There has been a lot of negative talk about all things NRL recently. Rotten referees, garbage coaches, terrible administrators, dreadful rep sides, players with a lack of dedication, unfair free-to-air scheduling, and falling crowds.
Lots of that stuff is true, too.
However, this week I’ve decided to take a break from joining in with the bad mouthing of the game we love to look at what I like about it. And there is a lot to like at each club.
The Cowboys
Jason Taumololo
Even when this half-human-half-bull-running-on-its-hind-legs is smashing his way through my side it is still breathtaking to watch. He isn’t just raw power, he’s got speed and a step too. When I interviewed Michael Morgan a few weeks ago, I asked him if he wished Taumololo was a Queenslander. His reply? “I’m just glad he’s not from NSW.”
Michael Morgan
With Johnathan Thurston gone for the season, lots of us thought the Cowboys’ chances were gone too. Morgan has stepped up to run the side brilliantly. While no-one can fully replace the great JT, Morgan is proving to be a great chief playmaker in his own right and, as a result, the Cowboys are still contenders in 2017.
Honourable mentions
- Coen Hess. The young man mountain they call ‘Drago’ is excitement personified.
- Ethan Lowe’s haircut. He looks like he’s entering a Nick Cummins lookalike contest. He goal kicks good.
- Gavin Cooper’s grit. A bodyguard without a body to guard. He has taken the captaincy very well.
- Kyle Feldt’s finishing abilities are excellent. His take for the winner against the Panthers was superb.
The Broncos
Andrew McCullogh
I love me a good hooker and McCullogh is a very good hooker. Averaging 52 tackles a game, McCullogh is the heart and soul of the Broncos defence. One of the contenders to the Maroon No.9 jersey if Cam Smith ever retires.
Anthony Milford
He has only just turned 23. He’s already bloody good and we haven’t seen the best of him yet. Fast and tough, a few more years with Allan Langer instructing him and who knows how good he will become?
Honourable mentions
- Ben Hunt. He’s leaving, but that stint in Reggies has him on fire. He means to go out with a bang.
- Corey Oates. Hard done by getting dropped from the Origin squad, he’s going to be yet another superb Bronco winger.
- Matt Gillett. Sure he misses a few tackles but he’s a guy you’d want next to you in the trenches.
- Wayne Bennett. I’m a Wayne zealot.
AAP Image/Dan Peled
The Titans
Ryan James, Nathan Peats, Jarrod Wallace
What a superb front row. You can build a premiership behind that. Ryan James should be firmly in Laurie Daley’s sights for next year’s Origin series.
Ash Taylor
Excess to requirements up the road at the Broncos, the 22-year-old Toowoomba product is already starting to assert himself as an effective general. His running, kicking and organisational games have really stepped up again in 2017. A few more years and he’ll be a representative player.
Honourable mentions
- Anthony Don. A meat-and-potatoes winger who is so reliable and effective he’s like a Swiss watch.
- Neil Henry. Has managed to once more get this side – that has so many excuses to fail – to be quite competitive.
The Sea Eagles
The Trbojevic brothers
Tom and Jake are simply superb. Jake was great for NSW this year in his debut series and Tom was unlucky not to feature. I thought Manly would be bottom four in 2017, not with these two stars in their ranks! More like top four. Apparently there’s a third one as well.
Daly Cherry-Evans
A superb player who has seemingly been spurned by Queensland. As a halfback he can do it all. Further, his defence is top notch. A lovely young man as well, regardless of what the haters say.
Honourable mentions
- Martin Taupau. So much of the Sea Eagles’ success this season has been on the back of the brutal go-forward this bloke generates.
- Dylan Walker. This bloke can be anything he wants to be. Some days he wants to be an awesome footy player.
- The Sea Eagles’ staff. I go to a lot of NRL grounds, but the staff at Brookvale are second to none. They couldn’t be more helpful and friendly.
The Eels
Clint Gutherson
The tragedy of this season is ‘King Gutho’ doing his ACL. Talked about as a possible Dally M winner, he was a try-scoring machine who had the Eels in danger of being actual contenders. Get well soon Gutho.
