Eels Blogs

Alright ladies and gentlemen, the longest 24 hour wait of your life is about to end because I am going to conclude my "overated" list.

Here are the top 10 imo. Feel free to discuss and debate (except Daneel because he doesn't believe in players being overated :P).

10. Neville COSTIGAN

-This guy is a Neville in every sense of the word. Debuted for the Broncs in 03 as an 18 year old and showed a lot of promise and won the rookie of the year. Then for the next coupple of seasons he failed to take his game to the next level, when many thought he would. Was involved in an off field incident in 06 and had his contract torn up by the club. This act showed the Broncos couldn't of had that high opinion of Costigan as it was his first offence. He then looked as if he could fall off the face of the earth, as a lot of players who have their contracts torn up do i.e Ian Lacey, Richie Williams, Steve Irwin. Then the Canberra Raiders offered him a lifeline which he indeed accepted. While at Canberra he had his injury troubles but showed determination to improve his game in an attempt to spite the broncs for sacking him. This lead to a rep call up for QLD where he looked solid, one of those players who seem to lift several levels when they pull on the maroon jersey. This Rep duty called the attention of "bigger clubs" if I can call them that, and Costigan proceeded to Sign with the Dragons, ironically linking with his former coach Wayne Bennett who sacked him at the Broncos. This imo was pretty dog to be honest, Costigan owed a lot to the Raiders who gave him a lifeline and managed to turn him into a Rep player, yet as soon as another club showed interest he left them high and dry. This has left a bitter taste in the Raider fans mouths, yet they have had the final laugh, because Costigan's move to the Dragons has proved a faliure. Although the Dragons managed to top the competition none of their good form could be attributed to Costigan, a few niggling injuries and just pure poor form left him battling to stay in the top grade. He is mistake ridden, misses tackles and is unfit. OVERATED just ask Dragons fans.  

9. Anthony LAFFRANCHI

- Tbh I have just never understood the hype with this guy. I don't think he is a bad player in the slightest, however when I watch him nothing in my mind screams wow, I just see your typical hardworking backrower. In fairness I didn't watch a lot of him in his first season at the Titans, so when he was picked for origin I was intrigued to see his improvement because when he played for the Tigers I never saw him as a future rep player. Well he didn't thrill me, he wasn't bad mind you, but he failed to really show anything special like I expected. His following Origin games just got less thrilling tbh, he seriously looked out of his league. The decision of selectors to continue picking him was even more puzzling considering the amount of depth the blues have in the backrow. Somehow his average rep form for a losing Origin team managed to get him a spot for the Kangaroos in the world cup. He won't be back.

8. Ashley HARRISON

- Gag, this guy is honestly just rubbish. I'd never heard of him while he was at Brisbane. Then he went to Souths where the absolute patheticness of his Jim Beam Cup standard team mates made him appear infinitely better than what he actually was. Went to the Roosters, did nothing, so they got rid of him. Now at the age of 28 he is at the Titans, where he still hasn't figured out what position he actually f*cking plays. People say he plays great at origin.. please. He usually comes on off the bench stands around looking lost and just passes to Inglis, whose brilliance to beat a man makes Harrison's pass look quality.

7. Anthony TUPOU

- Seriously poor man's Feliti Mateo, yet he has a whole lot more rep honours due to Ricky Stuart's man love infatuation with him. Tupou shows glimpses of class, then shows a whole lot of ass. Honestly when Stuart first picked him for Australia I hadn't even heard of him and I doubt half of his Australian team mates had either. I have NEVER seen him play consistently for a whole match in the NRL, perhaps just a good offload here or there. He fails to step up and be dominant against the big teams, he seems to be intimidated, just like when Fa'ologo king hit Anasta that day when he was still at the Roosters, and instead of standing up for his team mate he just sort of grabbed Fa' ologo's arm and said (in whiny voice) hayyyyy that's mean. Has never done anything at rep level and his constant inclusion in such squads is boardering on embarresing. Look he has talent, but I think he has had more than enough time in first grade to establish himself in the elite company. He'll be hoping that Ricky Stuart can keep finding first grade coaching positions, because as long as he does then Tupou will still have a job.

6. Trent BARRETT

- Now it is important when I talk about Trent, that we remember that I am talking of players being overated in the game in the present. I always thought Barrett was a great player for the Dragons in seasons past, however his last year or so there was poor although the fan's there seemed to blame him entirely for their lack of succes. He went to the ESL and dominated the lesser level of that competition. Rumours began to float that he wanted to return to AUS and the NRL with several teams interested, Dragons fans felt weak at the knees. He chose not to return to the Dragons and instead signed for their local rivals Cronulla. Last season, I seriously think Barrett took a lot less blame for the Sharkies poor form then what he should of. I know they had a horrendous run of injuries, but in general they just lacked direction, I wasn't surprised when Scott Porter ( a no name reserve grader) debuted which instantly gave them more fluency. I'm not denying Barrett's effort, he gave it his all, but he imo no longer looked up to speed of the NRL. He got picked for origin more or less because there was no other NSW five-eigths running around, where to his due he performed admirably however I think his performance looked a lot better than what it was because of NSW's dominance in the forwards that night. There was talk of Barrett touring with the Kangaroos at the end of last year for the 4 nations, thank god he was injured because that would of been an embaressment.

