2014 Retirements

[Morkel]

I got to say, some of the comments on facebook are disgusting.

Some people have no respect at all..

Let me guess, regarding his face smoosh of Mr Bird? Apart from that, I can't think of anyone ever having anything negative to say about him.

 

[broncos4life]

Well done Tatey, not sure many others would have had the career you had in the face of adversity. Champion player and bloke from all accounts

 

[Broncoman]

I got to say, some of the comments on facebook are disgusting.

Some people have no respect at all..

Some people are just classless keyboard heroes. I'm NSW to the bone but I've got tonnes of respect for Tate. Champion player that did his state, club and country proud.

 

[Unbreakable]

1. Anthony Minichiello
2. Jharal Yow Yeh
3. Jerome Ropati
4. Brent Tate
5. Beau Ryan
6. Braith Anasta
7. John Morris
8. Luke Bailey
9. Kevin Kingston
10. Brett White
11. Liam Fulton
12. Ashley Harrison (c)
13. Ben Smith

Decent little retirement team! (Sorry Kingy, couldn't find a spot for you)

 

[Big Pete]

Tate is one of my favourite players of all time.

Was such a good 'troll' player too. Really inconsistent at club level but when it came to the big games, he invariably stepped up and was usually one of the best on the park.

It was great talking him up, only to get ripped into for some poor performance for either the Broncos or Warriors only for him to stand tall at representative level.

2006 was the ultimate.

Hanging with a bunch of NSW fans, naturally they thought Gaz was a demi god and was easily the best centre in the game.

I'd tell them that he wasn't even in the top 3.

Justin Hodges
Greg Inglis
& TATE

Were all better.

Much banter was had, and that Origin series was by far one of the sweetest.

Especially when JT got the ball out to Tate. :takdir:

I thought his comeback was remarkable. I thought he was done for sure in 2010 and was very nervous of him returning to Origin in 2012. As it turns out, I shouldn't have been because he was arguably the most consistent player during that time period. Still remember his return game like it was yesty. Both Slater & Boyd struggled at the back, Tate on the other hand really stood up and took some very difficult takes. Without him, we lose that night, it was that simple.

 

[Harry Sack]

Greatest smoosh ever

 

[Morkel]

Tate is one of my favourite players of all time.

Was such a good 'troll' player too. Really inconsistent at club level but when it came to the big games, he invariably stepped up and was usually one of the best on the park.

It was great talking him up, only to get ripped into for some poor performance for either the Broncos or Warriors only for him to stand tall at representative level.

2006 was the ultimate.

Hanging with a bunch of NSW fans, naturally they thought Gaz was a demi god and was easily the best centre in the game.

I'd tell them that he wasn't even in the top 3.

Justin Hodges
Greg Inglis
& TATE

Were all better.

Much banter was had, and that Origin series was by far one of the sweetest.

Especially when JT got the ball out to Tate. :takdir:

I thought his comeback was remarkable. I thought he was done for sure in 2010 and was very nervous of him returning to Origin in 2012. As it turns out, I shouldn't have been because he was arguably the most consistent player during that time period. Still remember his return game like it was yesty. Both Slater & Boyd struggled at the back, Tate on the other hand really stood up and took some very difficult takes. Without him, we lose that night, it was that simple.

Except Tatey was on the wing IIRC... ;)

But yeah, someone like Tate, who was the ultimate in professionalism and decency, makes you look at a Packer, or a Josh Reynolds, or a JWH, or an Ennis, and you just realise that you can be tough, and aggressive, and competitive, without being a scummy grub on or off the field. Absolute respect to him in that regard. The game needs more players like him.

 

[Morkel]

Greatest smoosh ever

Never gets less funny. The wind up, all 3 seconds of it, clenched fist, taut arm, he just wants to do it. We want him to do it. Bird deserves it. And smooooooosh.

 

[Big Pete]

Except Tatey was on the wing IIRC... ;)

But yeah, someone like Tate, who was the ultimate in professionalism and decency, makes you look at a Packer, or a Josh Reynolds, or a JWH, or an Ennis, and you just realise that you can be tough, and aggressive, and competitive, without being a scummy grub on or off the field. Absolute respect to him in that regard. The game needs more players like him.

He played a bit of both, but having those sort of holes is what made it fun.

It was like I knew that, but did they?

 

[Harry Sack]

One of my favourite players without a doubt. A champion on the field and apparently a champion off it. I know a few people who have met him in a casual setting and they couldn't speak more highly of him. Plus there's this from another site.....

