We’re now just over half-way through the 2017 National Rugby League season. There’s been some great signings for 2017 with some wonderful transformations by switching clubs.
10. Akuila Uate
After poor form in his final two seasons at the Newcastle Knights saw him languishing in the New South Wales Cup for much of 2016, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles decided to take a punt on the Fijian born flyer. The bustling winger has repaid the club in leaps and bounds with nine tries in 12 appearances. Quickly returning to the form which saw him represent New South Wales and Australia four and a half years ago, some may argue he is playing better football now than he was all that time ago. Uate is currently achieving an 81 percent effective tackle rate this season, his previous best was 73 percent in 2012 – the year he represented his state and country.
9. Michael Gordon
The man known as the flash has rejuvenated his career this season. With his shock pre-season switch having many punters questioning whether the Sydney Roosters had made the right call. A few short months before Michael Gordon put pen to paper with the Bondi based club, boom rookie Latrell Mitchell was touted as the next big thing in the fullback position and with the signing of ‘’Flash Gordon’’, many feared Mitchell’s pathway to NRL football had been blocked.
The 33-year-old has proved those doubters wrong this season. Winding the clock back to average the best attacking statistics of his career since 2013 – 120 run metres a game, 50 tackle breaks, 6 line breaks, 6 tries and 5 try assists – proving to be a valuable asset in the Roosters spine from his 14 appearances this season. Beneficially, Latrell Mitchell has found a home of his own in the centres with Gordon taking his Fullback position.
8. Tautau Moga
After three serious knee injuries, many feared Tautau Moga’s career was over. Struggling for form in the Queensland Cup for the Mackay Cutters in 2016, the Brisbane Broncos threw the 23-year-old a lifeline. Although starting the season off slowly, the 194cm and 108kg centre has become one of the most improved players in the NRL over the past two months of football.
Scoring four tries from his last seven games, the outside back is quickly reminding us what made him a future Origin prospect back in 2012 – and he will only continue to improve. Moga is averaging close to 140 run metres and 12 tackles a game this season – the most of his career thus far.
With Moga being signed at a basement price, Brisbane is definitely getting bang for their buck. Here’s hoping he can stay injury free and reach his full potential in the years to come.
7. Luke Keary
After a falling out with club hierarchy (none other than the Gladiator; Russell Crowe) led to a lacklustre season with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2016, the 2014 Grand Final winning five-eighth joined the Roosters this season on a big money contract.
With many expecting him to again disappoint, Keary has instead returned to the form of old which saw him labelled a future State of Origin prospect in 2015. Proving to be the perfect foil for New South Wales representative, and fellow premiership winner Mitchell Pearce, Keary has record a whopping 15 try assists and 22 line break assists in just 14 games this season.
6. Josh Addo-Carr
Oh Tigers, Tigers, Tigers…. How on earth did you let this guy slip between the cracks in your time of need? Josh Addo-Carr has proved to be the perfect replacement for Melbourne cult hero Marika Koroibete at the Storm this season.
Exceeding expectations by even his own standards, Addo-Carr has scored nine tries in 14 appearances this season whilst also sitting second on the line breaks made leader board with 14.
Addo-Carr’s average of 131 metres per game is among the best of any winger in the competition and evidently lays the platform for his forward pack to steam roll through the middle of the football field as a result from his quick play the balls.
With Addo-Carr’s blistering form this season, I’m sure the Wests Tigers are well and truly licking their wounds with deep remorse.
Be sure to check back next week for Part two.
5. Jarrod Wallace
Bench forward turned State of Origin starting forward in the space of six months; season 2017 has seen a meteoric rise for ex-Bronco Jarrod Wallace.
Wallace has almost doubled his input for the Gold Coast this season, compared to last. Averaging 60 minutes per game along with 140 metres and 34 tackles, Wallace is not only one of the best signings of 2017 but also one of the most improved players of the competition.
