Rothfield's Top Fifty

[Johns Magic]

In between meetings I hastily compiled a list of 50 current players. I'm pretty happy with that list, although the rankings are a bit rugged (and, of course, there is always the chance I've totally forgotten a guy or two).

In my list I aimed for a good cross-section of players in different positions. I think is important since the different roles various positions play in a team can make it like comparing apples and oranges (which was part of the difficulty of ranking). So generally, my list will have who I think are the best players in their given positions. Admittedly, five-eights are a little over represented in my list.

I also considered the importance of these individuals to their respective teams, e.g. Aaron Payne mightn't be rated so highly if he wasn't so vital to the success of the Cowboys.

My list is primarily based on 2009, with an eye to what I think will happen in 2010, so it's not surprising that the three bottom teams from last year have the fewest representatives. The Warriors are the only team that I haven't listed a single player from in the 50 (below is some clarification).

I didn't blindly or over-enthusiastically rate rookies. Rising stars who will be rated highly if they perform consistently at the standard they have set early in their careers include Dugan, Idris, D Mortimer, Locke, Snowden, D Taylor, Croker.

Then there are guys who might have made my list if not for slight question marks over them – Burgess (will he adapt to NRL), T Carney (will he behave), Tahu (will he return from union as good as when he left), Tuqiri (will he return from union as good as when he left), M Bowen (will he bounce back from injury), Tate (will he bounce back from injury), A Minichello (will he bounce back from injury), Price (will age catch up to him).

Without further ado, here's my ranked list ...

1. Hayne
2. Inglis
3. Thurston
4. Prince
5. Smith
6. Lockyer (but how long will his body hold out)
7. Slater
8. Civoniceva
9. Hindmarsh
10. Gallen
11. Farah
12. Soward
13. Marshall
14. Folau
15. Moi Moi
16. Watmough
17. Gidley
18. Ennis
19. Cronk
20. Tuiaki
21. Kimmorley
22. Sutton
23. Thaiday
24. Lewis
25. Campese
26. Hodges
27. Bird (I'm more confident that he'll stay out of trouble than Carney)

28. Hannant
29. Blair
30. Mateo
31. Tongue
32. Asotasi
33. Jennings
34. Creagh
35. B Stewart
36. Lyon
37. Barrett
38. Mullen
39. Luke
40. G Stewart
41. Ellis
42. Josh Morris
43. B Morris
44. Patten
45. Anasta
46. Grothe
47. A Payne
48. P Campbell
49. Merritt
50. Waterhouse

Feel free to slam me ... but I reckon my list (while undoubtedly flawed) is better than the pile Rothfield has started serving up with this Part 1.

I'm gonna take a wild stab at you being a Parra fan...

 

[Bazal]

Dugan? Ferguson? Mortimer? WTF have they even done in the game yet, none have played a full season :crazy: More proof that Rothfield is a total idiot

 

[Gaba]

Knights beat your mob at Kogarah and made the top 8, even finishing ahead of Parra.
Also the dragons run home wasn't that much tougher.

The eels had:
Dragons
panthers
Tigers
Warriors
Knights



I don't see how Parra had an easy run home

Parra faced dragons 1st week of finals at Kogarah after dragons had thrashed parra week before and Hayne tore the big red V a new one

We are geting off topic here, but i will mention this for the last time

sharks were injury riddle , warriors and knights were out of form ,the eels played the knights during the smith drama , knights couldnt score and were getting beaten by everybody

tigers i give credit was the toughest game for the eels during the games agaisnt sharks,warriors,knights,and panthers who were injury ridden

 

[Gaba]

But if there was a eels player who should be in the top 10 and deserves it more then hayne is moi moi

 

[Avenger]

We are geting off topic here, but i will mention this for the last time

sharks were injury riddle , warriors and knights were out of form ,the eels played the knights during the smith drama , knights couldnt score and were getting beaten by everybody

tigers i give credit was the toughest game for the eels during the games agaisnt sharks,warriors,knights,and panthers who were injury ridden

 

[Gaba]

Stop clutching at straws Gaba.

no clutching at straws , the only one who is is you proving your point why hayne should be i nthe top 10

 

[Ike E Bear]

I'm gonna take a wild stab at you being a Parra fan...

'Tis true.

Is that because Hayne is ranked one, or Hindmarsh too high for your liking (I actually think I dudded Moi Moi)?

I have no doubt I'm biased, I just wonder what gave me away.

Or is it that my post prior to that one in this thread, I said I was an Eels fan but that I wouldn't rank Mortimer in such a list? Hahaha.

Edit - I bet it was Grothe.

 

[Big Pete]

no clutching at straws , the only one who is is you proving your point why hayne should be i nthe top 10

What straws are there to clutch at?

He was easily one of the top 10 best players last season.

 

[rufus youngblood]

sonny tuigamala and james spiropolous should get a gig:?

 

[Johns Magic]

'Tis true.

Is that because Hayne is ranked one, or Hindmarsh too high for your liking (I actually think I dudded Moi Moi)?

I have no doubt I'm biased, I just wonder what gave me away.

Or is it that my post prior to that one in this thread, I said I was an Eels fan but that I wouldn't rank Mortimer in such a list? Hahaha.

Edit - I bet it was Grothe.

