https://au.beamly.com/exclusives/2014/09/11/nrl-grub-team-year/
Forget the Dally M?s, the Brad Fittler medal, or who scores the most Supercoach points ? the only award you should care about is who made the NRL Grub Team of the Year.
Yep, I?ve created a team based solely on a players ability to niggle, get under the oppositions skin and just be an all-round menace on the field.
Let?s get into it before I cop a swinging arm from someone:
1. Fullback: Billy Slater
Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater is a nice enough bloke off the field, but on it he?s prone to some brain explosions like this unfortunate incident against David Klemmer:
2. Winger: Blake Ferguson
Although he hasn?t taken to the field in 2014, Fergo still makes the team thanks largely to the surprising nice-ness of wingers (seriously, what?s up with that?). A host of off-field incidents from being friends with Anthony Mundine to an indecent assault charge also helped his cause.
3. Centre: Justin Hodges
One of the first picked. Barely a game goes by without incidents like this (coincidently on fellow grub teammate Josh Reynolds):
4. Centre: Steve Matai
When he?s not limping or receiving medical attention, Matai is trying to kill his opposition. Shoulder charge, anyone?
5. Winger: Brent Tate
Again making the team due to the lack of grubby wingers, Tate?s never one to shy away from a bit of push and shove. Who could forget this epic brawl from State of Origin in 2013?
6. Five-Eighth: Josh Reynolds (C)
A no-brainer for the position and co-captain, his nickname is ?Grub? after all! Look no further than his infamous match against the Broncos earlier this year for three separate nominations for grub of the year:
7. Half Back: Todd Carney
Carney makes the team for plain stupidity more than anything else. Way to piss away your career, bro (pun intended).
8. Prop: Nate Myles
As a general hater of all things NSW, Myles has had his fair share of run-ins with players, including his now infamous brawl with Paul Gallen. Oh, and he?s also hilarious:
9. Hooker: Michael Ennis (C)
The undisputed king of niggle. Ennis once made the nicest guy in the league punch him and gets under his opposition?s skin like no one else can:
10. Prop: Sam Burgess
Surgess is half on the team to protect his younger brother George from the other grubs and half on the team because of the shocking ?squirrel grip? tackle:
11. Second Row: Sam Thaiday
Along with his uncanny ability to be third man when there?s any sniff of a brawl, he?s also a perennial pest on the field, like that time he tried to pack in the Bulldogs scrum:
12. Second Row: Greg Bird
Another player who?s not afraid of a bit of chat on the field. Bird?s sledge on Titans teammate Dave Taylor during Origin this year was absolutely brutal:
13. Lock: Paul Gallen
His flurry of punches to the head of fellow grub teammate Nate Myles in 2013 has gone down in Origin folklore and earns him a coveted spot as lock of the team.
Bench:
Plenty of solid grubs didn?t make the starting team, but they?ll warm the bench and come on for impact when the starting 13 run out of grubby ideas.
14. Issac Luke
15. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
16. George Burgess
17. Cameron Smith
Honourable Mentions:
Willie Mason
Frank Pritchard
Ashton Sims
Frank-Paul Nuuausala
Anthony Watmough
