RLW's 50 worst buys in NRL history

[WestsBenTigers]

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/50-worst-buys-nrl-history-5-1/

**5\. MATT ORFORD (Raiders, 2011)**
After going down narrowly to the Wests Tigers in the 2010 semi-finals, plenty of good things were expected of the Raiders in 2011\. Granted, they suffered a massive blow when it was revealed that Terry Campese would miss the start of the season following off-season knee surgery, but the blow looked to have been eased when the Raiders signed 2008 Dally M medallist Orford from Bradford.
>
Unfortunately, Orford proved an unequivocal flop, playing six uninspiring games before succumbing to a groin injury. He was released from the Raiders at the end of 2012.
>
4\. **KIERAN FORAN (Eels, 2016)**
It’s tough to put someone who was forced walk away from the game for personal reasons on this list, but the bottom line is simple – he was a very expensive mistake for the Eels.
>
While his on-field performances were promising to start, the fact he was heralded as the clubs best signing in recent memory means it was only ever going one of two ways, and unfortunately for both player and club it ended as a failure.
>
The fact Foran is in line to return to the NRL in 2017 with the Warriors is just a further kick in the guts to the Parramatta fans.
>
3\. **ADAM BLAIR (Tigers, 2012-14)**
Tim Sheens cut Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita specifically to recruit Kiwi Test forward Adam Blair. In retrospect this proved to be a pretty poor decision.
>
At Melbourne, Blair was one of the most destructive forwards in the game, in both attack and defence, but at the Tigers, he was ill-disciplined and error prone, ultimately losing his Test jersey.
>
He slowly started to play to his potential during 2014 season but was released by the Tigers to link up with Brisbane where he helped them reach the 2015 decider.
>
2\. **RENI MAITUA (Sharks, 2009)**
The talented Maitua was expected to add a touch of class to a formidable Sharks forward pack after arriving in the Shire following his 2008 sacking from Canterbury.
>
However, the former Test lock played just eight games for the Sharks (all losses) before he was banned from playing rugby league for two years for testing positive to a banned substance called Clembuterol.
>
1\. **SAM TOMKINS (Warriors, 2014-15)**
Proclaimed the ‘English Billy Slater’, Sam Tomkins arrived in the NRL as the Warriors’ ‘million dollar man’ ready to take them to the next level . . . sadly that never happened.
>
From the get go Tomkins struggled with the speed and intensity of the NRL which often left him susceptible to injury. In two seasons the Englishman only managed 37 appearances for 14 tries at a win percentage of just 48\. Citing homesickness, Tomkins was granted a release from the final year of his mega deal to return to his beloved Wigan Warriors in 2016.

Totally forgot about Blair hey, how convenient for me. But RLW isn't right, I don't think his error rate was that bad and he has always been ill-disciplined, he still gets pinged a lot at Broncos.

What it showed was that Melbourne get some great mileage out of having the right player in the right position, and it doesn't necessarily carry on to other clubs. Blair is an example, also Brett White, Widdop, Matt Orford to an extent, Richard Swain, Tony Martin, Kirk Reynoldson, Antonio Kaufusi, Steve Turner, Dane Nielsen, maybe an argument for Ryan Hoffman etc.

There are definitely others who moved on and went ok, but it just sticks in my mind the Storm players who were highly-rated only whilst they were at the Storm, and couldn't take that form elsewhere esp. when big performances were expected of them.

What about Inglis. He was a vital part to the success of 2014

Time will tell for Proctor & Blake Green

 

[Newtown]

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/50-worst-buys-nrl-history-5-1/

