Best example of a player standing up when the first choice becomes unavailable

[lucablight]

When everyone found out Jonathan Thurston was gone for the season I’m sure most people wrote off the cowboys chances for this year. However as we have all seen Michael Morgan has risen out of Thurstons shadow and announced himself as a genuine superstar of the game in his own right.

What are some other examples of players who arrived when they were called upon to fill in for a first choice player who was injured or unavailable?

Another example I can think of would be Cooper Cronk replacing Matt Orford once he left the Storm and Terry Campese replacing Todd Carney for the Raiders when Carney was stood down.

 

[carcharias]

Gallen replacing ET

 

[gallagher]

Steve Walters was behind his brother for rep duties until Kerod got suspended elbowing Graeme Wynn in the head. His rep carrer took off after that.

 

[Saxon]

Billy Slater standing in for Robbie Ross.

 

[mozza91]

Danny Buderus coming in for Brett Clements and playing hooker for the 1st time in FG in a semi against the Chooks in 1998.

He did pretty well for himself.

 

[The Beaver]

Leo Dynevor standing in for Johns

 

[Clifferd]

Jack littlejohn covering for Luke Brooks

 

[thorson1987]

Cam Munster standing in for Billy last season.

 

[Pedge1971]

Leo Dynevor standing in for Johns

First one I thought of. Easy to forget but no way me make the grand final without blokes like Leo and Brett Grogan coming from the clouds in 1997.

 

[Life's Good]

Keeping to the theme but looking at coaches instead. In 1996 Rod Reddy walked out on the Dragons before the season started. In steps David Waite who not only pulled the squad together as one(Tallis decided to sit the year out, SL players were only given approval to play late in the day). Despite that he still got us to the Grand Final. What a ride that was from nowhere.

 

[Pedge1971]

Keeping to the theme but looking at coaches instead. In 1996 Rod Reddy walked out on the Dragons before the season started. In steps David Waite who not only pulled the squad together as one(Tallis decided to sit the year out, SL players were only given approval to play late in the day). Despite that he still got us to the Grand Final. What a ride that was from nowhere.

Almost the reverse of the dragons of 2017....

 

[Life's Good]

Almost the reverse of the dragons of 2017....

Complete, not almost. You don't have to be nice about it

 

[DeeJ]

Justin Hodges for Karmichael Hunt 2006.

 

[The_Shield]

Cameron Munster in origin 3

 

[King hit]

Paul Osbourne for John Lomax in the 1994 Grand Final

 

[Life's Good]

Justin Hodges for Karmichael Hunt 2006.

Despite being a merkin, Hodges was great in 06. Those long loping runs from FB terrorised a lot of defences. He was a very good creative back up for Lockyer that year.

 

[9701]

Sean Rudder, he stood up and carried that hack Johns to a Premiership

 

[Rabbit toes]

Korisau for Luke in Souths grand final win.
Api hadn't played footy for over 6 weeks

 

[ANTiLAG]

Paul Hauff was the incumbent 1991 Qld origin fullback in which he starred and made a test for Straya. The following year he gets injured after a handful of rounds and O'Niell (who wanted to be a 5/8th) pretty much ended Hauff's first grade career after not getting his fb role back for Brisbane 92 or 93 prem. Oneill is one of my all time fav players.

Mullins move from centre to fb made Belcher's retirement after 1993 less noticable for the green machine in 1994 prem success. Became a star.

These 2 teams had fantastic squad depth for their prem wins 89-94.

Cross codes, the most famous example is possibly Steve Young filling in for Joe Montana (widely regarded pre-injury as #1 qb in NFL and an all time superstar of the sport) was pretty epic for the 49'ers and their fans and controversially ended with Montanna leaving the club when fit after not regaining the starting spot but with an upside in Young guiding the 49ers to further Super Bowl success.

 

[simmo1]

Gallen replacing ET

ET replacing Paul Mellor.