,82,83,86)
Representative Games: 13 x NSW, 1 x City, 5 x Country Origin, 18 x Australia
Personal Honours: 2 x Dally M Player of the year (1986, 87), 4 x Dally M Halfback of the year (1983, 84, 86, 87), 2 x Rothman’s Medal (1987, 90), 1986 Clive Churchill medal winner, 1 x Adidas Golden Boot (1987), 3 x Rugby League Week player of the year (1984, 86, 87)
Not only is Peter Sterling a unanimous pick for the greatest Parramatta halfback ever, but he is also universally regarded as one of the top 2-3 players ever to pull on the jersey and to many, Parramatta’s greatest ever player.
One of my favourite books is his autobiography, ‘Sterlo, the story of a Champion’, and Sterlo was exactly that, a champion.
A winner at everything he did, he was the engineer, the puppeteer, behind the Eels greatest ever period.
His list of personal achievements is numerous, but what’s most interesting is that he twice won the official player of the year award in 1987 and 1990 (at that time the Rothman’s Medal), and both were in years where the club did not feature in finals football.
After many of his brilliant contemporaries had faded, Sterling (along with Kenny) was still there carrying the club to respectability.
It was Sterlo emerging at halfback in the late 70’s which drove Parramatta to their greatest success. When supercoach, Jack Gibson, joined the club in 1981, he had the perfect on field general to execute his vision for the side.
Although the Eels team during those premiership years was stacked with representative players all over the park, it was Sterling who pulled the strings with his clever passing game, strong kicking game (kick to the seagulls as Jack Gibson was find of saying) and an underrated running game.
Not the fastest player in the comp, Sterling had unparalleled vision and instinct for the game.
At club and representative level, his duel with Canterbury’s Steve Mortimer was legendary for most of the 80’s.
Both players won four premierships and there was a back-and-forth battle between the two players for the NSW and Australian number seven jersey. Depending on which club you supported, it would probably determine which player you thought were better.
I’m personally happy to put faith in all of the individual awards that Sterling won in comparison to Mortimer as evidence that Sterlo was a considerably better player.
To follow on from my Jason Taylor anecdote, I’ll share a tale of a chance encounter with Sterlo.
Some years ago, my wife and I had our wedding in Corlette in Nelson Bay. An hour or so before the big event, as I nervously sat there having a calming beer with my groomsmen near the beach, who should run past us on the path but the great man himself.
Sterlo graciously interrupted his run to chat to us for a couple of minutes and to date, it has been a good luck charm for our marriage.
By default, Sterlo becomes the greatest rugby league player I encountered on my wedding day, and by popular consensus, is the greatest Parramatta halfback ever.
Chris Ricketts
You should have seen Johnny Kolc throw a dummy Chris . They were huge!!!
And teams did come to expect them …. but occasionally they still produced the good ….with his speed off the mark.
I wish I had seen that. I had to go off a few old clips and then piece it together with knowledge from books. I always love hearing about past players from those that got to watch them in the moment.
When he initially burst on to the scene, it was that hope raising that we have about some of new young players now. Speed, deceptive and that huge dummy.
Go the Eels
He was a favourite of mine back in the day.
Excitement wasn’t it sixties?
Heresy I know but I believe that Mitch Modes is a better half back than Sterling. Of course they played different games but Sterlinghad Ray Price inside him, Brett Lenny outside. Mitch has had to carry a lot more. Sterling had defensive genius Taylor come up into the line when we didn’t have the ball;itch has developed into a superb defensive half. Peter very seldom tan the ball in his second half of his first grade career;itch is an outstanding ball tuner. Sterling had a very accurate short kicking game as does Mitchell. Mitchel:it can kick the ball gar further than Peter.
Both wonderful players; Mitchel gets my nod.
Others who were good, maybe outside the time frame : Kangaroo Bobby Bugden and his predecessor Robin Gair who, in a very tough era played first grade at 18
Mate that’s your opinion but the old saying is Sterlo number 1 daylight 2nd.
