1. Peter “The Yak” Cusack
The former Sydney Roosters and South Sydney prop was aptly nicknamed, not only did “Yak” rhyme with Cusack it also symbolised his approach to hard work.

2. Matt “Ox” Orford
As strong as an ox is an appropriate axiom for Manly halfback Matt Orford, who is rated, pound for pound, one of the strongest players in the game.

3. Bob “The Bear” O’Reilly
O’Reilly’s was one of Parramatta’s favourite sons, the first Eels’ junior to play for Australia and an immensely popular figure among his team-mates. He could be grizzly when stirred but among his mates he was “koala-soft”.

4. David “Mule” Hosking
A Manly and South Sydney front-rower of the 1980s and ’90s, Hosking was a difficult bloke to shift once he stood his ground. Occasionally stubborn.

5. Bryan “Horse” Niebling
This Queensland Test forward of the 1980s was never a thoroughbred athlete, more of a stayer than a sprinter but in a decorated career he played 13 Test matches and toured with the undefeated 1986 Kangaroos.

6. Mark “Ogre” O’Meley
When O’Meley is riled, his resemblance to the Dreamworks character Shrek is uncanny. The bald head, the solid build and the odd angry look suggest he could have been the model for the Hollywood “star”.

7. Luke “Bull” Bailey
When he winds up against the Maroons in a State of Origin match, he’s like a bull in a china shop. He’s rugged and uncompromising and he’s built for the grind.

Mark Riddell ©Action Photographics

8. Alf “Bullock” Dobbs
The history books offer no clues as to why Dobbs, one of the original Kangaroos of 1908 was known as “Bullock” but there’s a fair chance that he was one of those players who rarely took a backward step, loved the tough stuff and was never far from centre-field.

9. Iafeta “Rhino” Palea’aesina
Little wonder that this compact front-rower from the Warriors was known as “Rhino”. When he took aim for the try-line from close range there was only one way to describe his explosive charges – “rhino-like”.

10. Mark “Piggy” Riddell
There is something about Mark Riddell that appeals to the everyday fan. It is a body-type that is more in keeping with “Joe Average” than that of an elite athlete and “Piggy’s” self-deprecating attitude has won him an army of supporters.