Brad Arthur
In 2016, when all around him was chaos, coach Arthur managed to keep the club together – and winning matches – when he had every excuse to deliver poor results. This season he sees virtually the same squad in strong contention to play finals. He is a great coach.
Honourable mentions
- Tim Mannah. A genuinely good man. At the age of 29, he is still playing great footy too.
- Nathan Brown. Aside from his previous crotch stomping, I really like the cut of this young tyro’s jib. His 33 tackles and 131 metres a match this year adds to that liking.
- Relative calm at Parramatta. I am so sick of turmoil and in fighting at the Eels. I feel for their fans. This year’s relative calm has been great.
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The Panthers
Nathan Cleary
Gus Gould said that he didn’t want Nathan Cleary playing for NSW yet. That makes one of him. I loved his dad as a player and now as a coach. Nathan seems to have the footballing brain of his dad but far better skills. This kid – and I’m wary of comparisons – could be the next great halfback.
Josh Mansour
A great player and a great bloke, ‘Mansauce’ makes the Panthers better. It’s no coincidence that their 2016 form has reappeared with his return from a knee reconstruction. Plays the game the way it should be played.
Honourable mentions
- Dallin Watene-Zeleniak. I rate this kid. I love watching him.
- Regan Campbell-Gillard. Not a regular type of front rower but damn he’s effective. The pimp moustache just adds to the whole package.
- Panther Park. My favourite ground in the NRL. I always love going there. A great family atmosphere.
The Wests Tigers
Ivan Cleary
Who in their right mind would want to coach the Wests Tigers? The fans should be eternally grateful that Ivan Cleary came. Like Aragorn at Helms Deep, Cleary will mount a great defence with the tools he has at his disposal – and he’ll improve everything while he’s at it. I still don’t understand why he was let go from the Panthers. My favourite coach outside of my own.
David Nofoaluma
Loyal to the Wests Tigers when lots of others were deserting, the flying winger is a great finisher and will be at the club for a number of years to come.
Honourable mentions
- The Bus. Cleary came and made it clear he needed to know who was on the bus and who wasn’t. It would have been hard to lose Tedesco but the club needed to move on. Now they’ve got Ivan’s bus.
- Luke Brooks. The lesser part of the big four and the only one to remain. A lot rests on the young man. It was great to see him commit to the club.
AAP Image/Paul Miller
The Bulldogs
Josh Jackson
The boy from Gulgong is a remarkable player. In the tradition of Bulldog second rowers, Jackson is hard as nails, highly mobile and not yet at his peak. The Bulldogs have issues at the moment but Jackson ain’t one of them.
David Klemmer
When he was sin-binned by Gerry Sutton on Good Friday in 2015 I thought that Klemmer, while a powerful forward, was a hot-headed fool. The head has cooled but the power certainly hasn’t. What chance NSW had in Origin 3 rested with Klemmer and his superb forward play. He bends the line every time he runs the ball. A superb player.
Honourable mentions
- Josh Reynolds. I love him. I know he can be a grub but he’s an infectious human. Once you meet him you can’t help but like him.
- The Bulldogs fans. The crowd that poured onto Belmore to mob Josh Reynolds is what is so great about the Doggies. Such a deeply passionate fan-base. I used to fear them, now I just admire them.
The Sharks
James Maloney
I know I bag him out a lot about his masses of penalties conceded (24 and counting) but he’s an irrepressible character and I can’t help but like him. No doubt the scourge of his teachers, his deft playmaking skills get better every year. Watching him run after his daughter on the Canberra Stadium turf after defeating the Raiders in the finals game last year made me like him even more.
Andrew Fifita
A walking conundrum, but when he is on he is as good as any prop I’ve ever seen. That includes Lazarus, Webcke and Roach. If he can get his head right I’m not sure he can be stopped. He certainly isn’t boring.
Honourable mentions
- Chad Townsend. The quiet achiever. His hair always seems neat. I like the way he carries himself. There is a lot on his shoulders while Maloney’s hand heals.
