PLAYER 2022 BHQ Player of the Year - Corey Oates

[Super Freak]

Congratulations to big Oatesy, being voted BHQ's Player of the Year for 2022.

 

[Cult]

Well deserved. Very rarely had a bad game, improved dramatically from the year before and earned rep honours. Should be first picked for the Australian side too.

It was actually a blight on Billy Slaters coaching ability that he wasn’t selected in Game I.

 

[Broncapz]

Deserves to be in the Australian squad. He was essential for the origin win too.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Great stuff Oatesy. A fantastic year. Was even playing well in the last few weeks when everyone was struggling.

 

[Big Pete]

Not to rain on Oates' parade but I didn't have any issue with Slater's selections. I thought it was important for the Maroons to move forward and give somebody else an opportunity. Oates had his chance and it ended when a try was scored down his wing to decide the series. His form after that was incredibly poor and he was justifiably dropped to Queensland Cup.

It's a credit to Oates that not only did he return to the NRL scene but he put himself in the frame for Origin selection. However there were other players who deserved an opportunity and Oates was the guy you bring in last minute and give them a very simple role.

Interestingly when he was called into the squad for Game II he rubbed the coaching staff the wrong way. He didn't appear to be switched on at all and I presume he was considered a distraction. They were impressed with the way that he responded to his selection in Game III and how he cut all that out and focused on his job.

 

[Cult]

You don’t deserve an opportunity if you’re not the best current player in that position on form. That’s not earning the position. Oates was the best winger at the time

 

[Big Pete]

All three players who were picked ahead of him deserved to be there on performance. Oates put himself in contention with his form but it was neck and neck between all the candidates.

 

[Mustafur]

Well deserved, our most consistent player all season he just cut out nearly all the mistakes out of his game and was clinical when given a sniff of a chance to score.

Fully deserves to play for the Roos in the WC.

 

[Organix]

GOATES!

 

[Kimlo]

Interestingly when he was called into the squad for Game II he rubbed the coaching staff the wrong way. He didn't appear to be switched on at all and I presume he was considered a distraction. They were impressed with the way that he responded to his selection in Game III and how he cut all that out and focused on his job.

What's this about? I don't recall this discussion.

 

[Big Pete]

What's this about? I don't recall this discussion.

Yeah Smithy brought it up on the Captain's Run after the Origin series. He was putting over all the players and the topic turned to Corey Oates and I found the response really interesting.

 

[Cult]

Yeah Smithy brought it up on the Captain's Run after the Origin series. He was putting over all the players and the topic turned to Corey Oates and I found the response really interesting.

Smith would know about distractions in the Origin team

 

[Kimlo]

Yeah Smithy brought it up on the Captain's Run after the Origin series. He was putting over all the players and the topic turned to Corey Oates and I found the response really interesting.

Any chance there's a link? Would like to read/listen to that if it's somewhere.

 

[Big Pete]

Any chance there's a link? Would like to read/listen to that if it's somewhere.

I really had to dig for it, I almost second guessed whether I heard it :

 

[Mustafur]

The way he described Oates there is how I thought he always was, but I guess most of that was because of him not being picked in the playing squad I don't think the way smith talked about him was negative as a whole.

 

[theshed]

I really had to dig for it, I almost second guessed whether I heard it :

He’s been consistently referred to as the biggest pest or most annoying player in the team. Must be a bit of a man child

 

[Johnny92]

He’s been consistently referred to as the biggest pest or most annoying player in the team. Must be a bit of a man child

I think he just doesn't shut up

 

[GCBRONCO]

The best Corey Oates tries in 2022

NRL.com takes a look back at some of the best tries by the game's biggest players in season 2022

www.nrl.com