Exactly, pace is overrated.
Most tries are not length of the field tries, even from the fastest wingers. A top winger is one that can finish off moves, can beat players in the air for kicks, can round and step defenders from 5 to 15 yards out, is too strong to get knocked in to touch and unless a chasing tackler can get the tackle spot on, will have the strength to push them away en route to the line.
A top winger is also one that runs the ball up in his own half so he takes the pressure off his forwards and lets them have a breather. He's strong enough and fit enough to make yards from dummy half and run into a wall of opposition forwards repeatedly without getting bashed up, dragged in to touch or spilling the ball.
And a top winger is one that doesn't make the opposition halfbacks light up with excitement that they have a target that will be an easy source of tries if they bomb it and put enough pressure on.
I'll have a player like that any day ahead of a guy with pace, if he can't do those things above.
Keep your Nicky Royle, Kevin Penny, Graham Appo, Richie Barnett, Craig Calvert, Leroy Rivett, I will have Monaghan or Fa'afili over them any day of the week.
Notice that the top sides don't use those flaky speedsters. They might get a winger with genuine pace sometimes, but they can always do those things above...like Brett Dallas, Scott Donald or Darren Albert.
) and we wont have anything to worry about when Joel retires....
