Players who missed their chance...

[ghosty]

I often talk to people about Brian Jellick & most people are like who the F is that.

Well BJ is a kiwi who couldn't get a run with the Warriors and after years of trying he sent a video to Cowboys who signed him almost immediately. Unfortunately he didnt debut until 27 in '99 and for this reason only played 3 seasons retiring in 2001. This guy could have been amazing. He always played well for the cowboys, racking up many long range trys on the wing and debuted for New Zealand in his first year & ended up scoring 6 international trys from only 3 matches. Imagine if he had hit the scene at 19.....

Who do think missed their calling and what's their story?

 

[thenamesgould]

Jellick-nite!

He carved up the local NZ comp for several years before going to North Queensland, as well. Heaven knows why the Warriors never gave him a shot.

 

[Ben Tone]

Don't know what happened to him but David Boughton played for the Sharks in the early to mid 90's.

A tough bugger for his size and a real worker.

Used to like watching him play.

 

[troy titans douglas]

I always thought jake webster should have stayed in the nrl,
I know he is playing super league but he was good enough to stay at the top level, played a few tests for NZ
Also Shannon Walker, all the potential to be a star in league. Left to play sevens rugby but is doing well there, he is always a chance to come back

 

[Matt26]

I know he probably will pop up again somewhere in the NRL but would someone like Blake Ferguson qualify here?

An unreal talent and if he even had half a brain, he could have been an amazing player in the NRL?

 

[ooneil]

I know he probably will pop up again somewhere in the NRL but would someone like Blake Ferguson qualify here?

Sexual assault rules you out from this list!

 

[ghosty]

Must agree with both comment on Blake......

Its a big shame to loose some of these guys to other codes.

Steven Witt was another one. Older brother too Michael. He started out at Eels and had a run at Newcastle but between Michael at parra n Joey & Mullins at Newcastle he never got to show his full potential as a half.

 

[thenamesgould]

Daniel Abraham was a big one for the Knights. Would have been selected for NSW in 2004, but broke his ankle pretty badly in the City Country game a few weeks beforehand.

Came back at the start of 2005 and six or so rounds in, just as he was returning to his form of old, broke his other ankle even worse. You could hear the crack on the tv coverage, as well as in the stands, from what I've been told.

Came back again in 2007, but unfortunately was never the same player.

 

[mischap123]

Adam Ritson for Eels/Sharks. Career tragically cut short due to the diagnosis of a brain tumour in the mid 90's

 

[BLADE]

I was at the game, front row right in front of the John Lomax high shot on Ritson. That high shot probably saved his life.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Craig Gibson - South Sydney. Had a Series 2 card in 1995. 8 games, 4 tries. I think he went overseas.

Another was Peter Driscoll - had a couple of cards in 1996/97.

 

[Leith Holding]

David Woods (not the one that played for the Gold Coast, and who tragically took his own life)

Played in the Centres for the Eels but unfortunately injuries curtailed his career.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

David Woods (not the one that played for the Gold Coast, and who tragically took his own life)

Played in the Centres for the Eels but unfortunately injuries curtailed his career.

Ended up at Penrith if memory serves. Yeah…he would play and then be injured for six months. Come back…out again. Come back…out again. During the lean years of the 1990's too.

 

[thenamesgould]

David Woods (not the one that played for the Gold Coast, and who tragically took his own life)

Played in the Centres for the Eels but unfortunately injuries curtailed his career.

Yeah, that guy was quality, but easily the most injury prone player in the history of the sport.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Didn't he puncture a lung laughing at a joke?

 

[League Hub]

Ended up at Penrith if memory serves. Yeah…he would play and then be injured for six months. Come back…out again. Come back…out again. During the lean years of the 1990's too.

Sounds a bit like Jerome Ropati

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Geoff Selby would have been an International, died in a car accident....

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

David Woods (not the one that played for the Gold Coast, and who tragically took his own life)

Played in the Centres for the Eels but unfortunately injuries curtailed his career.

Never knew he took his own life, everytime he got started in 1st grade, got injured...

 

[Leith Holding]

Never knew he took his own life, everytime he got started in 1st grade, got injured...

Sorry mate for my potentially confusing wording...the other David Woods (who went round in the same period - played in the forwards) took his own life.

 

[Ben Tone]

Geoff Selby would have been an International, died in a car accident....

Selby did look the goods.

Another who died in a car accident was James Matthews from the Roosters.