Yeah, Sterlo has Mitch covered between the ears, he was a master game manager.
His long kicking game was excellent too, he was kicking a leather ball, I can only imagine what he could do with a modern ball. I remember his long torpedo kicks that are now rare to see.
In a team full of talent, Sterlo was the biggest loss when injured, I’d love to know our win/loss stats when Sterlo wasn’t on the field.
He only played 30 odd games for Hull KR and was inducted in their hall of fame. He’s hailed as a God by Hull fans.
Sterlo wasn’t big and wasn’t fast, he wasn’t a gifted athlete which is all the more impressive. He was a pure footballer and a genius at his craft.
Sterlo achieved a lot more for me at a younger age. Enough said.
Noel, Moses is easily the second best half to play for the Eels. It’s no shame to sit behind Sterlo. Sterling just had a vision out on the field that was unparalleled. Moses has different tricks in his kit bag. When his time is up he will be regarded very highly.
Moses I think will finish his career very close to Sterlo. Skill wise Moses has it all, but the achievements that Sterling amassed for this club may never be surpassed.
I really hope Stero can now be a big part at the club.
Certainly agree on 1,2 &3 Johnny Simon a close 4th.
But I think you spelt Paul wrong in your honourable mentions list. 😝
Jason Taylor was a long way from our best in 2001. He might have bested you in a game of touch, but getting carried over the line twice in the GF because he tried a legs tackle on Simpson then low tackle on Peden standing on his tryline… Give me about 10 other mediocre halfbacks post Steo who tried their guts out, ahead of him.
Muzza Murray was underrated as a player. I was disappointed as a kid when he was dropped for some young fella called Sterling – little did I know.
Muzza did pretty well at the Bunnies after he left us if I remember rightly.
Might have the wrong player, but I seem to recall a move where Muzza would get the ball attacking the tryline by running forward and somehow holding the ball behind his back. Just before hitting the defence a forward would pick the ball out of his hand and run in an angle. Don’t recall it ever leading to a try but it was always interesting to watch.
No arguments here. Sterlo grabbed our attention as a schoolboy in the televised Amco Cup, the sidestepping head of blond hair from Fairfield Pats. Absolute champion. And a nod to Moses, he’s proven up.
You remember random things…Graham Murray, after Peter Wynn got belted, the same bloke hammered Murray illegally one day at the SCG. A friend had taken me to the Members Stand. I had been at Cumberland for the Wynn tackle and not normally so excitable I yelled out at top volume ‘You f….. dog’..it just came out, and when I looked around every pair of eyes were on me, some laughing, some annoyed. I sat silent for a few thoughtful minutes, but Wynn and Murray got my support.
I remember that tackle on Wynn clear as day. We were sitting on the other side of the field. That player was lucky there were far fewer cameras around the ground back then.
Good on you for supporting Murray at the SCG.
Slightly off topic, but a work acquaintance took me to the MCG members for a one day cricket game in the early nineties. Went to the bar to find out it only sold mid-strength beer. I asked my colleague why and he said too many of the old fellas were getting into blues after a few beers. So BDon, maybe you had more people on your side on the day than you thought. They just probably were too scared to show it.
a sometime contributor on here, “Slugg” passed away last year but told me an interesting story about the bloke that belted Peter Wynn. No one has named the bloke so I won’t either. Slugg was a travelling sales man throughout NSW and was 6 foot 7 inches, 120 kilos and a hulking goal kicking prop for Toongabbie and Blacktown. His story was that on a far out country trip, his client asked him if he could give a lift to a fellow footballer who was looking to get back to Sydney. Slugg told him to tell the bloke to put his gear in the boot and wait in the car while he went to relieve himself before driving. He got back and in the car was the bloke who smashed Peter Wynn. I suspect that Slugg would have backed himself against this bloke but he was representing his company and doing a favour for a client…..so he drove back without speaking a word but occasionally growling.
p.s. Well done Chris
Parra Tragic, so sorry to hear that about Slugg. That’s quite a story too.
