Nathan Merritt

[BunniesMan]

Why does Merritt get so much criticism when Minichello is an even bigger dud considering he's playing in a crucial position.

Reminds me of when we were stupid enough to play Wesser at fullback ahead of Inglis.

Minichello is just as much past it as Merritt is.

 

[Newcastle Cow]

Am certainly not Soufs fan but he cops too much IMO. Obviously not a superstar and maybe has/will have tried to go a season or two too many but he's hardly alone there. Over the course of his career has been a good first grade winger and, whilst its a bit clichéd and lame, a great clubman and role model. You don't score a record number of tries for a foundation club if your a complete nuffie. Especially when your team's been rubbish for most of your first grade career.

 

[Tayjack]

You don't get as many tries as he has got without being a very good finisher. Unfortunately he has lost some speed which has led to his support play and finishing suffering. His defence has always been average at best and is getting worse too.

Other wingers, like El Masri, were able to be very good wingers even after losing pace because they were able to out think the opposition. I don't think Merritt can

Yep agree here 100%.

 

[Tayjack]

Am certainly not Soufs fan but he cops too much IMO. Obviously not a superstar and maybe has/will have tried to go a season or two too many but he's hardly alone there. Over the course of his career has been a good first grade winger and, whilst its a bit clichéd and lame, a great clubman and role model. You don't score a record number of tries for a foundation club if your a complete nuffie. Especially when your team's been rubbish for most of your first grade career.

Pretty good point- he won't and can't go around next season surely.

 

[rabbitohs95]

Pretty good point- he won't and can't go around next season surely.

Yeah i agree, Souths have too many young up and coming backs to let Merritt go around and just go into decline. Should retire for the club and for his reputation.

 

[aqua_duck]

Thing with Merritt is he's a player who relied heavily on his speed, now he's lost that he's essentially useless. In terms of his defence it's always been shit but this wasn't scrutinised as much when souths were a rubbish team because they use to leak points all over the park and he wasn't as much of an obvious weakness

 

[gronkathon]

Why does Merritt get so much criticism when Minichello is an even bigger dud considering he's playing in a crucial position.

Reminds me of when we were stupid enough to play Wesser at fullback ahead of Inglis.

Minichello is just as much past it as Merritt is.

Premiership rings, successful rep career etc. buy you some leeway.

 

[BunniesMan]

Premiership rings, successful rep career etc. buy you some leeway.

You're right but that's a ridiculous mentality. He hasn't done anything in 2 years. He is an absolute wet paper bag with the ball and not much better without it. His glories in the past mean nothing for what he's going to produce in the future.

If the relevant decision makers thought logically both of them would be dropped asap.

 

[Shanghai Charlie]

Merritt is your Daniel Fitzhenry. Will get picked every week regardless of form.
Painful to watch his demise.

Still goes better than Minichello or Lote though.
They are just embarrassing to watch.
Mini at fullback over RTS! Ha!

 

[Shanghai Charlie]

Benji undid 10 great years with two really really shite ones.
Merritt is doing he same unfortunately.
Tainting his legacy.

 

[Parra Pride]

Finish it off with a grand final

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[GONZO72]

Mini is not the player he was, far from it, but he has Merritt covered. Merritt should have retired last year. How he was chosen for Origin was a disgrace. It was a bullshit token selection, the same when NSW selectors cheapened the jersey, when they handheld El Masri one

 

[ek999]

When is he off contract?

 

[bottle]

I think a GF appearance would be a fitting way for Merritt to finish his career, and achievable.
However he should ask to be dropped to the NSW Cup feeder team now if that's his goal, would be a shame to miss the cut off for qualification.
Sammy Burgess should do the same if he'd also like to participate in a game on GF day in Sydney rather than be a spectator.

 

[Crazy Steve]

Merritt is your Daniel Fitzhenry. Will get picked every week regardless of form.
Painful to watch his demise.

Still goes better than Minichello or Lote though.
They are just embarrassing to watch.
Mini at fullback over RTS! Ha!

Minichiello is a premiership winning captain, while Merritt is the captain of the all conquering bad haircut brigade.

I'll take Mini over Merritt everyday of the week, embarrassing was watching Merritt capitulate for NSW was really sad to watch.

 

[High Flyers]

As an eels fan he reminds me of Luke burt.
Great for many years, than the tries dried up and was constantly getting manhandled and dragged 10 metres backwards every possession.
Sad but when your main skill is your speed once that goes your done.

 

[BunniesMan]

Minichiello is a premiership winning captain, while Merritt is the captain of the all conquering bad haircut brigade.

I'll take Mini over Merritt everyday of the week, embarrassing was watching Merritt capitulate for NSW was really sad to watch.

At their best obviously Minichello was the greater player but now they're equally shit.

 

[Hutty1986]

Mini's a looooong way from the absolute superstar he once was, but still a lot better than dogsh*t Merritt. Merritt literally offers nothing. Slow, can't pass, can't tackle, won't take a run in his own 95.

 

[BunniesMan]

And Minichello offers nothing in a more important position. Couldn't break the line if his life depended on it.

 

[Crazy Steve]

And Minichello offers nothing in a more important position. Couldn't break the line if his life depended on it.

That's true but Mini is still one of the safest fullbacks under the highball, Merritt not so.

And there is still that dodgy haircut........Mini is all style