With Origin a distant memory and everyone’s focus completely on the run into the finals there are lots of interesting stories to play out in the NRL this season.
Will the Sea Eagles regain earlier form and stay in the eight? Will a JT-less Cowboys miss out on finals footy? Will the Panthers start to live up to expectation and hold onto their finals spot?
At the other end of the table the intrigue continues. Will the Knights keep the faith with Nathan Brown and give him some more time to continue the reconstruction of the proud Newcastle team? Will the Bulldogs be hiring some legal specialists to find a loophole that will allow them to undo the new contract with Des?
But one of the most heated discussions, especially among us disgruntled fans whose team’s players are already checking in online for their early holiday flights, is who has been the biggest disappointment this year.
To be honest there have been some strong contenders. The NSW Blues almost made it onto the list after their recent capitulation but then I realised that actually they were never going to win in the first place – the Maroons are simply too good.
The Tigers, unsurprisingly, are on the list too. From back office to playing field they have managed to demonstrate some truly impressive levels of poor performance but with the upheaval that they’ve been through it seems fair to leave them be for a while longer. Plus under Ivan Cleary’s management they do seem to be some signs of positivity in the back half of the season.
How about the Warriors – surely one of the most consistently frustrating teams the NRL has ever seen? So much talent and yet the most irritating run of under performance over several years since their 2011 grand final appearance against the Sea Eagles. But did anyone really expect anything different?
It can’t be easy being the other rugby side in the land of the All Blacks and like I say, we all knew that this was going to happen yet again.
In the past few weeks the Dogs and the Titans have both made a strong play for most disappointing team of the year. Both on the field and off the field these clubs have shown some impressive commitment to messing things up. Both coaches and players are unsettled at these clubs and the results on the field are unsurprisingly suffering week after week.
So who is it that has let their fans and the whole game down the most in 2017? Please come to the stage and collect your prize… drum roll… the Rabbitohs!!!
Whether you are a Bunnies fan or not there is something annoying about an NRL where the Green and Red deliver such poor rugby league week in and week out. To make matters worse they have such an incredible roster that is jam packed with experience and skill. But this year this roster has been struggling week after week. Players like George and Tom Burgess have been playing far, far below their ability while club legends like John Sutton just seem to be out of ideas or energy.
Sure GI has been missing for much of the season but look at the Cowboys – they’ve been missing Thurston and yet are winning games and are battling hard to stay in the eight. And what’s more damning for the Bunnies is that the Cowboys seem to give a damn. For so many games this season the majority of the Bunnies seem to be missing that “anything to win” mentality.
They go through the motions but there doesn’t seem to be that do or die attitude that can see average teams win games they arguably shouldn’t. The Knights are a good example – they have a lack of experience and talent in many positions and yet Brown has got them working hard no matter and in recent weeks this has seen them win games and forcing the Tigers to fight hard to avoid the Wooden Spoon.
Maguire however doesn’t seem to have any tricks left in his bag – the players seem uninspired and are definitely uninspiring.
Not having talent is one thing. Not working as hard as you can for 80 mins and for each other is not acceptable. So many things are in the South Sydney team’s favour and yet the past two seasons has seen them underperform. The Rabbitohs have fallen quite a way from the grand final triumph of just a few years ago and what’s more worrying is that I really don’t see 2018 being that different.
David Brown
Roar Rookie
I agree Oliver about how any club would improve with Bellamy and Bennett although I think the Raiders manage to be far less than the sum of their parts. I feel sorry for Austin as he has trouble organising play as too many players take it on from dummy half. On 4th or 5th tackle he'll look up to see Leilua playing the ball with Rapana aimlessly wandering around in the middle. There is something to be said for the robotic style of play the Storm and Cowboys use where everyone knows their role in each play.
Gold Coast Bunny
Guest
Hi Steve I know I am a bit slow in this and being a bunnies man you may already have your eye on on Tyrone Taukamo who is in our NYC . He will be 19 next year (older than later Elle Mitchell when he debuted for the roosters, plays wing, centre, is 115 kegs and seems to move pretty well for such a big guy. I know being good in the juniors doesn't count for much but he had offers from 15 clubs and even Toulon in France so there up high hopes for this kid. If Madge can bring him along I think we will have the back, with Inglis and Gagai to bring us out out of trouble to help the big boys up front. We have some good young forward on the rise and whilst 2018 might not see us up the top again I think we will be up the ladder from where we are now. If you haven't seem this from 2016 have a look http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2016/10/26/who_is_tyrone_taukam.html
BigJ
Roar Guru
I look forward to Storm v Knights though
BigJ
Roar Guru
I react my previous statement, tonights gamw wasnt that bad but still a bad loss for the Warriors
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Yeah their performance against the Panthers where they gave up that huge lead was just crazy and totally agree that they are disappointing.....but is anyone really surprised???