With a well-deserved State of Origin debut for Queensland in Game II of the series, plenty more is expected from Wallace in coming years.
4. Cameron McInnes
It’s no secret the St. George Illawarra Dragons had the worst attack of the entire competition in 2016. After the signing of out of form South Sydney dummy-half Cameron McInnes, many thought that things would remain the same in 2017.
That belief has turned out to be far from the case this season. McInnes has proved the perfect foil for representative duo Josh Dugan and Gareth Widdop in the Dragons spine this year. Helping improve the clubs attack from a measly 14 points a game in 2016 to 23 points a game in 2017; McInnes has recorded 6 try assists, 5 line break assists and 2 tries whilst also tying up the defence of St. George’s middle with 43 tackles a game – the best figures of his career by far.
The Dragons are set to form one of the best spines in the competition next season with new recruit Ben Hunt joining McInnes and Widdop in 2018.
3. Blake Green
After churning through five halves partners for Daly Cherry-Evans in season 2016, Manly coach Trent Barrett has finally found a capable five-eighth in Blake Green.
Green, 30, having spent two seasons in the Melbourne Storm setup, has added much needed experience to the Manly spine this year which has seen halves partner, and 10-million-dollar man Daly Cherry-Evans play his best football in over two years.
Currently sitting in the top four after the opening 16 rounds. Manly are playing the most exciting brand of footy of any team this season. Last year, Manly struggled to put points on the board with Cherry-Evans having a lacklustre season as he struggled to come to grips of not having a genuine six play outside him. This year has been a lot different. Green himself has taken pressure of Cherry-Evans with 6 try assists, 6 line break assists, 3 tries and most importantly his kicking game.
Green’s big game experience has proved the fundamental cause in Manly’s much improved 2017 season.
2. Nathan Brown
What has Nathan Brown sitting so high on this list is the value he has offered Parramatta this season. Gone is the rubbish from his game, in its place high input and discipline. Not signing on the richest of deals, Parramatta took a huge risk in signing Brown due to his on-field antics, but it has paid great dividends for the club with Brown repaying the Eels in leaps and bounds this year.
Last season Brown missed three games through suspension and was put on report three times. This season he hasn’t missed one game through suspension and is yet to be put or report or charged by the Match Review Committee.
It took former the former South Sydney bad-boy just four games this season to replace representative forward Beau Scott as the starting lock for the Eels. Averaging 63 minutes, 14 runs, 121 metres, 28 tackles and 2 offloads a game, Parramatta are getting bang for their buck with Nathan Brown.
1. Paul Vaughan
Be forewarned, I’m not going to sugar coat things in this next sentence but Ricky Stuart sure is one hell of an idiot.
It was Round 18 last season when Paul Vaughn was dropped from the Canberra Raiders squad in favour of fringe first-grader Clay Priest. At the time of his demotion, Vaughn was averaging 11.8 runs a game for 120 metres along with 25 tackles – among the best in the competition. Ricky Stuart later released Vaughn from the final year of his contract, and he immediately signed with St. George Illawarra on a big money deal.
He has been arguably the best front rower in the competition this season, with an average of 139 metres and 28 tackles a game, the 190cm and 110kg behemoth was knocking on the door of State of Origin selection before his injury in last weeks’ win over the Newcastle Knights.
With four tries, one try assist, two line break assists and 33 tackle busts this year, Ricky Stuart could really use a forward with Vaughn’s attacking capabilities in the nation’s capital at the moment…
Top Ten Honourable Mentions: Benji Marshall, Tyrell Fuimoano, Brian Kelly, Moses Suli, Shaun Fensom, Curtis Sironen, Joe Greenwood, Zane Tetevano, Jamie Buhrer and Kieran Foran.
Top Ten Fallen Flat: James Tamou, Dan Sarginson, Kevin Proctor, Jordan Turner, Jackson Hastings, Joe Wardle, David Mead, Anthony Tupou, Robbie Farah and Paul Carter
