Your five most underrated players of the NRL era (1998-2018)

[firechild]

Andrew McCullough
Tim Mannah
Chad Townsend
Mitchell Aubusson
Blake Green

Tim Mannah is an absolute plodder. If he wasn't rated at all, he'd be overrated.

 

[Silent Knight]

Darrell Trindall
Dan Tolar
Nathan Gardner
Daniel Vidot
Stop! It’s Michael Bani Time!

 

[King hit]

It would almost be as bad as Darren Albert, Jason Moodie, Jamie Ainscough & Steve Turner being selected.

You can’t go past Nathan ‘the selectors are wacists’ Merritt

 

[Big Pete]

You can’t go past Nathan ‘the selectors are wacists’ Merritt

Why? The selectors did until he was washed up. It's amazing how he was entirely at fault and little was made of Maloney's impression of a turnstile.

 

[King hit]

Why? The selectors did until he was washed up. It's amazing how he was entirely at fault and little was made of Maloney's impression of a turnstile.

He never would’ve held his own in Origin even in his prime years. Inglis, Folau, Tate, Yow Yeh and Boyd would’ve dominated him. Merritt didn’t have the physicality to combat them. Did have a good career for the Bunnies though I won’t argue that.

I agree that he was unfairly scapegoated in that game I believe it was just because people had been pushing for him to play for years and he turned up a total shocker. Never seen a winger exposed that badly in my life. The Maroons were just far to good that night anyway.

I just personally just didn’t like him ever since he said that he was black was why they wouldn’t pick him. You just weren’t good enough mate.

 

[Big Pete]

Merritt wasn't upset about missing out on Origin, he was upset he couldn't get a start in the City side despite doing more than enough to earn an opportunity. By the time he finally got a shot, he was nine seasons into his first grade career and only had limited time left. When he was brought in for the Origin game, he wasn't far off from retirement.

Two things I find rich about the Merritt story. Number one is the emphasis on that Game II 2013 performance to somehow justify all his previous omissions. Never mind he was past his best by that point and even the most ardent South Sydney supporter would say the same. Secondly, this idea that he would have let the jersey down more than Turner, Wolfman, rookie McManus etc. Face it, the Blues stocks weren't flash to begin with.

In saying that, NSW didn't miss out and the selectors weren't racist for ignoring Merritt. The reality of the situation is if you stick with a struggling club, it is going to impact your chances of playing representative football.

 

[King hit]

Haha yeah we had some real bludgers on the wing for a long time there. Can add Quinn and Monaghan to that list as well. People bring up Uate as well but he did have a good series in 2011 and looked like a long term prospect. Gordon could’ve played more if he didn’t spend 2011 and 2012 injured.

 

[Rhino_NQ]

Haha yeah we had some real bludgers on the wing for a long time there. Can add Quinn and Monaghan to that list as well. People bring up Uate as well but he did have a good series in 2011 and looked like a long term prospect. Gordon could’ve played more if he didn’t spend 2011 and 2012 injured.

You really missed a mick devere type winger to staple the backline together

 

[Big Pete]

I was tempted to bring up Uate, but his biggest blunder was failing to live up to expectations. It wasn't Akuila's Origin form that saw him punted, it was his efforts at club level that spooked selectors and caused them go with Brett Morris instead. Morris is actually an interesting parrallel because he was arguably worse during his initial stint for NSW. However, he kept plying his trade at club form, got himself another opportunity and he's now one of the best wingers of his generation. Uate never had that redemption and even though he could have easily returned in the Origin scene the next year, he was nowhere to be seen.

Anyways...

When I think of underrated players, I look at it from a historical perspective. Who are the players that history will forget? The players who didn't get the opportunity to play in a grand final, State of Origin or play for one of the big three international teams. Under that criteria I'd go...

Luke Davico
Kevin Gordon
Wade McKinnon
Luke Stuart
Taniela Tuiaki

Age was Davico's biggest barrier. He falls into a similar category as John Skandalis where he was always thereabouts and when it came time for his turn, he was looked over for all these young forwards. His best opportunity would have been the 2002 series at 29, but he suffered a serious injury which ruled him out for the majority of the season.

Gordon and Tuiaki never received the plaudits they should have. Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game and both players were cut down before they really got to make their mark. In their day though, both were regarded as the best wingers in the competition and their efforts close to the line made them an easy options for the Titans and Tigers respectively.