It was that Hindmarsh was easily the highest ranked back-rower, Mateo featured very high considering he did nothing last year and isn't overly established as a star, and that Grothe ranked at all.

Then I saw Hayne was ranked #1(which could be a fair call) and that sealed the deal.

 

[Big Pete]

Hindmarsh is in the Lockyer league for me.

Past legendary figures who can still go but have seen better days.

For mine, they rank somewhere between 20-40.

 

[Ike E Bear]

It was that Hindmarsh was easily the highest ranked back-rower, Mateo featured very high considering he did nothing last year and isn't overly established as a star, and that Grothe ranked at all.

Then I saw Hayne was ranked #1(which could be a fair call) and that sealed the deal.

My love of Hindmarsh is deep and true.

Gallen is breathing down Hindy's neck in my list, though, and Watmough isn't too far behind (probably too far behind given his end to 2009, though).

Fair call on Mateo's 2009, although it was marred by injury. I'm a fan.

Except Minichello and maybe Merritt, I can't think of any wingers I'd rate ahead of Grothe personally, but there's probably super-biased. I spend a lot of time complaining about Grothe ... but every so often he brings me to my feet (against St George in the finals and even in the grand final ... he was the Eels' second best, I reckon).

 

[Ike E Bear]

Hindmarsh is in the Lockyer league for me.

Past legendary figures who can still go but have seen better days.

For mine, they rank somewhere between 20-40.

Good point. Civoniceva too, except that he's still eating up the metres like a good prop should.

All three players are crucial to their teams' chances in 2010, though. You take them out of their teams and the other 16 guys shrink a bit.

 

[El Diablo]

i have acknowledge that , without the eels would had no attack without him.

no wonder you edit every post

 

[Big Pete]

That is true too. They have an amazing influence over their players and their confidence.

I disagree on Civoniceiva. He's still right up there as his Origin performances showed.

 

[DaSuperHero2]

when will news leave us alone seriously

 

[NAS]

In between meetings I hastily compiled a list of 50 current players. I'm pretty happy with that list, although the rankings are a bit rugged (and, of course, there is always the chance I've totally forgotten a guy or two).

In my list I aimed for a good cross-section of players in different positions. I think is important since the different roles various positions play in a team can make it like comparing apples and oranges (which was part of the difficulty of ranking). So generally, my list will have who I think are the best players in their given positions. Admittedly, five-eights are a little over represented in my list.

I also considered the importance of these individuals to their respective teams, e.g. Aaron Payne mightn't be rated so highly if he wasn't so vital to the success of the Cowboys.

My list is primarily based on 2009, with an eye to what I think will happen in 2010, so it's not surprising that the three bottom teams from last year have the fewest representatives. The Warriors are the only team that I haven't listed a single player from in the 50 (below is some clarification).

I didn't blindly or over-enthusiastically rate rookies. Rising stars who will be rated highly if they perform consistently at the standard they have set early in their careers include Dugan, Idris, D Mortimer, Locke, Snowden, D Taylor, Croker.

Then there are guys who might have made my list if not for slight question marks over them – Burgess (will he adapt to NRL), T Carney (will he behave), Tahu (will he return from union as good as when he left), Tuqiri (will he return from union as good as when he left), M Bowen (will he bounce back from injury), Tate (will he bounce back from injury), A Minichello (will he bounce back from injury), Price (will age catch up to him).

Without further ado, here's my ranked list ...

1. Hayne
2. Inglis
3. Thurston
4. Prince
5. Smith
6. Lockyer (but how long will his body hold out)
7. Slater
8. Civoniceva
9. Hindmarsh
10. Gallen
11. Farah
12. Soward
13. Marshall
14. Folau
15. Moi Moi
16. Watmough
17. Gidley
18. Ennis
19. Cronk
20. Tuiaki
21. Kimmorley
22. Sutton
23. Thaiday
24. Lewis
25. Campese
26. Hodges
27. Bird (I'm more confident that he'll stay out of trouble than Carney)

28. Hannant
29. Blair
30. Mateo
31. Tongue
32. Asotasi
33. Jennings
34. Creagh
35. B Stewart
36. Lyon
37. Barrett
38. Mullen
39. Luke
40. G Stewart
41. Ellis
42. Josh Morris
43. B Morris
44. Patten
45. Anasta
46. Grothe
47. A Payne
48. P Campbell
49. Merritt
50. Waterhouse

Feel free to slam me ... but I reckon my list (while undoubtedly flawed) is better than the pile Rothfield has started serving up with this Part 1.

I think that's a great list and is probably inclusive of everyone I'd have.....I think the best player is Jonathan Thurston (only on account of his consistency), with Hayne and Smith tied for second, Inglis, Slater, Hindmarsh, Civonoceva and so on, but that's simply pedantics and preferences for certain types of players. I can't really fault your list at all.....

 

[Gaba]

no wonder you edit every post

:lol:

 

[ByRd]

It doesnt really matter but Inglis has to be no.1, he is the first player i would select if starting a team and has been much more consistent then Hayne or Thurston over the years.

 

[Panther_Daz]

It doesnt really matter but Inglis has to be no.1, he is the first player i would select if starting a team and has been much more consistent then Hayne or Thurston over the years.

I agree Inglis is the best player in the world and must be number 1. Rothfield hinted today that it is not going to be Hayne so that leaves the 3 from the Storm and Thurston IMO.