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Yeah I agree that they are disappointing but does anyone really think they are going to do better? It's the same story for the Warriors year after year
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Do you have a great pack? There are some stars in there for certain, BUT Hooker - Neither Cook nor Farah have done much this year, nor last... 2nd Row - Right side is looking good with Crichton - WHY IS MADGE PLAYING HIM INJURED? That makes no sense to me. Left side? I don't see much that's great. Prop - The Burgess brothers have gotten slack. They wouldn't be getting as many games as they are at other clubs (nor paid as much) There's a couple of young guys coming through like Murray, but the world was at Turner's feet a few years ago and now people are saying get rid of him. So I wouldn't be counting those chickens yet. Bottom line is, Maguire needs to adapt as a coach. He's got a couple of weapons next year in S.Burgess, the returning Inglis, Cody 'Smooth Operator' Walker, and Gagai. A lock and three quick backs. Bash and barge won't work here - he needs something to allow the skills of these backline guys to flourish, and use Burgess as the point of difference.
John
Guest
I dunno, I think Souths vs Bulldogs last week has that honour.
BigJ
Roar Guru
I think biggest disappointment of the year would be the Warriors. Lackluster performances, no depth in attack and i dont know how many times they have lost a lead this year and end up losing a game. Very poor indeed. Johnson getting injuried has not helped the cause. Tonights game against the bunnies is set to be the worst game of the year.
Bonza
Guest
Please explain South's alleged great roster. Sutton well past his prime, no threatening centres, no feared forwards other than Sam/Crighton. No creative 5/8, hooker. Sure, they're flat but hardly due to underperfoming roster. That honour must go to Titans/Warriors where talented players get worse.
Andrew
Guest
I mean that as a genuine question. Fair point Vincent. But if Parra won this year would Tim Mannah go down as a club legend just because he was captain? I don't think so. Sutton in 2014; 1 try, 3 line breaks all year - average 70m and 18 tackles a game. He didn't do an awful lot - kind of story of his career really...
Albo
Guest
Surely the " White Album" is their best ?
Albo
Guest
I wouldn't say that the Rabbitohs have been the most disappointing team this year. Sure they have struggled most of the year with some key injuries to GI ( season) and Reynolds ( regularly) and some poor form from the Burgi boys and some other dead wood in the team, but I think they unearthed some really good future talent this year ( Crichton, Murray & Fuimaono) and they have bought well early for next year ( Gagai) . Time for a few to be put out to pasture ( Sutton, Tyrell, Turner, the Burgi twins) and some more new blood injected. I see 2018 as a much brighter year for the Bunnies especially if GI is back and interested in moulding these young guys.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
Put a face on gambling who is recognisable as an ex-player not the privileged son of a racing tycoon and Bob's your uncle - free for all. They are advertising "specials" and "opt outs" and "full time if your team is ahead by 12".....I don't gamble but know all of this jargon due to constant TV bombardment which is broadcast at times that kids watch TV - I guess from an advertising perspective it has worked perfectly - from a moral perspective it puts the NRL in a terrible position. Gamble Responsibly.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Captain of the 2014 Drough breaking side, Most games in the Red and Green, member of the BRa Boys, how could he not be?
John
Guest
Biggest disappointment was probably Greenburg's definition of striking while the iron was hot with regards to the closure of the Force in 2018, is ... only going to be "considered" in 2022 when the TV deals are done. That's your definition of striking while the iron is hot Greenburg? Hate to see his time frames for long term plans are.
chris
Guest
good post Adam. Agree with all points esp Origin (done to death) and footy show (please just make it go away)
AGordon
Guest
My biggest disappointment, even though I'm not a Cowboys fan, was the injury to Thurston. If you look at how this side has tried to lift to cover for him, it shows how well respected he is in the club. With him there, they were a real chance to take it to the Storm but now....
matth
Guest
It amazes me how Bennett's effort to get the Knights within 80 minutes of a grand final is completely forgotten or underrated. Look at how the Knights went in the years before and after that time. Look at how the Dragons went before and after his stay. Look at how the Broncos went while he was away and then they make a grand final when he returns. All the evidence i8s there that this grumpy old fella makes a real difference.