**5\. MATT ORFORD (Raiders, 2011)**
After going down narrowly to the Wests Tigers in the 2010 semi-finals, plenty of good things were expected of the Raiders in 2011\. Granted, they suffered a massive blow when it was revealed that Terry Campese would miss the start of the season following off-season knee surgery, but the blow looked to have been eased when the Raiders signed 2008 Dally M medallist Orford from Bradford.
>
Unfortunately, Orford proved an unequivocal flop, playing six uninspiring games before succumbing to a groin injury. He was released from the Raiders at the end of 2012.
>
4\. **KIERAN FORAN (Eels, 2016)**
It’s tough to put someone who was forced walk away from the game for personal reasons on this list, but the bottom line is simple – he was a very expensive mistake for the Eels.
>
While his on-field performances were promising to start, the fact he was heralded as the clubs best signing in recent memory means it was only ever going one of two ways, and unfortunately for both player and club it ended as a failure.
>
The fact Foran is in line to return to the NRL in 2017 with the Warriors is just a further kick in the guts to the Parramatta fans.
>
3\. **ADAM BLAIR (Tigers, 2012-14)**
Tim Sheens cut Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita specifically to recruit Kiwi Test forward Adam Blair. In retrospect this proved to be a pretty poor decision.
>
At Melbourne, Blair was one of the most destructive forwards in the game, in both attack and defence, but at the Tigers, he was ill-disciplined and error prone, ultimately losing his Test jersey.
>
He slowly started to play to his potential during 2014 season but was released by the Tigers to link up with Brisbane where he helped them reach the 2015 decider.
>
2\. **RENI MAITUA (Sharks, 2009)**
The talented Maitua was expected to add a touch of class to a formidable Sharks forward pack after arriving in the Shire following his 2008 sacking from Canterbury.
>
However, the former Test lock played just eight games for the Sharks (all losses) before he was banned from playing rugby league for two years for testing positive to a banned substance called Clembuterol.
>
1\. **SAM TOMKINS (Warriors, 2014-15)**
Proclaimed the ‘English Billy Slater’, Sam Tomkins arrived in the NRL as the Warriors’ ‘million dollar man’ ready to take them to the next level . . . sadly that never happened.
>
From the get go Tomkins struggled with the speed and intensity of the NRL which often left him susceptible to injury. In two seasons the Englishman only managed 37 appearances for 14 tries at a win percentage of just 48\. Citing homesickness, Tomkins was granted a release from the final year of his mega deal to return to his beloved Wigan Warriors in 2016.

Totally forgot about Blair hey, how convenient for me. But RLW isn't right, I don't think his error rate was that bad and he has always been ill-disciplined, he still gets pinged a lot at Broncos.

What it showed was that Melbourne get some great mileage out of having the right player in the right position, and it doesn't necessarily carry on to other clubs. Blair is an example, also Brett White, Widdop, Matt Orford to an extent, Richard Swain, Tony Martin, Kirk Reynoldson, Antonio Kaufusi, Steve Turner, Dane Nielsen, maybe an argument for Ryan Hoffman etc.

There are definitely others who moved on and went ok, but it just sticks in my mind the Storm players who were highly-rated only whilst they were at the Storm, and couldn't take that form elsewhere esp. when big performances were expected of them.

I don't know how much Matt Logue cost Wests Tigers but Storm knew exactly what they were doing when they dumped onto Wests Tigers after snaring Korobeite from the club. This exchange must surely deserve mention as one of the worst in Wests Tigers' history.

 

[Yossarian]

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/50-worst-buys-nrl-history-10-6/

**10\. MARTIN KENNEDY (Broncos, 2014)**
Another one of the big recruits of the 2013/14 off-season. Kennedy arrived at the Broncos on big money after a successful five-year stint at the Roosters.
>
However, the Norths Ipswich product fell out of favour with Broncos coach Anthony Griffin and spent a month playing Intrust Super Cup.
>
He had a relatively decent end to the season, but was released by the Broncos to link up again with the Roosters. Unfortunately, Kennedy was then embroiled in the peptides scandal and failed to play a game for the Tri-colours in 2015.
>
.

Successful stint at Roosters… Peptide scandal... Not as successful afterwards... Hmm...

 

[claws]

Regarding Sam Tomkins, is 37 games out of 48 games a poor showing? I think that is not too bad for a little fellow like him. When we consider games missed in a season by some players due to injury, I think that's not a bad average - RTS. How many tries did he have a hand in and line breaks? Is this more about hype?

 

[Fade_To_Black]

There are obviously a heck of a lot of bad buys in the NRL over the years,but to me being a WTs supporter…

ADAM BLAIR..most overpaid,overhyped and overated excuse for a NRL level player...EVER....

Bwaith was easily more pathetic for WT than what Blair was IMO.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

I agree, terry hill shouldn't be on the list. He should be on the list for the best dramatic performance on a football field - for his concussion antics and miracle recovery.

That game versus Parra at Leichhardt when Tezza got "concussed" would be just about the most exciting and entertaining game WT have ever played in. Remember David Vaielicki falling into the turf and it fair dinkum looked like he was buried headfirst up to his neck like an ostrich! That was a great game, and a fine win by our boys that arvo.

 

[Demps]

Anasta is garbage
Can't stand him.

Worst player to ever wear a tigers jersey.
Worse than Milone.

 

[Harvey]

Blair was bad, but would think that Foran was worse. When a club invests a lot of money into a player they expect to be able to shape their roster around for years to come, and he ends up a bust, set's the planning back years.
Eels dodged a bullet to some extent in that he was willing to take a golden handshake and walk away after a year. The downside is that cash is now available to chase the likes of Moses & Tedesco.