McKinnon was something of a late bloomer but in the mid-00s he was one of the strongest runners in the competition and was right up there with Anthony Minichiello as far as kick returns are concerned. Like Gordon & Tuiaki he suffered an ACL injury during the prime of his career that inhibited him and he came through a ridiculous generation of fullbacks. History will remember Billy Slater as one of the greatest fullbacks of all-time, but there was a time where he was arguably behind Bowen, McKinnon & Stewart as crazy as that sounds. For my money, McKinnon would have been right up there in 2005 and 2007 as one of the best players in the NRL.

Luke Stuart is always one of those players I keep forgetting about, but I'm constantly reminded how consistently good he was for a struggling Souths side. He came through such a thankless period for the club and no matter what was always pitching in and grafting out good performances. His retirement came right before Souths really turned a corner and it's easy to forget the contributions he made to dig them out of being perennial wooden spooners. His replacement Ben Lowe is another where I'm constantly reminded of his existence and how decent he was in the backrow for Souths during their premiership hunt.

 

[King hit]

I’m pretty sure Davico was going to play if he didn’t get injured. Skandalis was a good player who should’ve gotten a crack.

Another player who has been forgotten is Simon Dwyer. He was building a big reputation as a destructive hit man before that injury. Remember his thundering hit on JWH in 2010.

 

[Rhino_NQ]

McKinnon held the record for metres gained in a match for a bit there.

Ben Lowe is an interesting one, best example for Ben flying under the radar is the shot that will forever be showed in big hits packages on mathew Bell is completely given to Sam
Burgess. Even the commentators as it happens doesn’t even mention the majority of the impact coming from Ben.

 

[T-Boon]

Jason Bell. I thought he should have played state of origin.

 

[Hutty1986]

I was tempted to bring up Uate, but his biggest blunder was failing to live up to expectations. It wasn't Akuila's Origin form that saw him punted, it was his efforts at club level that spooked selectors and caused them go with Brett Morris instead. Morris is actually an interesting parrallel because he was arguably worse during his initial stint for NSW. However, he kept plying his trade at club form, got himself another opportunity and he's now one of the best wingers of his generation. Uate never had that redemption and even though he could have easily returned in the Origin scene the next year, he was nowhere to be seen.

Anyways...

When I think of underrated players, I look at it from a historical perspective. Who are the players that history will forget? The players who didn't get the opportunity to play in a grand final, State of Origin or play for one of the big three international teams. Under that criteria I'd go...

Luke Davico
Kevin Gordon
Wade McKinnon
Luke Stuart
Taniela Tuiaki

Age was Davico's biggest barrier. He falls into a similar category as John Skandalis where he was always thereabouts and when it came time for his turn, he was looked over for all these young forwards. His best opportunity would have been the 2002 series at 29, but he suffered a serious injury which ruled him out for the majority of the season.

Gordon and Tuiaki never received the plaudits they should have. Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game and both players were cut down before they really got to make their mark. In their day though, both were regarded as the best wingers in the competition and their efforts close to the line made them an easy options for the Titans and Tigers respectively.

McKinnon was something of a late bloomer but in the mid-00s he was one of the strongest runners in the competition and was right up there with Anthony Minichiello as far as kick returns are concerned. Like Gordon & Tuiaki he suffered an ACL injury during the prime of his career that inhibited him and he came through a ridiculous generation of fullbacks. History will remember Billy Slater as one of the greatest fullbacks of all-time, but there was a time where he was arguably behind Bowen, McKinnon & Stewart as crazy as that sounds. For my money, McKinnon would have been right up there in 2005 and 2007 as one of the best players in the NRL.

Luke Stuart is always one of those players I keep forgetting about, but I'm constantly reminded how consistently good he was for a struggling Souths side. He came through such a thankless period for the club and no matter what was always pitching in and grafting out good performances. His retirement came right before Souths really turned a corner and it's easy to forget the contributions he made to dig them out of being perennial wooden spooners. His replacement Ben Lowe is another where I'm constantly reminded of his existence and how decent he was in the backrow for Souths during their premiership hunt.

Good point re B. Moz. Dropped the likely match winner in his first few games, wasn't nearly involved enough and was a shadow of the bloke who would go on to be in the top few wingers in the world for a large chunk of his career. I think it was game 3 in 2012 when he really came of age, he finally broke his try scoring drought and really played to his potential in the sky blue after that. His efforts in game 1 in the 2014 series are a part of origin folklore, and for good reason.

 

[Big Salad]

Shaun Berrigan.

