What could have been: The biggest wasted potential

[I bleed Maroon]

Here we have them: the who's who in recent times of blokes who could have been anything, if only they weren't Tin Man and had a glaring need for a bit of heart.

Milford has to be the undisputed king of this. The bloke was a hair's breath away from a Clive Churchill, and it was just all downhill from there. Every year from 2017 onward he looked like he could pay to be anywhere else but on field. Now he settles for kicking it around in park footy and seems to be fully content with it.

I could have included Cobbo on this list quite easily, but it's probably way too early to tell. He is still young, will only be at his second club as of next year, and could still turn it around if the Phins surround him with an army of sports psychologists and dieticians.

 

[pennywisealfie]

I have to go with Dave Taylor. Never seen anyone as naturally talented as him. If he put in any work at all, he'd be a legend.

 

[tommy]

It's milf. I anointed him as the future goat after that 2015 season. Felt pretty silly a few years later.

 

[JayPee]

Ben Barba by the length of the straight.

 

[theshed]

I went other. I know Dave Taylor is the poster boy for wasted talent but for me, I’ve never seen a player as naturally gifted at all aspects of the game as Jarryd Hayne.

He had every skill you could ask for, every trick in his kit bag, Olympic potential speed over 100m, physically big.

He was just a flog with a pea heart. If you put a Lockyer, Slater, or even Tedesco brain and work ethic in him - would’ve been one of the best players of all time.

 

[BroncsFan]

Circumstances killed Milf's career.

He had a great 2015 as a running half and in 2016 he was already showing signs of maturing as a half.

He was going to be our long term 6 and then Bhunt got vultured by a ridiculous contract that derailed both clubs and probably Bhunt's career, on top of that Bennett pivoted and decided Milf would be our halfback instead.

He may have been wearing the 6, but that's basically the same as Lockyer wearing the 6... he was going to be our primary half moving forward.

In the preseason when he was going to make that transition he had shoulder surgery and missed the full preseason.

Bennett also decided that Kodi would wear the 7 and play on the right (like a normal halfback would) but it created confusion with the halves pairing ... and then from there it was a merry go round across the entire spine as to who would play alongside Milf.

He then ended up having another shoulder surgery to destroy back to back preseasons... whilst he was still trying to transition into being our half.

By that point Bennett was on track to being knifed, Darius was breaking down and Milf was having to play 3 spine positions across the year whilst also being brought back early from injuries.

Had Bhunt stayed Milf's career could've been anything... had we picked up a halfback when Milf left he could've been anything... had he not had shoulder surgeries destroy preseason after preseason then he couldve been anything.

For other guys like Taylor it was more the mental side that destroyed their careers... so that falls entirely on them.

unfortunately Milf got unlucky and had a lot of things taken out of his control.

 

[Brocko]

I disagree with Milford because he got to a point where he should have won a Clive. He didnt of course, and the drop off was huge, but he at least had a ridiculously good GF and great 2015 season.

The rest I just dont think ever got anywhere near meeting potential.

That said, probably Barba for me. Real could have been anything story.

 

[theshed]

I disagree with Milford because he got to a point where he should have won a Clive. He didnt of course, and the drop off was huge, but he at least had a ridiculously good GF and great 2015 season.

The rest I just dont think ever got anywhere near meeting potential.

That said, probably Barba for me. Real could have been anything story.

Barba won a dally M, had a hall of fame season, and won a grand final.

 

[Super Freak]

Hayne and Barba could have been all-time greats if they got their shit together.

Unfortunately Hayne was lazy and Barba was too busy bashing his mrs and playing the pokies.

 

[Morkel]

The Coal Train, simply because we never ever saw his best. A lot of the others hit what could be considered a peak, even if it was only for a short time. DT never came close to his potential, and yet he was still good enough to play for Qld and Australia. It seemed he never even got out of first gear at training, never pushed himself, so he never got close to putting his potential on to the field.

 

[Dexter]

DT for mine. So big and fast great hands but zero work ethic. Everything came so easy for him but I don't think he was the sharpest tool in the shed.
Total waste.

 

[Sproj]

A few others to perhaps consider:
- Denan Kemp
- Shannon Walker
- Ash Taylor
- Jayden Nikorima
- Ben Czislowski
- TC Robati
- Matt Lodge
- Arana Taumata?
- Tony ?? (From Parra and Manly I think)
- Feleti Mateo? ex-Parra player)

 

[Super Freak]

Tim Smith.

He was going to be something special, but he just couldn't get his shit together off the field.

 

[Sproj]

Tim Smith.

He was going to be something special.

Yeah good call on that one.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Todd Carney....

 

[Sproj]

Jamal Idris.

 

[tommy]

Circumstances killed Milf's career.

He had a great 2015 as a running half and in 2016 he was already showing signs of maturing as a half.

He was going to be our long term 6 and then Bhunt got vultured by a ridiculous contract that derailed both clubs and probably Bhunt's career, on top of that Bennett pivoted and decided Milf would be our halfback instead.

He may have been wearing the 6, but that's basically the same as Lockyer wearing the 6... he was going to be our primary half moving forward.

In the preseason when he was going to make that transition he had shoulder surgery and missed the full preseason.

Bennett also decided that Kodi would wear the 7 and play on the right (like a normal halfback would) but it created confusion with the halves pairing ... and then from there it was a merry go round across the entire spine as to who would play alongside Milf.

He then ended up having another shoulder surgery to destroy back to back preseasons... whilst he was still trying to transition into being our half.

By that point Bennett was on track to being knifed, Darius was breaking down and Milf was having to play 3 spine positions across the year whilst also being brought back early from injuries.

Had Bhunt stayed Milf's career could've been anything... had we picked up a halfback when Milf left he could've been anything... had he not had shoulder surgeries destroy preseason after preseason then he couldve been anything.

For other guys like Taylor it was more the mental side that destroyed their careers... so that falls entirely on them.

unfortunately Milf got unlucky and had a lot of things taken out of his control.

He got fat and lazy(for an athlete). Remember that try against Newcastle in 15? He never came close to that type of play anytime after '15.

 

[Allo]

A few others to perhaps consider:
- Denan Kemp
- Shannon Walker
- Ash Taylor
- Jayden Nikorima
- Ben Czislowski
- TC Robati
- Matt Lodge
- Arana Taumata?
- Tony ?? (From Parra and Manly I think)
- Feleti Mateo? ex-Parra player)

Would’ve been interesting to see how Kemp would’ve gone if he stayed in Brisbane.

Dr Taumata lost his licence by writing scripts for himself lmao

I’m guessing you’re meaning TRex aka Tony Williams?

Feleti went to SL I think. He had a season or two as a god of SuperCoach with his offloads. I think the game passed him by in that respect and if your offloads aren’t sticking or part of the game plan, what else are you gonna do?