Eels Blogs

Now that wer'e all friends again and there being a distinct lack of Parra topics to talk about at the moment, I thought i'd start a thread to start a bit of discussion and inevitably a lot of debate on the Forum.

I have put together a list of who I believe are the top 20 overrated players in the game atm. Key there being atm, thus I havn't included players like Mason or Anasta who have been injured recently thus havn't been rated, thus havn't been overrated. Also so I wouldn't be labelled bias I have included a Parra Player amongst the list aswell.

Let's get cracking, today I will do players 20-11.

20. Mitchell PEARCE

- Pearce was a child prodigy who was many classes above his age groups as a junior, this was displayed when the Roosters took the gamble and debuted him halfback at the tender age of 17. Pearce showed good skills and didn't seem to be overawed by the NRL and people thought he's one to watch. However really for the rest of the season he stayed at about the same level. In 08 the Roosters were firing lead by Anasta with Pearce doing his job admirably, the NSW selectors somehow saw that this solid form warranted him selection for his state, where he abysmally failed. Pearce has shown through his time in first grade that he has a cool head and a great heart, but has he really done anything special to link him with the massive raps on him? Consistenly Average describes him imo.

P.S I saw Pearce play at Gosford on the weekend and he was outstanding, this might be the year he steps it up.

19.  Daniel MORTIMER

- The kid with the surname synonymous with the bulldogs club made his debut with the Doggies major rivals Parramatta midway through 09. Many thought he wasn't ready including Andrew Johns as well as coach Daniel Anderson, however through necessity he was given his crack and took it with both hands. Mortimer showed himself to be a real footballer with a great head on his body and was a major player in the Eels run to the GF. However he has now been labelled the next superstar of the game. The next Peter Sterling. Phil Rothfield has already named him the 39th best player in the game. We will see.

18. Dean YOUNG

- The only reason Dean Young is so far up the list is because realistically he hasn't been rated in terms of Rep selection. However every person within the Rugby League media seems to think he is a gun. Phil Gould (who I am usually a massive fan of) said last year that if he selected the Origin team Dean Young would be his first choice number 9. What rubbish Dean Young is a solid toiler at most, he offers almost nothing in attack, is the slowest rake in the game and his defense is found out regularly. If you don't believe me, go onto some Dragons forums and see what they think of him.

17. Jarrod MULLEN

- I feel sorry for Jarrod Mullen, he got to make his debut when Joey was still around as a 17 years old and showed some promise as a 6 with Johns pulling the strings and was seen as the natural heir to Joey's number 7. Unfortunately he never really had time to mature into the role, with Joey having to call it quits on his career ahead of schedule. Mullen played origin in 07 after the blues were in trouble of losing another series. Instead of going for a proven solid number 7 they went for something completely new with the flashy boy from Newcastle who was named the next Joey. Blues were beaten, Mullen failed to deliver and hasn't been back to that level since.

Skillwise he is as good as anyone in the NRL, finding consistency is what he needs. Is still young has time.

16. Anthony WATMOUGH

- I don't think Watmough is a bad player. He showed at Origin last year how good he can be, finally NSW had a forward who stood up to the QLD pack and swayed the game in our favour. Watmough is devastating with ball in hand and is a leader by example. My problems with him is that he is just about the worst defensive second rower in the game, sure he is capable of a big hit or two. However consistenly he makes poor reads and his technique is rubbish. Watmough also makes lots errors and gives away a truckload of penalties. Many label him in the top 5 players in the game, hardly imo.

15. Kurt GIDLEY

- Gidley almost never made it as a footballer, as a junior he was hardly outstanding yet through determination and work ethic he managed to make it too first grade, captain his state and play for his country.  It's a great story, however it doesn't take away from the fact that he is shit. To his credit he carries Newcastle playing just about every position. Yet at a rep level he has never proved himself, he got a run on the bench through his utility value and never stood out, then was given fullback in 09 and although he tried hard, he was dreadful and was simply outclassed. Not much of a captain either.

14. Willie TONGA

- When he was at the Doggies he was the next big thing, his outstanding talent saw him picked for QLD and AUS, rightfully so mind you. Then he got injured, then injured again then fell of the face of the earth. Went to the Cowboys did nothing, got injured, came back played averagley then somehow was picked for QLD. Just goes to show QLD's lack of depth.

13. Ben HORNBY

- Very much like Gidley, solid for his club team and that has equated in him being picked for Rep sides, where he has done squat. A solid Utility, but the fact that this guy played halfback for Australia is just embarresing to be honest.

12. Brett WHITE

- I don't think White is a bad prop forward, I just think there are just a lot of blokes who are as good if not better than him at other club's who don't get as much recognition, because they don't play in a  gun team. He couldn't cut first grade at the Dragons so moved to Melbourne which in hindsight was the best thing he's probably ever done. Finally got a crack at 1st grade down there just as they were starting to get a good team together and the rest is history. Has been carried to NSW and AUS jerseys where he hasn't shone to any great degree.

11. Benji MARSHALL

- Benji Marshall, if ever the term rocks and diamonds was to be applied to a player he is the one. Benji is a superstar of the game, pretty much on the back of one good season where he starred in the Tigers 2005 premiership. Since then he has obviously had horrid luck with injuries and I give him massive cudos to continually come back from these severe injuries. Benji can still produce rugby league of the highest quality, his natural talent is almost unmatched, the try he set up for Ayshford against the Eels last year is one of the most remarkable things iv'e ever seen done on a footy field. I was at the game and the look of utter awe on peoples faces after they showed the replay of the try was incredible, unbelievable. But I don't want to take away from the fact that Marshall is overated since 05 Marshall hasn't done nothing and the Tigers have done nothing. I used to think Marshall carried Prince at the Tigers now I realise Prince made Marshall so much better because he had the burden of being the main playmaker which took the pressure off Benji. IF the Tigers can find a genuine 7, then perhaps Benji could consistently be good and live up to his tag of a superstar. I highly doubt it though.