 

[WestsBenTigers]

Blair was bad, but would think that Foran was worse. When a club invests a lot of money into a player they expect to be able to shape their roster around for years to come, and he ends up a bust, set's the planning back years.
Eels dodged a bullet to some extent in that he was willing to take a golden handshake and walk away after a year. The downside is that cash is now available to chase the likes of Moses & Tedesco.

Don't worry, Moses and Tedy aren't going anywhere

 

[TCL]

I agree, terry hill shouldn't be on the list. He should be on the list for the best dramatic performance on a football field - for his concussion antics and miracle recovery.

That game versus Parra at Leichhardt when Tezza got "concussed" would be just about the most exciting and entertaining game WT have ever played in. Remember David Vaielicki falling into the turf and it fair dinkum looked like he was buried headfirst up to his neck like an ostrich! That was a great game, and a fine win by our boys that arvo.

I'd forgotten about the divot that vaielicki left in the dirt. I was happy for him that that didnt end worse.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Grant Mayer should be Number 1 for the Tigers!

 

[supercoach]

Grant Mayer should be Number 1 for the Tigers!

I would say Humpty and Mayer, although Humpty seemed a nice guy the trouble he was a very average CEO. Mayer on the other hand to me always seemed to be a slimy used car salesman and a very average CEO

 

[Love_the_WestsTigers]

looking at the title the first name that came to me was the bloke who starts off the list ..
\
\
feeling lucky today,might try my hand at something else to see if get that right

 

[Flippedy]

Regarding Sam Tomkins, is 37 games out of 48 games a poor showing? I think that is not too bad for a little fellow like him. When we consider games missed in a season by some players due to injury, I think that's not a bad average - RTS. How many tries did he have a hand in and line breaks? Is this more about hype?

Yes I certainly don't think he deserved the No 1 rating.

 

[happy_tiger]

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/50-worst-buys-nrl-history-10-6/

**10\. MARTIN KENNEDY (Broncos, 2014)**
Another one of the big recruits of the 2013/14 off-season. Kennedy arrived at the Broncos on big money after a successful five-year stint at the Roosters.
>
However, the Norths Ipswich product fell out of favour with Broncos coach Anthony Griffin and spent a month playing Intrust Super Cup.
>
He had a relatively decent end to the season, but was released by the Broncos to link up again with the Roosters. Unfortunately, Kennedy was then embroiled in the peptides scandal and failed to play a game for the Tri-colours in 2015.
>
.

Successful stint at Roosters… Peptide scandal... Not as successful afterwards... Hmm...

You can't trust anyone from North Ipswich , bar Alf :smiley:

 

[Tiger_Watto]

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/50-worst-buys-nrl-history-10-6/

**10\. MARTIN KENNEDY (Broncos, 2014)**
Another one of the big recruits of the 2013/14 off-season. Kennedy arrived at the Broncos on big money after a successful five-year stint at the Roosters.
>
However, the Norths Ipswich product fell out of favour with Broncos coach Anthony Griffin and spent a month playing Intrust Super Cup.
>
He had a relatively decent end to the season, but was released by the Broncos to link up again with the Roosters. Unfortunately, Kennedy was then embroiled in the peptides scandal and failed to play a game for the Tri-colours in 2015.
>
.

Successful stint at Roosters… Peptide scandal... Not as successful afterwards... Hmm...

You can't trust anyone from North Ipswich , bar Alf :smiley:

ha… As long as you dont take any punting tips from Alfie.

 

[happy_tiger]

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/50-worst-buys-nrl-history-10-6/

Successful stint at Roosters… Peptide scandal... Not as successful afterwards... Hmm...

You can't trust anyone from North Ipswich , bar Alf :smiley:

ha… As long as you dont take any punting tips from Alfie.

Always knew what to back when Alf was around , something completely different :smiley:

If he punted like he played ….....

 

[2041]

I'd like to see the RLW to do a worse losses

Players that were let go who killed it at their next club

We might have a few of those as well

Luke Covell

I seem to recall lots of people saying Fifita would never amount to anything when he left the Tigers.

Te Maire Martin.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

The Wallaby Garrick Morgan was a huge bust for the SQ Crushers in 1995 or '96\. He would of been on huge money to cross over from Union. Did nothing.

 

[southerntiger]

Luke Covell

Lima ,Luke O'Donnell , Marshall ,Farah …..... :deadhorse:

Marshall???

Do you mean his abysmal Auckland Blues stint or the one at the Dragons where the fans wanted him gone for 2 years?

Your sarcasm charger seems to be not working again

Well given that Lima and O'Donnell killed it at other clubs and Covell had a steady career at the Sharks, there didnt appear to be any sarcasm in the post.