The Ten Most Overrated NRL Players Of The Decade | Thebigtip

They are some of the best paid Australians in the country. But which National Rugby League players are luckier then the others? Who are the most overrated players in the NRL? Here are 10 of the biggest from the last 10 years.

#10
Ben Hornby
St George/Illawarra Dragons

Why is he overrated: The Dragons captain has floated through a career spanning over a decade. Hornby is obviously a very safe player. But the Wollongong junior could also almost put you to sleep too. The sad thing is that Hornby has three New South Wales jumpers and a premiership ring as captain of the 2010 premiers. The tortoise did beat the hare after all.

#9
Chris Sandow
South Sydney Rabbitohs

Why is he overrated: Sandow can occasionally do something amazing to win his team a game. This was the case Saturday night when he slotted a long distance field goal in golden point against the Sydney Roosters. But it’s the other three weeks of the month that hurt Sandow. In the tough moments when he is needed, he goes missing. I can’t comprehend the Parramatta Eels paying so much for such a yo-yo talent.

#8
Timana Tahu
Newcastle Knights/Parramatta Eels/Penrith Panthers

Why is he overrated: Tahu was a sensation when he came into first grade at the Knights. The flying winger was impressive and even scored himself a premiership ring in 2001. But time does funny things to people. Before long, Tahu was a centre at the Eels and a completely different person. An awesome young winger at the Knights into an angry arrogant bully at the Eels. Tahu then took the big money on offer from rugby union and switched to the Waratahs. He returned a shadow of his once promising self.

#7
Ben Creagh
St George/Illawarra Dragons

Why is he overrated: Somehow this guy keeps getting picked for the Blues. A talented backrower at times for the Dragons but some players just can’t step up to representative football. Creagh basically played the entire Origin series this year as a front rower. How is this allowed?

#6
Jamal Idris
Canterbury Bulldogs

Why is he overrated: The perfect example of a generation Y player who puts himself first before all others. One of the many reasons Kevin Moore got the sack from the Bulldogs. Idris burst onto the scene with his big hair and his big runs. But sitting out in the centres isn’t good enough for such a “talent”. He needs to play in the forwards. Whether he wants to or not.

#5
Frank Pritchard
Penrith Panthers/Canterbury Bulldogs

Why is he overrated: Pritchard joined the Bulldogs this year because of a reputation as a devastating line runner on the fringes of the ruck. But the Bulldogs failed to see his problem at the Panthers which is now happening at the Belmore club. The guy only has a few quality runs in him a game. After those said runs, he goes missing. It has always been his problem and always will be. He is lazy.

#4
John Sutton
South Sydney Rabbitohs

Why is he overrated: How this guy got a new contract at the Rabbitohs is astonishing. Sutton has been Souths five-eighth for what seems an eternity and year after year the bunnies come up with nothing. Its almost as if he plays within himself and rarely ever gets into a sprint. Souths will eventually bite the bullet and punt him. You can’t buy groceries on potential forever.

#3
Sonny Bill Williams
Canterbury Bulldogs

Why is he overrated: Lets get one thing clear. Sonny Bill Williams has done nothing in rugby league. A very talented kid who will eventually come back to the NRL. But the fact that people out there treat him like a rugby league god sickens me. Yes he did win a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2004. But he was basically a kid warming the bench. Injury prone and lazy are words that come to mind when you think about SBW in the NRL.

#2
Willie Mason
Canterbury Bulldogs/Sydney Roosters

Why is he overrated: It is amazing how many teams Mason has helped wreck. The dominant Bulldogs of the mid 2000’s were ripped apart when Mason started his bickering with coach Steve Folkes. He then joined the Roosters where he helped steer the tri-colours to a wooden spoon. Big Willie’s little reign of terror at Hull KR in England also came to an abrupt end this year. The fact is, Mason was too big for his own boots and was never the player he thought he was. Too slow for the backrow and not tough enough for prop.

#1 Mark Gasnier
St George/Illawarra Dragons

Why is he overrated: Does anyone really care that he is retiring? The man has been nothing but a burden for the Dragons and I am sure they are glad to see the back of him to open up some money. Dragons fans seem to forget that the centre left them all behind when he ran off to France for the money. Only to return after a big payday to score himself a premiership ring. Now he is set for a career in the media. I can’t wait. Gasnier is very lucky his uncle’s name is Reg.