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With the dust having settled on the 2009 NRL season, NRL Live has selected the thirteen best players by position of the year.
It has indeed been a while since I have written anything but stay tuned for a preview of the Four Nations as well as a player movements summary for 2010.
1. Jarryd Hayne (Eels) – was the only shining light in a disappointing New South Wales side and his late season form was simply out of this world.
2. Brett Morris (Dragons) – finished as the competition’s leading try scorer and looks set to make his Australian debut in the upcoming four nations.
3. Josh Morris (Bulldogs) – the ‘Doggies’ Morris had an equally impressive season, scoring 21 tries and earning two State of Origin appearances.
4. Greg Inglis (Storm) – won the Wally Lewis Medal for best player in the Origin series and claimed his second premiership.
5. Taniela Tuiaki (Tigers) – the bustling winger steamrolled opposition flankers before a broken leg cut his season short in Round 24.
6. Jamie Soward (Dragons) – the playmaker was the most consistent five-eighth of the season but failed to produce his best when St. George needed it the most.
7. Brett Kimmorley (Bulldogs) – was a major factor in Canterbury’s resurgence from 2008 wooden spooners to second place finishers.
8. Ben Hannant (Bulldogs) – another big name signing for the Bulldogs, Hannant’s high workrate makes him one of the better props in the game at the moment.
9. Cameron Smith (Storm) – captained the Storm to the premiership and once again paved the way for Queensland.
10. Fui Fui Moi Moi (Eels) – had an ordinary first half of the year but, as was the case with Parramatta teammate Jarryd Hayne, was unstoppable near the end. Fui Fui singlehandedly sparked the Eels’ comeback in the grand final.
11. Ben Creagh (Dragons) – a dangerous runner on the fringes and should be in the Australian squad.
12. Gareth Ellis (Tigers) – is the first Englishman to play in the NRL since Adrian Morley and by the time his stint in this country is over, he will have left a Morley-like legacy.
13. David Stagg (Bulldogs) – combined his tenacious defence with a new found ball playing ability.
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What are your thoughts? Who would be in your team?
To all the loyal readers out there, it has been a while but NRL Live will be up and running again in the coming week.
So stay tuned for some new content and my thoughts about all things rugby league in the lead up to the 2009 NRL finals series!
In the meantime, don't forget to keep up to date with the tipping competition. At the moment maddog67 leads the way with 227 points, while cals6 and geppo are tied in equal second on 221 points.
As promised, the winner of the 2009 tipping competition will receive a cap of the NRL team of their choice mailed directly to their doorstep courtesy of NRL Live.
At the midway point of the season we often hear about the players who have made an impact since shifting clubs over the off season. Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Israel Folau, Isaac de Gois, Darius Boyd and Michael Weyman are just some names that spring to mind.
But what about the recruits who have failed to live up to expectations?
NRL Live hasn’t forgotten and this week we take a look at some of the worst buys of 2009..
Aaron Gorrell (Broncos)
The former St. George hooker arrived in Brisbane after spending two seasons playing for Les Catalans Dragons in the English Super League. At the start of the year Gorrell was viewed as a replacement for the departed Michael Ennis but has since fallen out of the side altogether with PJ Marsh and 19-year old Andrew McCullough being preferred in the number nine. He has even been overlooked for the Broncos’ Round 15 side, despite the fact that it includes three debutants. Gorrell has been named starting hooker for Wynnum Manly in their clash against the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup this weekend.
Corey Hughes (Sharks)
This is not really a dig at Hughes but rather a dig at the Sharks poor recruitment. Cronulla signed the 31-year old hooker on a one year deal while allowing promising (and much younger) dummy half Isaac de Gois to leave to the Knights. Not surprisingly, Sharks fans have a raw deal as Hughes has failed to provide any spark from dummy half. On the other hand, de Gois has proven especially dangerous for the eighth placed Newcastle.
Reni Maitua (Sharks)
Maitua was sacked by the Bulldogs at the end of 2008 for repeated indiscretions and was, very generously, given a second chance by the Sharks. But rather than repaying the faith placed in him, Maitua instead tested positive to banned performance enhancing drug Clenbuterol after just eight games for the Sharks. He is now serving a two year suspension and it’s highly unlikely that he’ll play league again.
Denan Kemp (Warriors)
The lightning quick winger had a stellar 2008 for the Broncos scoring 19 tries, winning the club’s rookie of the year award and being touted as a future Origin representative. Kemp is renowned for his blinding acceleration and speed but has only crossed the try line once for his new club. After a lacklustre start to this year he now finds himself playing fullback in New Zealand reserve grade. Reports suggest Kemp is out of sorts at the Warriors so don’t be surprised to see him make a return to Australia and regain top form at some point in the future.
Joel Moon (Warriors)
Moon followed his Broncos teammate Kemp across the Tasman with the goal of outlining his playmaking credentials at five-eighth. He started the season in the number six but with the Warriors only winning three from their first eight Moon is now on the outer. At 21, the Queenslander is still in his infancy as an NRL player so I’m not writing his whole career off by any means. However, it is safe to say that the Warriors are yet to receive any value for money.
But the award for worst buy goes to Arana Taumata (pictured) from the Melbourne Storm for being signed and then sacked before the season even started.
Despite being only 20 years of age, Taumata has been shown the door by four NRL clubs in the past four years. Brisbane and Sydney were the first to dismiss the youngster in 2006 and 2007 respectively. He was then picked up by the Bulldogs, who released him at the end of 2008 after he allegedly broke a man’s jaw. The Storm then granted Taumata a lifeline after his Bulldogs stint with the goal of giving the wayward playmaker the number six jersey in 2009. Unfortunately he failed to last the off season and was kicked out a month before Round One following a drunken altercation.
Taumata has recently landed a contract with Queensland Cup side Easts Tigers and, after watching him play last Saturday, there’s no doubting Taumata’s talent and fleet footwork. In fact he set up one try and scored another in just his second game off the bench. But as the cliché goes, he’ll definitely have to improve his attitude if he wants another crack at NRL level.
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But what are your thoughts? Who has been the least impressive from your club?
Here are the team lists for State of Origin and Round Fifteen of the 2009 NRL Premiership. This post will be updated as further squads are released throughout the day. The Queensland side is expected to be named at 2:00pm.
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As you would have probably noticed, NRL Live has been rather dead over the past month. It has been rather busy for me lately with work and university commitments and life in general. Not that I’m complaining, it’s great to be on the go, but unfortunately this blog (as much as I love it) has been shuffled down to the bottom of my list.
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Here are the team lists for Round Eight of the 2009 NRL Premiership. This post will be updated as the squads are released.
** ALL TEAMS FINALISED **
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New South Wales have suffered three consecutive series defeats at the hands of the mighty Maroons and, unless they get their team right, a fourth shield will be heading north of the border. What’s the ‘right’ team you ask? A lot can change between now and Origin but here is the team I think NSW should pick if they want to win back the trophy and some much needed pride
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Comment by ethos
on Selection Blues for NSW
NRL Live
Hayne on bench though.. what are your thoughts behind his selection?
And it will also be interesting to see who the Blues pick as captain now that Buderus is gone.
One of Gallen, Gidley or Bailey I would think.