Ooh top 5 how exciting.

5. Darius BOYD

- Boyd is a safe and consistent outside back, but thats where the buck stops. He came into grade in a great Broncos team, which inevitably leads to a QLD birth and when QLD are winning the national selectors respond by picking QLD players. He is no better imo than someone like Luke Burt who has never been given a shot at rep footy (honestly I think Burt has more attacking ability than Boyd, and is just as safe). Although he was solid, the guy only scored 2 f*cking tries all of last season from fullback at the dragons. It boggles the mind that little over 12 months ago this guy was playing for Australia over players like Jarryd Hayne, Micheal Jennings, Morris Boys etc. Finally the guy just seems like a douche, did you actually see that interview from last year? what a wank.

4. Ryan HOFFMAN

- Ryan Nuffman as I like to affectionately know him as. I have a mate who used to play junior reps with him and it boggles his mind how he has gone on to play for Australia. Hoffman can thank Cooper Cronk for every blue and green and gold jersey he has aquired, because without Cronk's short ball I doubt Hoffman would still be in first grade. Apart from his hole running close to the line he offers NOTHING. He doesn't do the hard yards at Melbourne and I think he will be found out this year without Dallas Johnson in the team. At Origin level he just looks awful, offers the Blues nothing because he doesn't have the same understanding with the Blues halves thus his hole running has been ineffective. I remember in 08 when Hunt put him on his arse 3 times, I actually felt sorry for Hoffman it was so embarresing. Once again after Melbourne won the comp on the back of it's superstars it propelled Hoffman to another test jerdey, I was shattered because I thought the rep selectors had finally caught on that he was a nuffie, obviously not.

3. Micheal ENNIS

- I don't like Ennis, never have. He is only 25 yet has already played for 4 first grade sides. At the knights he was a cocky upstart and they flicked him to the dragons. He only lasted 1 season there, obviously not showing enough to demand a new contract (jeez if you can't outshine Dean Young you must be rubbish). Then went to the Broncos where he unfortunately had some injuries. When he came back he played halfback where all he did was hog the ball and stifle Lockyer. I honestly think Ennis's biggest weapon is his ability to annoy the shit out of the opposition and put them off their game. Last year at the Doggies he was given the Dally M hooker of the year medal, even though he was outpolled by Robbie Farah. I think the Doggies overall good form contributed to the selectors decision to choose him. Micheal Ennis's price actually went down 100k on the tele's fantasy team last year, that was the second worst loss in the whole comp, why? because he doesnt make many tackles, he misses a lot of tackles, he didn't score many tries and he didn't set up many tries. The guy does some good things but more often then not takes the wrong option. In the major semi last year against us he was totally outplayed by Matt Keating (and im not the greatest fan of MK as it is).

2. Jamal IDRIS

- Idris is a big athletic teenager who has many years ahead of him in the NRL. But seriously the rap's this kid already demands are unfounded. The only thing he has shown is he is hard to stop 1 on 1 close to the line. He is slow, unfit, atrocious at reading defense alround liability in my eyes. I believe he will be targeted heavily this season in defense after Burt and Inu schooled him in the major semi. Much like Eric Grothe is targeted at Parra and Sandow is targeted at Souths. Every coach in the competition by now would of caught on to his inneptitude in defense, I actually think it will get so bad that Moore will be forced to either move him in the defensive line or drop him all together. I can't get over the fact so many people think this kid should be rushed into Origin, when he is hardly even ready for first grade. The worst thing in all of this is the fact he was given the rookie of the year award  last season, which was just a disgrace. Off the top of my head I can think of atleast half a dozen rookies who showed that they were much more comfortable in first grade than him. All in all he is very young, raw and has a lot of talent, but I just don't think he's as good or ever will be as good as what some people think he is and will be.

Bummm, Bummmm, Bummmmmmmmm *Drum Rolls*

1. Darren LOCKYER

- Yes that's right Darren Lockyer. I am not Denying that Lockyer is a champion player and a legend of the game. His record speaks for itself. Never have I seen a player master 2 totally different positions like Lockyer has done. He will go down as the best ever Brisbane Bronco, the second best Maroon and I would have him in the top 5 all time Kangaroos. Not only was he given god given natural ability but he is as also as tough as they come.....Buttt right now at his ripe old age of 32 Darren Lockyer imo is no longer up to the speed of first grade. Honestly if he was a Parramatta player I would have KK, Morts and Robson in front of him in the halves pecking order. Lockyer's body is battered, worn and prone to injury. His reflexes are no where as quick as they use to be and he is much more prone to errors and taking the wrong option. He is now a deadset liability in defense, he just can't keep up with the smaller nippier players and the bigger players run over the top of him. To have him continually named in the top echelon of players is becoming a joke. He has offered very little to QLD and AUS over the last few seasons apart from his experience and leadership, but if Lockyer decides to keep on playing in Rep seasons this year I really believe he is just being selfish. I think deep down he knows he no longer deserve's to be there and there are more than enough potential Australian captains available. All Lockyer has been doing is keeping much more deserving players out of the rep team. Come on Daz do the right thing mate step aside, give some one else some time in the spotlight.

Hope you enjoyed.