A player you thought was a diamond but ended up a rock

[hineyrulz]

Scott Minto

 

[oldmancraigy]

Chris Lawler.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Had that game against the Sharks and I thought, this is it, he can do it in first-grade.

Injured later that day(or next week?) in a tackle, ankle syndesmosis, out a couple of months...never made it back. Shunted to the wing and couldn't tackle to save himself.

I think if not for that injury he could've kicked on, at least for a while. Would probably get found out eventually and lose a touch of speed but he could've had a good couple of seasons.

Can't remember who it was exactly but in that Sharks game that try off the scrum where he took it at first-receiver and just ran around the guy marking him like he wasn't even there...poetry.

I thought the same but tbh I think ultimately it was injuries and not him being a "rock" that cruelled him.

2013 he had nailed down a spot and then had a season ending injury. 2014 he was on fire (scored 4 tries in a game against the Tigers) and then suffered another season-ending injury. Otherwise I think 2013-2015 might have seen more of those highlights.

He was made to play a fair bit of wing and was always going to struggle there as he was pretty frail defensively and offered very little running the ball out from his own 20. If he had been able to just play fullback and have more opportunities to chime into the backline or return kicks in open space he would've been better. Always had limitations but was spectacular enough in what he did well (and I wouldn't say that was just "speed", he was a beautifully balanced runner and had a great eye for a gap and for sniffing around for offloads) that he would've nailed a spot for a while without the injuries.

 

[catweasel]

Manu Vatuvei

 

[Meth]

Manu Vatuvei

147 first grade tries.

 

[Meth]

The Warriors have plenty that looked like diamonds in the U20's and don't kick on, whether for us or for other clubs.

Obviously, there's Locke and Fisiiahi as mentioned. Seluini looked as good a bet as any I've seen, and he just never kicked on.

 

[mongoose]

Jarrod Sammut. I remember panthers fans talking him up like he was the next Lockyer.

 

[_Johnsy]

Damian CHAPMAN

 

[_Johnsy]

Was pretty confident when we signed barba.
Bad call.

As were all broncs fans, biggest circle jerk in LU history when the signing was announced.

 

[Packy]

Brett Seymour

Yep.

Also John/Sione Kite. Thought for sure he would kick on from 20's. Didn't. His combination with Barba is 20's is something I still dream about.

 

[Packy]

Cameron Phelps was absolutely killing it in reserves around 2004 or so (I think?). Bulldogs fans went on and on about how he was the next great 5/8th.

Really? I don't ever recall anything thinking he was anything other than a solid everyman.

 

[Mogsheen Jadwat]

Sonny fai swam like a rock.

 

[Meth]

Sonny fai swam like a rock.

What a disgrace

 

[Wizardman]

Sonny fai swam like a rock.

I know who would fall down like a rock if you said that to my face.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

Don't feed it. Just doesn't get enough attention at home.

 

[Mogsheen Jadwat]

I know who would fall down like a rock if you said that to my face.

lol

Don't feed it. Just doesn't get enough attention at home.

Lighten up, its a Monday morning.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Jake Mamo

 

[wittyfan]

Will Zillman.

 

[TheVelourFog]

That guy at the Bulldogs, think it was Clammer or Klummer or something

 

[yobbo84]

Yileen Gordon