- Valentine Holmes. Superb on the run. A joy to watch.
AAP Image/Dean Lewins
The Roosters
Boyd Cordner
I liked him before Origin 2017. I love him after it. He’s a guy you want in your corner as he doesn’t give up. He’s also superbly skilled and strong to boot. Don’t be surprised if he lifts the trophy this season. And he’s only 25. It seems like he’s been around much longer.
Mitch Aubusson
Meat and potatoes personified. Could fit in well at the Storm as you can always count on him to do his job. Whether it is in the back row or the backs, Aubusson will not let you down.
Honourable mentions
- Luke Keary. Not sure why the Rabbits let him go. The Roosters are happy about it though.
- Michael Gordon. Nearly 34, ‘Flash’ just keeps giving great value to whatever team he is with.
The Rabbitohs
Angus Crichton
In a season the Bunnies would prefer to forget, Crichton has been a shining ray of light. I wish like hell I’d had him in my Supercoach side as his seven tries and average of 31 tackles, 115 metres and four line breaks are awesome.
Sam Burgess
I’m not sure the big lad from Dewsbury, Yorkshire is mentally balanced, but maybe it’s because he is a little crazy that I like him so. I love the way he plays, wearing his heart on his sleeve, tough as nails and uncompromising. I look forward to watching him.
Honourable mentions
- Alex Johnston. 15 tries and counting. He’s a great player we haven’t seen the best of yet.
- Adam Reynolds. He is a quality halfback and great goalkicker.
- Cody Walker. The bloke has talent, no question. Let’s hope he is able to properly harness it.
The Dragons
Gareth Widdop
Just magnificent this year. He is able to do it all, and sometimes does. Great at goalkicking and how good was it seeing his boy give him a hug while being ball boy? Widdop could lead the Dragons back to glory.
Paul Vaughan
I didn’t want him to leave the Raiders. However, his form at the Dragons is better than anything he did in Canberra. Joining a superb forward pack, Vaughan has quickly become its most essential member. Unlucky not to play Origin this year.
Cameron McInnes
Two tries, two line break assists and four try assists is the ribbon that wraps the great package that is the Dragons’ hooker. What’s in the box? 49 tackles a game with just 0.8 misses on average, meaning he misses just 1.6 per cent of the tackles he attempts. That is an unbelievable stat.
Honourable mention
- Jack De Belin. Got rid of the man bun/top knot/whale spout. Well done.
AAP Image/David Rowland
The Storm
Craig Bellamy
Talking to Alan Tongue the other day, it dawned on us that Bellamy created Cam Smith and Cooper Cronk in his desired image: tough, smart, excellent trainers, totally committed, brilliant game managers. If he could do it twice then he can do it again… All New South Welshmen should be praying he moulds eligible Blues players next time. A master coach of undoubted ability and dedication.
The big three
One can only watch in awe at the majesty of Cronk, Smith and Slater. For over ten years, they’ve strode the NRL like behemoths. Cronk is a brilliant structured player, Smith is perhaps the best game manager ever – and let’s not forget his amazing efforts like 70 tackles in the 2016 grand final. Slater is just a freak. A total freak. We’ll bore our grandkids with tales of Billy the Kid.
Honourable mentions
- Cameron Munster. The kid is very, very good.
- Nelson Asofa-Solomona. So big. So good.
The Warriors
A Kiwi side that wins nothing
As we have to tolerate the Kiwis constantly lauding their precious All Blacks and their monotonous superiority in the game with lots of scrum resets, isn’t it nice the Warriors do no such thing?
While stacked with masses of talent, they usually manage to turn it into a bottom-eight finish. I’ve been so disappointed with this side’s wasted potential that I really can’t think of anything I like about them.
AAP Image/David Rowland
The Raiders
Ricky Stuart
I know heaps of you loathe this man, but he’s great. For the first time since Tim Sheens left, I feel real confidence in the coaching team that is leading my side. Ricky wears his heart on his sleeve, he bleeds for his team and loves his boys. The dickhead quotient at the club has all but disappeared since he returned. Even with the unfortunate season his side has had, the supporters and team are still united firmly behind their prodigal son.
