I want to ask - any reason you think Brown, Gutherson, and RCG are over-rated?
I'm not having a go - I'm genuinely curious.
The stats for those 3 compare pretty favourably to their respective positional leaders.
No worries mate..
Re Gutherson, I believe that there’s at least 5 fullbacks ahead of him in the comp. and a recent player poll seems to agree. He was asking for big bucks last season to re-sign with the eels, which I think wasnt warranted at all, not even close. He is a good fullback and can create great opportunities but in the games I’ve seen (which isn’t all Eels games) he’s been ok enough but have been some error-riddled games, including some big-uns. Maybe I’ve missed a lot of his great games but he’s a guy the commentators rave about - and sometimes not long after he’s blown an opportunity or dropped a ball.
Campbell-Gillard has never been the same since he played Origin and broke his jaw. That can happen to a player, and I get why. But he’s nowhere near the player of 3-4 years ago in my opinion. But has a strong moustache.
Brown. I honestly haven’t seen what a lot of others see. Had been hearing big wraps on him before I saw him play and while he was ok enough I thought he was as good as any number of backrowers going around, just a bit more fiery. So it’s more that I’d heard the hype and what I’ve seen doesn’t befit it. I’d have guys like Josh Jackson, Finucane, Wade Graham, and about a dozen others over him every day of the week. But that’s just my opinion.
All that said, there was a guy I used to think was highly underwhelming to me a few years ago when everyone was raving about him - especially Andrew Johns... it was Tom Trbojevic. For whatever reason whenever I watched a manly game he was riddled with errors, which overshadowed anything good he was doing. I’d estimate I’d watch every 2nd or 3rd game manly were playing - and I couldn’t have been less impressed. Well..
I’ve completely changed my tune, about 2 years ago in fact. I made an effort to watch more manly games to purely watch him. Like rewatching a movie I hated but everyone else loved, had I missed something or would I reconfirm my original view. Well I changed my view. Maybe I just saw all his horrible games - there was one against the Dragons at brookvale where all the lead up talk was about “Tom Turbo” and I was laughing to myself... more like Tom Turdbo... and indeed he had an absolute turd of a game, had absolute hands like feet. But he’s not the only player in history to have some shockers... it’s just that they were the only games I seemed to watch of his. The bloke is an absolute weapon and one of my favourites to watch now (when he’s not injured)..
Why am I referencing Trbojevic?
Well I’m not too proud to admit that I can change my mind on these things, and if he can change my mind, these Eels maybe possibly do the same one day. I don’t wish them ill will at all, and don’t post these to be nasty. I just don’t get why so many others rate them so highly.