 

[DOGS AND EELS!!!]

I was tempted to bring up Uate, but his biggest blunder was failing to live up to expectations. It wasn't Akuila's Origin form that saw him punted, it was his efforts at club level that spooked selectors and caused them go with Brett Morris instead. Morris is actually an interesting parrallel because he was arguably worse during his initial stint for NSW. However, he kept plying his trade at club form, got himself another opportunity and he's now one of the best wingers of his generation. Uate never had that redemption and even though he could have easily returned in the Origin scene the next year, he was nowhere to be seen.

Anyways...

When I think of underrated players, I look at it from a historical perspective. Who are the players that history will forget? The players who didn't get the opportunity to play in a grand final, State of Origin or play for one of the big three international teams. Under that criteria I'd go...

Luke Davico
Kevin Gordon
Wade McKinnon
Luke Stuart
Taniela Tuiaki

Age was Davico's biggest barrier. He falls into a similar category as John Skandalis where he was always thereabouts and when it came time for his turn, he was looked over for all these young forwards. His best opportunity would have been the 2002 series at 29, but he suffered a serious injury which ruled him out for the majority of the season.

Gordon and Tuiaki never received the plaudits they should have. Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game and both players were cut down before they really got to make their mark. In their day though, both were regarded as the best wingers in the competition and their efforts close to the line made them an easy options for the Titans and Tigers respectively.

McKinnon was something of a late bloomer but in the mid-00s he was one of the strongest runners in the competition and was right up there with Anthony Minichiello as far as kick returns are concerned. Like Gordon & Tuiaki he suffered an ACL injury during the prime of his career that inhibited him and he came through a ridiculous generation of fullbacks. History will remember Billy Slater as one of the greatest fullbacks of all-time, but there was a time where he was arguably behind Bowen, McKinnon & Stewart as crazy as that sounds. For my money, McKinnon would have been right up there in 2005 and 2007 as one of the best players in the NRL.

Luke Stuart is always one of those players I keep forgetting about, but I'm constantly reminded how consistently good he was for a struggling Souths side. He came through such a thankless period for the club and no matter what was always pitching in and grafting out good performances. His retirement came right before Souths really turned a corner and it's easy to forget the contributions he made to dig them out of being perennial wooden spooners. His replacement Ben Lowe is another where I'm constantly reminded of his existence and how decent he was in the backrow for Souths during their premiership hunt.

With Uate it was his weakness under the high ball that was exploited in Origin by Cronk. His running game was brilliant across his 1st series, probably the best back NSW had that series and that's having to contend with Jarryd Hayne. I remember that series so well, he was up against Darius Boyd who was the Australian winger at that time and gave him a bath. The year after he just fell apart in Origin 1 and 2 and was replaced by Brett Morris. I was such a staunch critic of him and his brother at the time but they sure proved me wrong and I'm glad they did. They were some of our best during a dark period and were pivitol in our win in 2014.

 

[DeeJ]

Shaun Berrigan.

His defensive ability is largely unrecognised (except for his Clive Churchill medal win). He would shut down Inglis, Sonny Bill and Gasnier completely and consistently. None of those players ever had an impact against the Broncos until Berrigan left.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I’m pretty sure Davico was going to play if he didn’t get injured. Skandalis was a good player who should’ve gotten a crack.

Another player who has been forgotten is Simon Dwyer. He was building a big reputation as a destructive hit man before that injury. Remember his thundering hit on JWH in 2010.

Always rated Davico.

Right about Dwyer too. Did someone have a voodoo curse on Tigers around that time? They had some horrendous luck with career or season ending injuries in the mid-late 90s, Benji’s shoulders, Tuiaki and Dwyer, and Chris Lawrence all spring to mind.

 

[Big Pete]

Alwaysbrated Davico.

Right about Dwyer too. Did someone have a voodoo curse on Tigers around that time? They had some horrendous luck with career or season ending injuries in the mid-late 90s, Benji’s shoulders, Tuiaki and Dwyer, and Chris Lawrence all spring to mind.

Tedesco tearing his ACL on debut, Lui's off-field indiscretions etc.

The Tigers should have been the team of the decade.

 

[kdalymc]

Shaun Berrigan.

was a weapon. how does a halfback become a centre and carve up for years

 

[Canard]

was a weapon. how does a halfback become a centre and carve up for years

Can a guy who won a Clive Churchill and played 15 times for QLD and 14 times for Australia be in this discussion?