2014 Retirements

[Bucking Beads]

Good work Roosterman.

 

[Porthoz]

One of the few likeable NSW'kers

 

[Big Pete]

South Sydney winger, Nathan Merritt, has confirmed his retirement from Rugby League.

I'd just read an article in Big League that he was contemplating retirement and thought it was a bit of a shame. Despite disappointing at Origin, he was still a pretty handy club winger despite his indifferent form this year and I thought he'd be a decent get for any club struggling in the back three.

With that said, congrats to him on a good career in the NRL. To score 154 tries is no mean feat and given that he usually played in struggling teams is certainly worth celebrating.

There seems to be a small, but vocal contingent out there that try and define his career based on one poor Origin performance. I believe the level of scapegoating for that performance is beyond ridiculous and shallow. In my view, it was an over-the-top reaction to years of media speculation and vocal criticism from Mundine's camp who were disappointed that Merritt couldn't even get a look into the City v Country team until 2011 when an argument could be made he was better than some of the NSW wingers.

For my money, I thought Nathan had a couple of short-comings that prevented him from Origin but at club level he was one of the better wingers for a number of years and certainly somebody the South Sydney faithful could be proud of.

Here's to 13 seasons in the toughest competition of them all.

 

[Broncoman]

I thought Merritt was overrated a consistent club player and finisher but nothing more

 

[Big Pete]

Just on that point on City vs Country...

Here's the back three for City across all the years when Merritt was a good chance of playing.

2006: 1. Brett Hodgson 2. David Simmons 5. Luke Rooney
2007: 1. Anthony Minichiello 2. Jarryd Hayne 5. Hazem El Masri
2008: 1. Brett Hodgson 2. Jarryd Hayne 5. Luke Rooney
2009: 1. Wade McKinnon 2. Jarryd Hayne 5. David Williams
2010: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Anthony Minichiello 5. Michael Jennings (Beau Champion & Chris Lawrence were the centres)
2012: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. David Williams 5. Steve Turner

Okay, so breaking this down...

2012 is the one that really stands out but in fairness to the selectors, Merritt had yet to play any football by that point, so that's easily the most justifiable of the lost.

2006 would have been Simmons v Merritt, 2007 is El Masri v Merritt and 2008 is Rooney v Merritt. Of those you could toss and turn on a few of them although I find the 2008 match-up a bit of a joke - Rooney had been struggling for years by that point and despite the odd good game here or there wasn't worth considering.

In 2009 and 2010 it's a case of shuffling around the team. I can live with Hayne and Williams in the team even though Williams form was very indifferent to start that year but from memory, McKinnon was just another Warrior struggling to cope with the death of Sonny Fai and all the baggage of a tough season. Surely Hayne at fullback would have been the way to go, especially with NSW desperate to find a replacement for Stewart? I suppose the argument against that is that since Kidley was going to be captain, he was always going to be the first person in the team picked and that would have been as fullback so you have to select based on that. Still, a bit hard done by there I'd imagine.

Meanwhile in 2010, there was a bit of friendly fire with Beau Champion forcing his way into the team and pushing Jennings to the centres. This may sound odd now, but Champion was probably in the form of his career and was always a bit of a prospect who just had a bad history of injuries. You could make the argument that they should have stuck with natural positions for each player but I could see the logic behind the move.

So I'd say he was pretty unlucky on a few occasions namely 2006, 2008, 2009 & 2010 and in conjunction in one another, you can understand why he was so frustrated and why he lashed out at the selectors and played the race card. I don't think it was a racial issue, but rather playing for South Sydney that let him down.

 

[Harry Sack]

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.

He's 2nd only to Greg Bird in his ability to pull a gumby face on the field.

South Sydney winger, Nathan Merritt, has confirmed his retirement from Rugby League.

I'd just read an article in Big League that he was contemplating retirement and thought it was a bit of a shame. Despite disappointing at Origin, he was still a pretty handy club winger despite his indifferent form this year and I thought he'd be a decent get for any club struggling in the back three.

With that said, congrats to him on a good career in the NRL. To score 154 tries is no mean feat and given that he usually played in struggling teams is certainly worth celebrating.

There seems to be a small, but vocal contingent out there that try and define his career based on one poor Origin performance. I believe the level of scapegoating for that performance is beyond ridiculous and shallow. In my view, it was an over-the-top reaction to years of media speculation and vocal criticism from Mundine's camp who were disappointed that Merritt couldn't even get a look into the City v Country team until 2011 when an argument could be made he was better than some of the NSW wingers.

For my money, I thought Nathan had a couple of short-comings that prevented him from Origin but at club level he was one of the better wingers for a number of years and certainly somebody the South Sydney faithful could be proud of.

Here's to 13 seasons in the toughest competition of them all.

Great post. Definitely a very good club winger who was lacking in a few too many areas to make the step up to rep footy imo. It's a shame he was always behind other players at the Bunnies for the FB. I remember he filled in there a few times and went well from memory

 

[Super Freak]

So according to the tribute video on the NRL site, Joe Picker has retired.

What the **** happened there? I can't find a single thing about it.

 

[Super Freak]

 

[Broncoman]

Lote tuquri has announced his retirement from sport. One of the best wingers in the game in his prime and a bloody good winger for the Wallabies as well.

Congrats Lote on a marvellous career

 

[Financeguy]

Good to see Lote go out a winner, even if it was with Souths...

Part of the best back 3 in a club side i have ever seen. Opposition teams must have had nightmares on whether to kick the ball to Sailor, Lockyer or Lote.

 

[Alec]

Very good stint with the Broncos, and a damn good first year with the Tiggers. After that he was pretty goddam rubbish though.