What could have been: The biggest wasted potential

[theshed]

Chris Sandow.

Had the potential to be one of the best halfbacks in the comp, but never had the work ethic.

Souths Chris Sandow was one of the great rugby league joys. He played halfback the same way debut year Cobbo ran length of the field intercepts - breath taking to watch and a giant smile on his face

 

[Oldman]

Tom Turbo for me. Still has had a hall of fame career and plenty of footy ahead of him, but he truly had GOAT potential (to the literal definition of the term) if not for injuries.

Size, speed, ballplaying, kick returns, aerial ability, defending linebreaks, support play, yardage carries, versatility. The things he did in that COVID year when he was fully fit was ridiculous.

That is very harsh. Turbo is elite. I think he has done everything within his power. A career limited by injuries is not wasted talent.

 

[LittleDavey]

Maybe out of place, but...Karmichael Hunt was Reece's age when he left for AFL if I'm not mistaken. He still had a decade in the NRL and left when he was the QLD and Australian FB. I'd love to have seen if he was transitioned to the halves like Locky or left at FB, and what he achieved had he stayed. There's no way he could have kept on returning the ball with the aggression he did.

But of those on the list, DT for mine with Milford second.

 

[Big Pete]

Before there was Milford, there was teenage sensation Owen Craigie who had the world at his feet at Newcastle. Won a premiership at 19, had every quality you'd want in a player and looked destined for greatness, by 21 he was all but burnt out.

It was a testament to his ability that he still received opportunities at the Tigers and Rabbitohs but a real shame he couldn't take his game to the next level.

 

[Super Freak]

Before there was Milford, there was teenage sensation Owen Craigie who had the world at his feet at Newcastle. Won a premiership at 19, had every quality you'd want in a player and looked destined for greatness, by 21 he was all but burnt out.

It was a testament to his ability that he still received opportunities at the Tigers and Rabbitohs but a real shame he couldn't take his game to the next level.

From memory he couldn't stay away from the gambling and the booze, ruined his career as a result.

A shame because he was a real talent.

 

[Johnny92]

Maybe out of place, but...Karmichael Hunt was Reece's age when he left for AFL if I'm not mistaken. He still had a decade in the NRL and left when he was the QLD and Australian FB. I'd love to have seen if he was transitioned to the halves like Locky or left at FB, and what he achieved had he stayed. There's no way he could have kept on returning the ball with the aggression he did.

But of those on the list, DT for mine with Milford second.

Was going to mention Karmichael.
Achieved a lot in his time but left when he was 23 so Reece's age which is crazy.
Brisbane quite possibly win the comp in 11 when Locky broke his face if K was here
Would have taken the reigns of the team once Lockyer retires and became the future captain.
Would possibly hold the record for games played for Broncos
Wasn't only his potential wasted but the potential of the Broncos post Lockyer.

 

[The Strapper]

Was going to mention Karmichael.
Achieved a lot in his time but left when he was 23 so Reece's age which is crazy.
Brisbane quite possibly win the comp in 11 when Locky broke his face if K was here
Would have taken the reigns of the team once Lockyer retires and became the future captain.
Would possibly hold the record for games played for Broncos
Wasn't only his potential wasted but the potential of the Broncos post Lockyer.

Whilst I don't deny any of that I take a kinder view of him.
He was offered absolutely insane money to go over to AFL and really couldn't knock it back.
I never expected it to work but I think the AFL just wanted to put the boot in and get a couple of NRL stars to promote the new GWS team. (Folau was the other one).
It pissed me off no end that both of them came from our club and I completely agree with you that if we had been able to keep them both we definitely would have won a comp (probably more than one).
When he eventually came back to NRL he was only a shadow of his former self and could never reach the heights of his earlier promise.
Would like to know if he thought it was all worth it in the end.

 

[Renegade]

Was going to mention Karmichael.
Achieved a lot in his time but left when he was 23 so Reece's age which is crazy.
Brisbane quite possibly win the comp in 11 when Locky broke his face if K was here
Would have taken the reigns of the team once Lockyer retires and became the future captain.
Would possibly hold the record for games played for Broncos
Wasn't only his potential wasted but the potential of the Broncos post Lockyer.

