Players That Should Have Left But Stayed
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:23 pm
The opposite to my other thread, here is a Top 5 list of players that overstayed their welcome at the Melbourne Storm:
5. Antonio Kafusi (78 Games – 2003-08) – He was a good prop, but he wasn’t a star. I can’t believe he stayed at the club for as long as he did (six seasons).
4. Rodney Howe (106 Games – 1998-2004) – How in the world did Rodney Howe last seven seasons and win 2 Player of the Year Awards in 2000 and 2002 (a year he only played 14 games). He was regarded as one of the best props in the comp before he was suspended for drugs in 1998 and the start of 1999. Won a premiership in ’99 but slowly turned out to be a liability. Had poor discipline (I remember he got sent off in a match in 2000), he only averaged 15 games in his seven seasons at the club, Muppet Murray made him captain in mid-2002 after Robbie Kearns was sacked and he only played 2 games in 2003 due to getting a season ending injury. Finally retired at the end of 2004.
3. Robbie Ross (89 Games – 1998-2003) – I reckon Robbie Ross was the best fullback in the game in 1999-first half of 2000. After that it all went horribly wrong. He was a walking injury after that and I can’t believe the Storm re-signed him at the end of 2000 to a four year deal ending in 2004, which he didn’t even see the end of. Only played 43 games between 2000-03. Unfortunately he is now the forgotten man of the club (Billy Slater has completely overshadowed him, like Cam Smith did to Richard Swain).
2. Fifita Moala (39 Games – 2000-04) – How did he manage to play five seasons at the club? His last ever game against Newcastle in Round 2, 2004 summed up his career – very average. Could score a few tries but his defence was nothing short of pathetic.
1. Ian Donnelly (30 Games – 2005-07) – One of the worst recruits from another club, I’m surprised he lasted three seasons. Completely ill-disciplined and error prone, I was happy when he left the Storm mid-2007, where he went to the Gold Coast and then Cronulla before disappearing from the NRL.
5. Antonio Kafusi (78 Games – 2003-08) – He was a good prop, but he wasn’t a star. I can’t believe he stayed at the club for as long as he did (six seasons).
4. Rodney Howe (106 Games – 1998-2004) – How in the world did Rodney Howe last seven seasons and win 2 Player of the Year Awards in 2000 and 2002 (a year he only played 14 games). He was regarded as one of the best props in the comp before he was suspended for drugs in 1998 and the start of 1999. Won a premiership in ’99 but slowly turned out to be a liability. Had poor discipline (I remember he got sent off in a match in 2000), he only averaged 15 games in his seven seasons at the club, Muppet Murray made him captain in mid-2002 after Robbie Kearns was sacked and he only played 2 games in 2003 due to getting a season ending injury. Finally retired at the end of 2004.
3. Robbie Ross (89 Games – 1998-2003) – I reckon Robbie Ross was the best fullback in the game in 1999-first half of 2000. After that it all went horribly wrong. He was a walking injury after that and I can’t believe the Storm re-signed him at the end of 2000 to a four year deal ending in 2004, which he didn’t even see the end of. Only played 43 games between 2000-03. Unfortunately he is now the forgotten man of the club (Billy Slater has completely overshadowed him, like Cam Smith did to Richard Swain).
2. Fifita Moala (39 Games – 2000-04) – How did he manage to play five seasons at the club? His last ever game against Newcastle in Round 2, 2004 summed up his career – very average. Could score a few tries but his defence was nothing short of pathetic.
1. Ian Donnelly (30 Games – 2005-07) – One of the worst recruits from another club, I’m surprised he lasted three seasons. Completely ill-disciplined and error prone, I was happy when he left the Storm mid-2007, where he went to the Gold Coast and then Cronulla before disappearing from the NRL.