The thing that really made me love him as an older player was actually a story about Terry Campese. When Campo went down with his second ACL injury in the prime of his career there were plenty of well wishes. But Brent Tate went above and beyond. Didn't know Campese well at all really but made the point in personally contacting, befriending and offering him support through something that he'd gone through before.

...never knew about that prior to today tbh. Legend

 

[Morkel]

One of my favourite players without a doubt. A champion on the field and apparently a champion off it. I know a few people who have met him in a casual setting and they couldn't speak more highly of him. Plus there's this from another site.....



...never knew about that prior to today tbh. Legend

IMO Tate knew how injury-prone Campese was. Thought he'd die of dysentery before too long. Had Campese's ligaments earmarked as donor spare parts.

 

[theshed]

I hated Tate as a player. I have no good explanation of why. I think all sports fans have a player they hate for no reason. Maybe it was his head, or I had met a Brett or a Tate in the past that stole my oak at recess. But despite any logic or reason, I hated him.

That being said, I could never knock how hard he tried or how he overcome obstacles that almost nobody else would have the determination or heart to do so.
Not to mention he's a great bloke off the field by all accounts.

I really feel for him, and being the kind of guy he is, this decision would be destroying him.

A guy I really respect and loved to hate (for no reason). I'm going to miss laughing at the tv when he made an error and feeling completely deflated when he made me look like an idiot.

An absolute champion.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

Michael Witt just announced his retirement on twitter.

 

[Big Pete]

One of my biggest criticisms I had of Steve Price was his preference of Witt over Williams but hats off to Michael Witt. He had a long career and while he was never the most skillful half, I always thought he was the type of player who could do a job and help steer the team around.

Couple of memories I have of him.

Firstly was as a rookie for Parramatta in 2003. If memory serves, Witt had actually shown a bit of potential at the Eels before this one time where he took a goal line drop out and he messed the kick up so bad it actually ended up going backwards. Probably one of the funniest things I've seen on a footy field.

The other was when he nearly gave all of NZ a heart-attack in that 1 v 8 Final back in 2008. He did a good job of supporting his backs but when it came time to actually score the try, he couldn't control himself and got a little caught up in the moment. Still, it was a big moment and probably one of the more memorable finals games in history.

Always sad to hear another Queenslander pull the pin but I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

 

[Crazy Sam]

From what I recall, Michael Witt was a gun on the first Rugby League game (by Sidhe) ~ 10 years ago. At least I seem to recall always picking him as my halfback.

 

[Super Freak]

One of my biggest criticisms I had of Steve Price was his preference of Witt over Williams but hats off to Michael Witt. He had a long career and while he was never the most skillful half, I always thought he was the type of player who could do a job and help steer the team around.

Couple of memories I have of him.

Firstly was as a rookie for Parramatta in 2003. If memory serves, Witt had actually shown a bit of potential at the Eels before this one time where he took a goal line drop out and he messed the kick up so bad it actually ended up going backwards. Probably one of the funniest things I've seen on a footy field.

The other was when he nearly gave all of NZ a heart-attack in that 1 v 8 Final back in 2008. He did a good job of supporting his backs but when it came time to actually score the try, he couldn't control himself and got a little caught up in the moment. Still, it was a big moment and probably one of the more memorable finals games in history.

Always sad to hear another Queenslander pull the pin but I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

I loved it when Witt did that, and I didn't have a problem with it...well not that much.

Before then, I believe 8th had never won against 1st. Warriors were absolutely no chance to win that game, no chance at all. They were given a lot of crap from the fans at the grounds. His little celebration, it was awesome.

Unfortunately, that loss meant Storm were put up against Broncos...

 

[Unbreakable]

1. Anthony Minichiello
2. Jharal Yow Yeh
3. Jerome Ropati
4. Brent Tate
5. Beau Ryan
6. Braith Anasta
7. John Morris
8. Luke Bailey
9. Kevin Kingston
10. Brett White
11. Liam Fulton
12. Ashley Harrison (c)
13. Ben Smith

Decent little retirement team! (Sorry Kingy, couldn't find a spot for you)

Zero Tackle totally copied my idea / team, damn it! (Swapped Harrison to Lock and Smith into the Backrow, but still virtually identical)

The 2014 ?Retired? Team | NRL | Zero Tackle

 

[Broncoman]

Congrats to Anthony Minichiello on 300 games today. One of my all time favourite players in his prime he was one of the best fullbacks ever and is a true 1 club man.

Well done Mini