It would've been interesting to see his career development.
I know we tried him at 5/8 (or was it halfback?) in 07/08 (can't remember exactly when, one of those two years I think) to underwhelming results (I honestly can't remember how he went, I'd have to go back and watch it again), but you have to assume he would've made the move post Lockyer as he had enough skills to make a fist of it.

Or if he stays at FB, how does his and Slaters career unfold in tandem? Early on, Hunt was the much more reliable, safer fullback with Slater eventually overtaking him - wonder if this changes at all with Hunt fully concentrating on one sport and one position?

 

[Big Pete]

It would've been interesting to see his career development.
I know we tried him at 5/8 in 07/08 (can't remember exactly when, one of those two years I think) to underwhelming results (I honestly can't remember how he went, I'd have to go back and watch it again), but you have to assume he would've made the move post Lockyer as he had enough skills to make a fist of it.

Or if he stays at FB, how does his and Slaters career unfold in tandem? Early on, Hunt was the much more reliable, safer fullback with Slater eventually overtaking him - wonder if this changes at all with Hunt fully concentrating on one sport and one position?

The Karmichael Hunt at 7 experiment started in 2006 when he trialled there. You could see the early developments as he went from exclusively playing that second man formation to getting early first receiver touches to allow Lockyer time to organise the attack.

In 2007, Bennett decided he had to change things up last minute and went with Hunt at 7. He had a mixed game, two tries but the Broncos attack spluttered and his defence was hit or miss. Then Lockyer got injured, the Broncos had a tough road game in New Zealand and the Broncos found themselves 0-2 so they played it safe. They would then produce one of the biggest chokes I've seen. Honestly 2023 doesn't compare to that Round 3 2007 game, worst birthday present, ever.

For whatever reason, Mal refused to pick the form player of 2008, Scott Prince, so he went with Karmichael in the halves. He still had the same limitations as before, a couple of big hits but didn't offer a lot else. Queensland would go onto win that series with Hunt subbing at halfback, but you'd have to give JT and Slater credit.

'09 Karmichael started to tone down the kamikaze runs but was really beginning to perfect that sweep play. He played one game in the halves and Canberra spent the entire game tearing the Broncos edges to deliver a record score.

 

[Renegade]

Yeah I was there for that ****ing Penrith game, had a ST at the time.

From my hazy memory Hunt did go ok in attack but yeah, defensively apparently was suss. My recollections are pretty hazy but I thought the reaction was kinda harsh to Hunt in the halves - thought there was a bit more there worth persevering with but things got away from that.

Was the Warriors game the Perry chip and chase? Looked like Alfie.

 

[Big Pete]

Yeah I was there for that ****ing Penrith game, had a ST at the time.

From my hazy memory Hunt did go ok in attack but yeah, defensively apparently was suss. My recollections are pretty hazy but I thought the reaction was kinda harsh to Hunt in the halves - thought there was a bit more there worth persevering with but things got away from that.

Was the Warriors game the Perry chip and chase? Looked like Alfie.

Perry chip and chase, Thaiday kicking goals, Hunt smashing Wiki it was a bizarro game.

What turns me off the idea is that he never won a game at halfback. Only a small sample size but you have to at least have a Man of the Match performance to make me think 'if only'. Of all his games at 7, I'd say his debut was the highlight.

 

[Browny]

Yeah I was there for that ****ing Penrith game, had a ST at the time.

From my hazy memory Hunt did go ok in attack but yeah, defensively apparently was suss. My recollections are pretty hazy but I thought the reaction was kinda harsh to Hunt in the halves - thought there was a bit more there worth persevering with but things got away from that.

Was the Warriors game the Perry chip and chase? Looked like Alfie.

The Penrith game where we were up by 10 and lost?

 

[Renegade]

The Penrith game where we were up by 10 and lost?

something like that. conceded two tries in the final 5mins or something? wesser on the hooter I think. and then pwal slotting it from 40 out, probably setting in stone his signature for the following year.

 

[Scorchie]

Jharal Yow Yeh. I know he played for Australia, but had he not broken his leg, he could have been special.

He’ll always be something special. I don’t think he can be in a list of wasted potential - he owned his potential and had it cut short by playing in Perth