Throughout the ages, each generation thinks its star athlete is the best of all time.
Fans in Queensland might champion Wally Lewis, Allan Langer, Cooper Cronk, or Johnathan Thurston.
Conversely, those from New South Wales may celebrate Peter Sterling and currently Nathan Cleary.
All these players are undeniably legends of the sport.
While some critics may brand me as a Cleary detractor, that couldn't be further from the truth.
However, in my view, comparing him to Andrew Gary Johns feels unjust.
In my opinion, Joey stands out as the premier halfback of the NRL era, and perhaps of all time.
His greatness isn't defined by the number of premierships he secured or the games he played, nor just by the highlights we continue to relive two decades later.
He is remarkable because no other player has had such a profound impact on a rugby league match, nor shaped the future of the game as he has.
Joey's ability to dominate the game came from his versatility.
Like many of the game's immortals, he didn't just rely on a single skill; instead, he possessed a range of techniques in his toolkit.