It was bound to end in tears with the emergence of Reynolds. Sandow was just too big a defensive liability at this level and as skillful as he was, he would have been found wanting in any era of the sport.
Is who I think of whenever this question is raised. You're right in saying that he still had a very good career, but when he was with Melbourne he was giving Joey a run for his money. While you would have to say Joey was infront of him, Kimmorley had a case until his ill-fated stint at the Northern Eagles.
That's harsh, his initial season at Bondi was fantastic. Unfortunately he suffered another knee injury and it made him a far less dynamic runner of the football. Even so, Willie was a decent hand in whatever team he was. Sure, he was no longer the star but he was a very similar player to Joe Galavao where he'd get through his 10 runs, and 20 tackles and they'd be what you'd want from a bench player.
I feel like this is the wrong way round. Wouldn't it be better to say, Clubs who would have been better off if the players had chosen to stay? Outside of '06 where he already had one foot out the door, Prince was a quality cog in a well oiled Tigers outfit. However at the Titans he became one of THE greatest players in the competition and he was so unlucky not to have achieved more in the game. In saying that, I feel he stayed around 3 years longer than he should have.
Yeah he worked a lot better in their system than he does looking lost at the Warriors. His play is riddled with indecision and he's preventing the Warriors from playing an up-tempo style which would play into the hands of their halves.
Timana Tahu. Should have stayed at the knights first time around instead of becoming a journeyman
I thought he was excellent for the Eels in 05-07, maybe not the form centre of the competition with Gasnier, Cooper, Hodges & King about but right in the same ball-park. If he had have stayed at Newcastle, he would have been posted on the wing outside of Gidley where his entire career would be dependent on Joey and his ability to overcome an ACL.
Great shout.
He was fantastic in the Dogs system, but when more was expected of him, he just didn't have that other gear in him. Still a quality player but he was no where near as relevant as he was at the Bulldogs.
Yeah, I think the break-up hurt both parties. It took the Bulldogs nearly 7 years to find a full-time replacement for Braith and Anasta's form was far more turbulent at the Roosters than it was at the Doggies. It makes you wonder what sort of career he would have had if he'd stuck it out at Belmore.
You reckon? Granted his form plateud but given the form of Penrith, I reckon he did well. Got himself a nice pay-day after years of just being a 'decent club winger'.
Just a case of a player peaking early. In Clinton, Lang & Ross the Panthers had a very handy front row rotation but when Lang retired and Ross received his pay-day from Cronulla, Clinton was exposed as a run of the mill prop who rarely dominated the middle. He showed plenty of promise in his early days, but that's all it was and Brisbane were sold a lemon.
Was another player who came to mind. I think if Chris had have checked his ego for a couple of seasons, worked on his defensive issues he could have been right up there as one of the best centres of his generation. I think he tried to find the right path, which is why he signed with the Roosters & Melbourne, two quality outfits at that time but by then he became too much of a brat.
A couple of names I'd like to toss up
Jake Webster (Melbourne --> GC)
Joe Tomane (Melbourne --> GC)
Gavin Cooper (North Qld --> GC)
Joel Monaghan (Canberra --> Sydney)
Ashley Harrison (South Sydney --> Sydney)
Sam Tomkins (Wigan --> Warriors)
