Parramatta powerhouse Maika Sivoโs barnstorming double on Thursday night โ including an unforgettable late match-winner to sink Melbourne โ was the latest chapter in rugby leagueโs rich narrative of big men starring on the flank.
The 105kg Sivo is carrying the torch passed on by modern era tearaways such as Eels predecessor Semi Radradra, Wests Tigers freight train Taniela Tuiaki and the irrepressible John Hopoate.
In the first edition of Zero Tackleโs Top 8, WILL EVANS from This Warriors Life ranks the greatest wing behemoths the game has produced.
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7. Alan Ridley
One of the first notable big men to star on the flank โ described as a โgiant speed merchantโ in contemporary reports โ Canberra junior Ridley was just 19 when he toured with the 1929-30 Kangaroos.
He joined Western Suburbs in 1931 and scored 64 tries in 64 first-grade games, including a club record 18 in 1932, while he created another all-time Magpies mark by crossing for six tries in a 1936 clash with Newtown.
Ridleyโs feats in the representative arena left arguably left an even bigger imprint on the era, though, scoring 34 tries in just 25 matches for NSW and leading the 1933-34 Kangaroos with 25 tries. Later became the mayor of Orange during the 1950s.