Haters gonna hate.
Nic Cotric
I’m not sure a teenager and first-season rookie has ever won his club’s best and fairest prize, but Cotric may well do just that. No one seems to have told him he’s a rookie and should be nervous. Every time he’s been tested he’s dealt brilliantly and often returned serve. A superstar in the making.
Honourable mentions
- Shannon Boyd. A massive unit who is getting better and better.
- The Viking Clap. It’s a great way to start a match, it really gets the crowd into it.
The Knights
The Matautii
The brothers three: Sione, Peter and Chanel are only young but they are going to be great. I especially love the headgeared Sione. He’d be in any 17 I had.
The Ross Dog
Deciding that you are going to give rugby league a proper go is one thing, pulling it off is another. This bloke loves his footy and it shows. It is great watching him and his boundless enthusiasm for the game.
The Novocastrian Crowd
An average crowd of 15,000 when the results are this bad? That’s remarkable and a testament to the loyalty of the Newcastle people. They won’t desert you when times are tough.
Honourable mentions
- Mitch Barnett. The big unit really has a go.
Rex Fulton
Guest
You must not have been watching that closely then as the standard was good in those days and remember it was the 5 metre rule and players had full time jobs too - train maybe twice a week - during the regular season only 2 replacements both of whom had to have at least played 1/2 a game in a lower grade.
Ryan
Guest
Still turn mate, good call on the Sharkies
matth
Guest
Let's see if I can wipe that hippy positivity out from under you Tim. Now what is guaranteed to send Tim into a Ricky Stuart-like mouth frothing, eye-ball bulging tantrum. Hmmmm......Alan Langer, super-trainer. Seriously though, great article and almost every item on the list makes me go 'yeah, they are awesome'. I would add a couple: - the corner post rule change and the amazing athletic wingers' tries that have resulted. There appears to be a bubble on the field about 5 metres around each corner post where the laws of physics do not apply. - A Des Hasler post game press conference. - Benji Marshall winding the clock back and enjoying footy. - The Titans losing Greg Bird, gaining an elite spine and somehow jagging a marquee player to bring Hope onto the strip and turn into everyone's second favourite team. Is Don, is good. And of course Tim Gore, and all the good folk on the Roar, giving us a chance to tear their articles apart, tear each other apart, and then have to put our money where our mouths are and write some articles of our own. May it long continue.
matth
Guest
How about on those occasions when Johnson decides to go, he is the most electrifying attacking player on the planet. No consistency whatsoever, but a supreme talent.
Sava
Guest
Thanks Flea just recovering from re-bore op. So thats enother x on the wall.W-league (women's soccer) my favorite ,I am waiting for one of them to lift their shirt up after they score. Sava
bazza
Guest
You missed one of the reasons everyone watches the games. All the great trys scored every year some pretty awesome trys are scored to watch. Even last sunday Teddys try against the eels was good and i'm an eels fan. I always enjoy a great try (maybe not in the moment if it's against my team but after that initial disappointment it gets better)
J
Roar Rookie
Hi Tim, hope you lasted the day being positive. Re Warriors, for me Manners is the one. Just puts in every week. (Great for fantasy too)
RM
Guest
Yeah I've often had the exact same thought. MCullough is an excellent hooker, but he can't break a game open like Granville can. Head to head I'd rate them like this: Defense - McCullough. Although Granville is no slouch and can absolutely cut blokes in half, McCullough is Mr Perpetual Motion in defense and we seem to leak points like a sieve whenever he's not playing. He's the bedrock of Brisbane's defensive structure and you probably couldn't say the same about Granville at the Cowboys. Attack - Granville, by a fair margin. Granville is bigger threat from dummy half as a ball runner, and also as a distributor. It's an area McCullough is gradually improving in, but doesn't come up with the try assists, line breaks or tries that Granville does. He doesn't have Granville's creativity. Long kicking game - McCullough, easily. Always a chance of a 40/20 early in the tackle count, he keeps the opposition's back three on their toes which also can sometimes help free up some space on the edges for an attacking raid. Short kicking game - Granville. A fairly close one and McCullough is also pretty handy with a little grubber into the in goal, but I'd rate Granville's ability to thread the ball in between defenders and pull it up in the in-goal a little higher. Game Management: ?? For me, this is the big question mark still over both players. They both seem to take a back seat to their respective halves when it comes to managing a game. I'll call this one a draw. So yeah, it's pretty much 50:50 as far as I can see it and it comes down to whether you'd prefer a defensive 9 or an attacking 9. I think McCullough's defense is hugely important for the Broncos and as the top-scoring team in the competition this year, our attack isn't doing too badly either but...still...there are times when I can't help but think what might have been if we'd kept Granville instead. The 2015 Grand Final, for instance...