Tks PT…sorry to hear about Slugg, those old A Grade journeymen were legends on the park on a Sunday arvo , and also on a bar stool telling stories and having a laugh.
I didn’t mention the guy’s name as I’m not sure how Peter Wynn processes that incident now. Sterlo also copped a cheap blind-sided shot in his last game and has always said ‘that’s football’ and probably doesn’t want to keep reading the guy’s name. Both Wynn and Sterling played the game in the right spirit.
This ‘Guy we’re not naming’ had form against plenty of players from other clubs, looked for a time to have ended Peter’s career and played for the same club as another forward who received one of the longest suspensions in the history of the game; the club being one involved in the most violent brand final of my seventy years of following the game. Can:t be coincidental.
Sometimes emotion should not be kept in.
Great format Chris!
I think you’ve nailed it yet again.
Thanks for the kind words, Pete!
Sterling is definitely number one. If my memory serves me correctly Sterlo came to Parra as a fullback and quickly transitioned into the halves. I almost certain that semi final against Manly with Hartley as the referee he played fullback. There is another shocker of a referee. Maybe when Mr Ricketts has gone through all positions he might discuss the best and worst referees.
I recall one game Sterling carried an injury and he went onto the field intent on playing his natural game with the object of not being tackled and that is exactly what happened.
Mitch Moses is a great footballer although he has a different playing style to Sterling. He has electrifying speed and can kick sideline goals and he too is a quick thinker. The quintessential difference with Sterling his mind was a couple plays ahead of the game and therefore speed was not so much an influencing factor. As for number three after considering 1 and 2 it sort of leaves you empty. Murray was good. John Kolc after two seasons was predictable. Simon was like an extra forward but not always there when you needed him. That outrageous semi-final loss to Canterbury when we were so far in front is a classic example. Dave Penna comes to mind as with Terry Reynolds who was quite sharp.
That is my recollection also and if I had to place a bet, I think the first tackle he had to make at fullback was against a rampaging Phil Lowe who Sterlo stopped by holding one his legs. Very hard man to stop was Phil. Glad you mentioned Terry Reynolds (or “spew” as he was named by the girl supporters group Terry’s Terrors”). When Terry at half and John Quayle at lock started the Reynolds/Quayle move (with the halfback switching the ball to the lock at the back of the scrum and running in the opposite direction) it was sensational and very successful. Jon Kolc then took over the move when he replaced Terry and it still worked! If Ryles wants to put a smile on some us more life experienced supporters 🙂 then Jason please put this move back on the agenda. Would even like to see a flying wedge as a tribute, even if we give a penalty away….. even if we just set it up but then go wide.
Zero, I only recall Sterlo filling in at fullback in that finals match. Outside of that he was a halfback at schoolboy level, occasional 5/8 in grade.
Sterlo first by a way. I was going when Kolc was on seen but my father says he was v good too.
Taylor did well but for me bud defence was an issue at time hence mentioned above.
Mitch Moses can be v good but I feel he won’t achieve a GF win soon enough. Time may tell
Unlike Moses, Moses will lead us to and enter the promised land. Then he can take his place by Sterlo.
Well said Shaun!
Honourable mentions.
Dave penna
Ben custo
george thorman
John frare
Lawler
Luke kelly
Im sure corey pearson was calling the shots in an 8 jersey one night at a low point in B smiths tenure.
Seeing John Kolc’s name gave me chills
As a teenager I used to run from Greystanes along the stormwater drains past Ringrose Park to Cumberland Oval to watch that team.
There was was definitely a team building through that time
O’Reilly, Fitzgerald, Olling, Mc Martin, Higgs, Peard and so many more.
If there was a top 3 half backs of all time Sterlo is there, notwithstanding the obvious skills of Johns and Cleary.
No half back controlled a game like Sterlo, even in his later years when he was slower.
Possibly the greatest football brain ever.