Players that never reached their potential

[Broncoman]

I was chatting with the guy who takes me to the gym yesterday. On the way back we discussed players that never reached their potential.

Tim Smith is the always the one that comes to mind. Had probably the most sensational rookie year ever in 2005 but was bipolar which interrupted his football badly and was unable to kick on. Now playing in England I believe.

Brett Seymour, Brad Meyers, Anthony Mundine and Andrew Walker are others.

Who else do you think

 

[Ari Gold]

Tim Smith is easily the one for me. He was so fucking awesome in 2005. Threw pin point 30m cut out passes and will never forget the supreme awesomess of his cross field bombs from within his own 20m line. Dude was willing to back himself in every situation, it was fucking great to watch. Sadly nobody does that these days.

The other big one is Dave Taylor. Not finished yet but is never going to reach the heights he should. There are others who haven't or won't fulfil their promise, but none of the last decade had potential as high as Tim Smith and Dave Taylor (IMO).

 

[Cult]

Dane Carlaw. I remember someone saying he looks like Tarzan but runs like Jane. That was the perfect description for him.

 

[Super Freak]

Would Yow Yeh count? I don't think he quite reached his.

 

[Sproj]

Richard Villasanti. Carl Webb mostly. Denan Kemp.

 

[Allo]

Dane Carlaw. I remember someone saying he looks like Tarzan but runs like Jane. That was the perfect description for him.

Pretty sure that was Gene Miles wasn't it?

I'd put Taniela Tuiaki in the mix. Similar injury to Yow Yeh, but not as bad I don't think

 

[Big Pete]

I reckon Villasanti over-achieved if anything. Had one good run of form and it was enough to nab him a representative jersey but otherwise he was fairly ordinary.

I'll try and keep it to players who at least proved themselves to a certain level, otherwise there's a bunch of players who played a handful of games but for one reason or another never made a go of it.

Trent Barrett - Unless he makes some tremendous strides in his coaching career, I fear that Barrett is going to be one of those names that disappears which is a shame because at his best, Trent was one of the top players of the game and as a Broncos/Qld fan I hated it because he could absolutely tear us up. Barrett still had a good career, but I honestly think he could have been one of the greats.

Eric Grothe Jr - Could have been one of the best wingers of his generation, instead will be remembered as a defensive liability who ignored his talents all for his love of music. A shame, I still remember that try at Suncorp...I wasn't thrilled.

John Hopoate - Will be remembered for that incident, which is a shame because Hoppa was a very handy player on his day and proved that through out his time.

Ben Ikin - Imagine what career he could have had if it wasn't for that knee injury?

Mark McLindin - A good example of a player who ended up becoming a jack of all trades, a master of none despite a big break out season. Unfortunately for Mark, he came in just as the Raiders were on the down-turn and it really affected his development at a player to the point where he's nothing more than an obscurity.

Julian O'Neil - One of the most talented players in the game, like Barrett, should have been remembered more fondly but he absolutely stuffed it for himself. Such a shame to see that talent go to waste.

Pat Richards - His early years were affected by his inability to stay on the field and when he finally did, he was off to the ESL where he had a good career but obviously as an Australian, didn't achieve the honours or reputation he probably deserved. Like Grothe Jr. think he could have been one of the best wingers in history.

Jason Ryles - Very talented player, just seemingly couldn't get the brain snaps out of his game.

Clinton Toopi - Was one of the best young centres in the game at one point...then he quickly became one of the worst. One of the strangest turns of form I've seen.

Sione Faumuina - An immensly talented backrow who on his day, could just about carry the team but just had too many off-field problems to make it work and ended up becoming one of the worst players in the competition. Those years in North Queensland were pretty poor...

Wade McKinnon - Another player who just never broke through to that next level. I recall his 2007 season was an absolute stormer in a year filled with great fullbacks (Bowen in particular had one of the best years I've seen in the position) but that was about as good as it got for Wade.

Lots and lots more obviously.

 

[Super Freak]

What about Tame Tupou? I remember a lot of fans thought we have finally found a player that could fill Wendell's absence on the wing. After 2006, never really heard from him again.

 

[Broncoman]

How can I forget Eric Grothe Jnr

Absolute gun winger just give him Lockyer's commitment to footy and he would've made a big name for himself. Was everything you would want as a winger but was more keen on music than footy.

Wasn't thinking hard enough when I made my choices.

 

[Sproj]

Ali lauititi.

 

[Cult]

Hoppa was a very handy player

lol

 

[Mister Wright]

Daniel Mortimer anyone? Stuck playing a back-up hooker role. Yes, he does have a premiership to his name, but he did start his career in a blaze of glory at the Eels in the halves.

 

[Unbreakable]

Daniel Mortimer anyone? Stuck playing a back-up hooker role. Yes, he does have a premiership to his name, but he did start his career in a blaze of glory at the Eels in the halves.

He's only 24.. I think he'll be a starting half at some club within the next couple of seasons.

Edit: For me it's Tim Smith, I still remember back in 2005, me and my mates would always try to imitate the Tim Smith cut out balls during lunch time at school.

 

[Aldo]

Just about anyone who has played for the Warriors.

 

[Socnorb]

Ewan Mcgrady

 

[Financeguy]

Broncos that i can think of:
Kieran Meyer
Danny Bampton
Brett Seymour
Chris Walker
Julian O'Neil
Carl Webb
Joel Moon
Berrick Barnes
Paul Hauff

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

Motu Tony

 

[Renegade]

Matthew Head and Brett Firman

both were serious guns before their injuries and looked destined for huge things.