peeeko
Guest
about other sports
jeff dustby
Guest
Tyrone Peachey - plays all of them better
Fix the scums
Guest
Way to go Tim. We can all get a bit too critical at times. Refreshing .
Tim Gore
Expert
I like both Granville and McCullough. It was a hard choice red hill had to make...
Tim Gore
Expert
Bats. Lots of bats...
Tim Gore
Expert
Very fair comment
Griggso
Guest
Yes well certainly not while he's lost in a hellish, introspective nightmare...
Ed
Guest
FM. You need to read the detail in that NFL study. It was 110 out of 111 brains provided by families of deceased NFL players who were concerned that their former family member had suffered from playing in the NFL. It wasn't a random selection of former NFL players.
Craig
Guest
McCullough is a very consistent performer and I am not knocking him. He is one of the best going around and always in our top 5 players week in week out. I do however wonder often just how good the Broncos would be if we had kept Granville instead of McCullough. Granvilles creativity linking with the likes of Milford, Hunt, Nikorima, Boyd etc would be unstoppable IMO. Granville has improved immensely at the cowboys and had a great few years and well done to him. The cowboys struggles this year coincided with his injury (admittedly with a few others too, Coote, Thurston, etc), but since his return (again, along with others) the cowboys have looked great.
Craig
Guest
Lets not forget that Inglis debuted in 2005 and debuted for QLD and Australia in 2006 as a 19 year old and cemented his position from there. Mitchell has played 40 odd club games, is 20 years old and IMO hasn't even cemented a place in first grade. Yes he's good when he's on, but at times this year has barely looked like a first grader. The pressure on him his a bit unfair IMO. He wont be an Inglis. I think he'll be knocking on the door for rep duties in a couple of years, but that's an extra few years than Inglis to develop. Lets not forget just how good Inglis is (was).
Albo
Guest
Holden Cup skipper & try scoring, try assisting, line breaking number 9.
nerval
Guest
I enjoyed that, Tim. Here are some of my thoughts. Re Billy Slater, it was only a few weeks ago that many on these pages were lauding Queensland's decision to leave him out of Origin for Darius Boyd. There were people who tried to argue that Boyd - an excellent player no doubt, at the top of his game - was the right man for the job and some even tried to diminish Billy's stature in the game. One problem: Slater is a bona fide footballing genius. Honestly, he looks as good as ever - and that means we're watching the best since Langlands. Will Meaning stay loyal to Boyd or return the Kangaroos no 1 jersey to its rightful owner? Mansour? Great bloke, mediocre player. Strong and squat but erratic beneath the high ball, definitively slow for a winger, relatively unskilled and bereft of anything resembling a side-step or swerve. He also does what Aaron Woods rightly gets criticised for - he often backs his way into the defensive line. Nelson Asofa-Solomona? A mighty talent who still plays far too few minutes. What's going on? Is he seriously gassed or is his coach trying to teach him some kind of lesson? Latrell Mitchell's athleticism and footballing talent is on another level. I'm a bit puzzled as to why he's dropped behind Tommy Turbo in many people's eyes. For mine, he's superior - and a couple of years younger. I love James Roberts. Nobody;s more thrilling in full flight. His one weakness is getting flat-footed against an opponent trying g to make an outside break. It's a bit odd that he misreads this move so often. Keep it up, Tim!