With the Superhero Round just a few days away, what better time than now to call upon your team’s heroes to stand up and deliver an almighty blow to their arch nemeses.
After we went through the Broncos, Dragons and Cowboys among others in Part I, Part II rounds out the rest.
Knights: Dane Gagai
This was a tricky one. One first inspection of the side, I concluded they have no superhero. I’ll name Jarrod Mullen, he’s done all right. But looking closer, I found that Dane Gagai has been pretty consistent in delivering decent performances.
What really impressed me about the bloke is his ability to break tackles. He’s averaging four a game. Against the Eels in Round 16 he made eight.
Add his ability to break the line, he’s made close to 100 metres in all 18 games. Dane has emerged for mine as a real hero for the Knights. He may’ve only crossed for five tries himself, but like I said in my spiel in Part I, one thing that sets them apart is how they get their side in a position to post points.
Panthers: Matt Moylan and James Segeyaro
Another dubious call – what with the recruitment of Peter Wallace, Brent Kite, and Jamie Soward, it stands to reason that naming Matt Moylan as a superhero among a playing group bursting with talent may be construed as a joke.
Well, laugh if you must, Moylan has proven himself as crucial to this team’s winning form. While Wallace and Soward have steered the team around the park, the young fullback has been the vital link in plays, producing countless try assists.
And who could forget that field goal that led against the Broncos in Round 18? A game where the gifted no. 1 also ran a mighty 180 metres, and scored a crucial try.
James Segeyaro made this list because he is just so hard to stop. His work in defence in solid as a rock, and he throws himself at defenders without fear or reservation. He’s one strong, tough bloke.
Rabbitohs: Greg Inglis
GI, rugby league’s million-dollar man. Over the years, one criticism of Greg’s has been that he doesn’t get involved enough during a game, especially at centre. In attack, he seemed to fade in and out over the 80.
Last season he was more switched on, and the Bunnies benefited greatly. This year, he’s again showing just how dangerous a great player can be when they combine maturity with their freakish talents.
He has enough experience under his belt to know how to play smart at times, rather than just play hard. It’s meant fewer tries scored, and far more try assists. That’s the wisdom of a seasoned playmaker.
It’s why he’s fitter now than in his youth, he’s not getting burnt out. It’s a worry for opposition sides and their fans, cause GI’s twilight years are still ahead of him.
Raiders: Anthony Milford and Jarrod Croker
It’s a shame Milford is leaving the Raiders. If there’s anything this club can’t afford to lose, it’s talent. Whether at fullback or five-eighth, he’s just so hard to cutdown when in open space. His brilliance has provided Raiders fans with some entertainment in an otherwise dull season.
There’s no doubt about it, Croker should be the captain of this side. He’s tried his guts out, and scored 11 tries in doing so, which is a fair effort considering his side’s position on the ladder.
Roosters: Jake Friend
Another tough choice with so many big names in one side. I went with Friend. The man’s a tackling machine. And while a side needs good playmakers so their side scores points, it’s defence that wins matches.
This is especially so in those tight games where you’re ahead by two, everyone’s buggered and there’s still five on the clock. Friend’ll tackle himself to a standstill. He also provides his monster forward pack with good ball.
Sea Eagles: Kieran Foran and Jamie Lyon
I wasn’t surprised in the slightest to see Kieran Foran pictured in the Wolverine jersey to promote Superhero Round for Manly. After all, he is their superhero. In a side that possesses many tough hombres, it’s Foz’s fearless and tireless pursuit to run through his opponents like a wrecking ball that sets him apart.
With so much talk of Daly Cherry Evans’ re-signing, some of the gloss has been taken off Foran’s significance to the club. I hope Daly stays, I really do, but Foz is off contract in 2015 as well.
If Manly aren’t in a position to resign them both, I’d be suggesting they wave goodbye to Daly. Foran epitomises the toughness and pride that’s engrained in Manly’s culture, that’s seen them make the finals for the last nine years.
As for Lyon, he’s the best centre in the game. A game changer, a game winner, and a terrific captain. It’s the one percenters, those touches of pure class that’ve so often proven the difference for the Sea Eagles.
Sharks: Paul Gallen and Wade Graham
Paul Gallen and the Sharkies may not be a match made in heaven. He may well finish his career like fellow one-club forwards Nathan Hindmarsh, Nathan Cayless and Wayne Pearce without a premiership.
But you surely have to give credit to the bloke for sticking with a side that’ve been through it all. When he takes the field Gallen demands the ball. He runs hard at the line. From the first hit up to the final siren, he does not stop running.
And when he’s not running he’s either tackling or being tackled. He’s a workhorse, and a mighty good one at that.
Wade Graham has stepped up to the plate, especially when filling in as captain. He’s a player with the strength of a forward and the ability to act as playmaker in times of need.
Storm: Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith
When Cronk returned from a broken arm to play Origin 3, I was baffled as to how he’d recovered so quickly. But to watch him carve up the Blues, it was sheer brilliance. I wouldn’t be surprised if scientists one day revealed that he’s part cyborg.
He’s the ultimate professional, never stops improving himself by going above and beyond off the field.
Cameron Smith may look like an accountant, but that’s all part of this hero’s facade. Mild mannered by day, this bloke transforms into that of a super human when he dons that purple jersey with lightning bolts.
A tough competitor at every level of the game, his influence and impact at Melbourne is so profound that in his absence his side could be mistaken for the under 20s team, such is their lack of direction.
Case in point, the 2008 GF he was out suspended. A side still well over the salary cap were put to the sword by Manly in a 40-0 thrashing. Twelve months prior, with Smith there, the Storm belted Manly to take out the premiership. Twelve months later they did the same, this time against the Eels.
Tigers: Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods
I may have my Blues glasses on here, but after reviewing two of Queensland’s finest, surely I can be excused. Farah is the ultimate competitor, sometimes criticised for over playing his hand, there’s nothing that stops this guy giving 110 per cent every week.
And Aaron Woods? He’s the type of player every other player would be happy to play alongside. The scruffy looking forward runs like he’s been chased by rabid dogs, and tackles like the bloke with the ball just nicked his last five bucks.
Titans: Kevin Gordon and Luke Bailey
Some may be scratching their head as to why Dave Taylor isn’t named based on my opening. One word: Consistency. Or in his case lack there of.
Luke Bailey is an ageing prop who works tirelessly and puts his younger team mates to shame.
In the absence of William Zillman, Kevin Gordon has stepped up something fierce. His pace and agility on the wing, has helped transform him into a fullback exciting to watch. With extra room to move, he has torn up the middle of the field, proving the catalyst for a few of the Titans crucial victories this season.
Warriors: Shaun Johnson and Konrad Hurrell
Watching Johnson burst through the line at will during the Nines Tournament, I could tell we were in for a real treat this season. His combination with Sam Tomkins continues to improve. With a rotation of halves partners this year, Shaun has been the constant in a team that continues to struggle with consistency.
Konrad Hurrell is more tank than human, close to the line he’s nearly unstoppable. He all ready has 10 tries to his name this season, each sealed with a kiss blown to his mum. Averaging an impressive 120 metres and 4.5 tackle breaks, he has one thing that can’t be coached – raw power.
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