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BroncoKiwi
The Six Worst Buys of 2009
June 17th 2009 00:54
Category: Opinion
At the midway point of the season we often hear about the players who have made an impact since shifting clubs over the off season. Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Israel Folau, Isaac de Gois, Darius Boyd and Michael Weyman are just some names that spring to mind.
But what about the recruits who have failed to live up to expectations?
NRL Live hasn’t forgotten and this week we take a look at some of the worst buys of 2009..
Aaron Gorrell (Broncos)
The former St. George hooker arrived in Brisbane after spending two seasons playing for Les Catalans Dragons in the English Super League. At the start of the year Gorrell was viewed as a replacement for the departed Michael Ennis but has since fallen out of the side altogether with PJ Marsh and 19-year old Andrew McCullough being preferred in the number nine. He has even been overlooked for the Broncos’ Round 15 side, despite the fact that it includes three debutants. Gorrell has been named starting hooker for Wynnum Manly in their clash against the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup this weekend.
Corey Hughes (Sharks)
This is not really a dig at Hughes but rather a dig at the Sharks poor recruitment. Cronulla signed the 31-year old hooker on a one year deal while allowing promising (and much younger) dummy half Isaac de Gois to leave to the Knights. Not surprisingly, Sharks fans have a raw deal as Hughes has failed to provide any spark from dummy half. On the other hand, de Gois has proven especially dangerous for the eighth placed Newcastle.
Reni Maitua (Sharks)
Maitua was sacked by the Bulldogs at the end of 2008 for repeated indiscretions and was, very generously, given a second chance by the Sharks. But rather than repaying the faith placed in him, Maitua instead tested positive to banned performance enhancing drug Clenbuterol after just eight games for the Sharks. He is now serving a two year suspension and it’s highly unlikely that he’ll play league again.
Denan Kemp (Warriors)
The lightning quick winger had a stellar 2008 for the Broncos scoring 19 tries, winning the club’s rookie of the year award and being touted as a future Origin representative. Kemp is renowned for his blinding acceleration and speed but has only crossed the try line once for his new club. After a lacklustre start to this year he now finds himself playing fullback in New Zealand reserve grade. Reports suggest Kemp is out of sorts at the Warriors so don’t be surprised to see him make a return to Australia and regain top form at some point in the future.
Joel Moon (Warriors)
Moon followed his Broncos teammate Kemp across the Tasman with the goal of outlining his playmaking credentials at five-eighth. He started the season in the number six but with the Warriors only winning three from their first eight Moon is now on the outer. At 21, the Queenslander is still in his infancy as an NRL player so I’m not writing his whole career off by any means. However, it is safe to say that the Warriors are yet to receive any value for money.
But the award for worst buy goes to Arana Taumata (pictured) from the Melbourne Storm for being signed and then sacked before the season even started.
Despite being only 20 years of age, Taumata has been shown the door by four NRL clubs in the past four years. Brisbane and Sydney were the first to dismiss the youngster in 2006 and 2007 respectively. He was then picked up by the Bulldogs, who released him at the end of 2008 after he allegedly broke a man’s jaw. The Storm then granted Taumata a lifeline after his Bulldogs stint with the goal of giving the wayward playmaker the number six jersey in 2009. Unfortunately he failed to last the off season and was kicked out a month before Round One following a drunken altercation.
Taumata has recently landed a contract with Queensland Cup side Easts Tigers and, after watching him play last Saturday, there’s no doubting Taumata’s talent and fleet footwork. In fact he set up one try and scored another in just his second game off the bench. But as the cliché goes, he’ll definitely have to improve his attitude if he wants another crack at NRL level.
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But what are your thoughts? Who has been the least impressive from your club?
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