Do you think Nathan Merritt should recieve higher rep honours.

[Broncoman]

I know this is early but I want to know others opinion on this.

This is why i think he doesn't get selected.

The reason for his ommision from the NSW team is because he is a subpar defender not because he is black or Aboriginal as some idiots say. Yes he can score tries but take a look at his defence, he gets fended into next week continiously. His QLD counterparts Greg Inglis, Darius Boyd and Justin Hodges would just run over the top of him easily. Akuila Uate, Jarryd Hayne and Michael Gordon are far better players than him for Origin selection. And would you drop our man Yeh Yea or Billy Slater for Merritt?. This is why Merritt doesn't get selected for rep teams, and that NSW is racist is some rubbish the Man came up with when he didn't get his own way. GO NSW AND GO AUSTRALIA.

 

[Twiztid]

He just happened to be born and play in a period with so many talented players that are younger, bigger and an overall better package. He gets to play the odd "nothing" rep match to feel good about, but that is the highest rep honours he will ever see, which is a shame.

If you look at most of the rep sides from the last few years. They are mostly filled with players from the successful teams - Dragons, Storm, Broncos and Manly. Throw in the work horses, stat beasts and the coaches favourite players and that pretty much sums up the rep teams. Besides probably NSW as we still can't get the formula right.. lol.

I don't feel it is race related at all. Playing for Souths has probably hurt his chances and that comes back to the successful team formula I mentioned before. Imo if he played for a more successful team his rep chances would have doubled, if not tripled.

 

[Coxy]

If he was a Queenslander, he'd almost certainly have played Origin on the wing at some point in the last 5 years.

 

[Ari Gold]

He just happened to be born and play in a period with so many talented players that are younger, bigger and an overall better package. He gets to play the odd "nothing" rep match to feel good about, but that is the highest rep honours he will ever see, which is a shame.

If you look at most of the rep sides from the last few years. They are mostly filled with players from the successful teams - Dragons, Storm, Broncos and Manly. Throw in the work horses, stat beasts and the coaches favourite players and that pretty much sums up the rep teams. Besides probably NSW as we still can't get the formula right.. lol.

I don't feel it is race related at all. Playing for Souths has probably hurt his chances and that comes back to the successful team formula I mentioned before. Imo if he played for a more successful team his rep chances would have doubled, if not tripled.

Whilst Brett Morris has showed undeserving players on successful teams can get picked I seriously doubt Merritt's chances would be anywhere near what you make them out to be. Nathan Blacklock was a very similar player on a more successful team and he never played Origin. IMO its much more about his size than it is his club.

 

[Porthoz]

What Ari said.

Morris isn't big but he has a bigger build than Merritt and was selected because of his combination with Cooper.

Look at El Masri Only ever selected for goal kicking.

Also Coxy, NSW always have way more wingers to choose from. Always. That's why Merritt would have got a run in QLD.

Difference is, QLD always have more quality (over quantity) and any player seems to turn it on when selected, regardless of experience or talent. Look at Adam Mogg FFS.

So spare me the BS about how good you think QLD selections are or whatever, because QLD are going through a great stage where they can throw anyone in the team and others will make them look good.

Are you saying that Queenslanders have more heart than NSW'kers?

 

[Fozz]

Nah they just get carried by the good players in the team.

Obviously no chance of that with the Blues, they don't have any good players.

 

[Coxy]

So spare me the BS about how good you think QLD selections are or whatever, because QLD are going through a great stage where they can throw anyone in the team and others will make them look good.

Eh? Where did I say that? QLD has never been as obsessed with the concept of big wingers like NSW has been. Merritt's try scoring form would've attracted the QLD selectors and I'm certain he would've got a run. That's not saying QLD's selectors are better, simply that they don't have the same tendency to pigeonhole players as "too small". Hell, even Matt Bowen got a run.

 

[Kaz]

So spare me the BS about how good you think QLD selections are or whatever, because QLD are going through a great stage where they can throw anyone in the team and others will make them look good.

You still hurting about the 6 series win to zip.:haha:

 

[Broncoman]

Eh? Where did I say that? QLD has never been as obsessed with the concept of big wingers like NSW has been. Merritt's try scoring form would've attracted the QLD selectors and I'm certain he would've got a run. That's not saying QLD's selectors are better, simply that they don't have the same tendency to pigeonhole players as "too small". Hell, even Matt Bowen got a run.

Bowen was your fullback when you were getting flogged continiously.

 

[Broncoman]

To those who are saying he would've got a crack for Queensland, you are joking yourself. Would you drop Yoh Yeh (cant spell it), Boyd, Slater, Inglis, Hodges or Tonga for that little midget who can barely tackle. Souths Suck and so does Merritt Overrated.

 

[Coxy]

We had Adam Mogg, Steve Bell play wing at times. Merritt better than them

 

[Ari Gold]

^^ Agreed.

Also, how is it that Merritt is over-rated if he can't make rep teams? I think just below rep level, and very good at club level is how most people rate him, and that's exactly what I think he is. What did Nathan do to you to make you so angry at him?

 

[Big Pete]

Merritt always reminded me of Amos Roberts - a good club player but he lacks the poise to play representative football. May have got a shot for Queensland in 2006 when Mal was throwing mud against the wall to see what would stick but I don't think he would have got much of a look in after that.

Was shocked to see him selected before Yow Yeh in RLA team of the year.

 

[Charmamba]

Bowen was your fullback when you were getting flogged continiously.

Bowen was fullback only twice out of 10 appearances for QLD, Game 3 in 2005 and Game 1 in 2006.

 

[Broncoman]

^^ Agreed.

Also, how is it that Merritt is over-rated if he can't make rep teams? I think just below rep level, and very good at club level is how most people rate him, and that's exactly what I think he is. What did Nathan do to you to make you so angry at him?

I'm not angry at Nathan, I just wanted to make my point strongly I think of him as quiet achiever behind the scenes. The only thing he did to piss me off was in 2007 when he accused selectors of racism when Bob McCarthey (city selector) has a long history in Aboriginal development. It was obvious Mundine got in his ear.

 

[Browny]

We had Adam Mogg, Steve Bell play wing at times. Merritt better than them

Don't forget wesser

 

[subsbligh]

I'd like a stat of Nathan Merritt's tries scored in games where:

1. Souths have no chance of winning the game;
2. Souths are winning by 24+ points;
3. It's Week 24 of the normal season and Souths/John Sutton are playing "all ass no class" football and there is nothing to play for.

That said, I'd be interested to see how a player like Yow Yeh would perform on the end of the Souths backline for the first 10 years of his career and vis-a-vis Merritt at the Broncos (where other small/average wingers have thrived - Denan Kemp, Winterstein, Leon Bott, Steve Michaels, Brett Plowman).

 

[subsbligh]

I'm not angry at Nathan, I just wanted to make my point strongly I think of him as quiet achiever behind the scenes. The only thing he did to piss me off was in 2007 when he accused selectors of racism when Bob McCarthey (city selector) has a long history in Aboriginal development. It was obvious Mundine got in his ear.

I think the disadvantage of not playing for the Melbourne Storm probably robbed Merritt of a spot when Bellamy was coach though.