i've met him a few times and he seems to be a genuine enough bloke (as well as a good surfer, i think it has something to do with the low centre of gravity) but granted, he is pretty sleazy out in town and shit, but then again so are a lot of NRL players. not last year but the year before after he fucked his neck he was out in town ALL the time, going crazy on pingers
regarding his footballing abilities, i do believe him to be the best player in the world when he is at his peak. however, the kinghts, nsw, can still be good teams without him - kurt gidley, for instance, has been playing great footy with the knights and he's only in to his first full year of being a starting player; and for NSW and Australia you still have players like Preston Campbell, Craig Gower, Brett Kimorley, Brett Finch, Berrigan etc. theres no shortage of players to fill the vacuum (even if they arent quite as good as him)