Crawley Files: NRL heroes and villains, how Cameron Munster gets away with grubby tactics
Cameron Munster is one of the NRL’s biggest grubs but also the best at disguising it. We reveal the 16 players – and one chief executive – we love to hate.
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Who is the most polarising player in the game today?
This is our list of players (and one CEO) fans either love, or love to hate.
Ahead of this round’s super showdown between South Sydney and Penrith, where chief antagonists Cody Walker and Jarome Luai go head-to-head, Paul Crawley ranks his top 17 heroes/villains from every team.
Judging them on ‘star’ and ‘pest’ power, these are the players who draw the cheers from their own fans, and the jeers from the opposition.
While at most clubs there are obvious standouts, at one there was no clear-cut nomination, so we went searching in the front office to find our man.
DAVID FIFITA (Titans)
Age: 23
NRL games: 91
Star rating: 8th
Pest rating: 3
Overall ranking: 17
Wears one of the game’s biggest targets but only because his monster salary doesn’t always match his often under-utilised talent. The thing is, Fifita is not a dirty player but cops a lot of often unfair criticism simply because he’s overpaid. But when he’s on there’s not a forward in rugby league who can bring the crowd to its feet like this big unit.
JUSTIN PASCOE (Tigers)
Age: Early 50s
NRL games: 0
Star rating: 3
Pest rating: 9
Overall ranking: 16th
At a club where just about everyone now feels sorry for the players, it’s good to see the Tigers’ chief executive taking the pressure off the team by stealing the headlines. Seriously, I’m starting to think the fact Pascoe likes to get out on the field and hang out with the players during warm up is not so much about him wanting to hog the limelight, it’s about creating a diversion so we stop talking about the Tigers’ on-field performances. How can you not applaud that type of selfless attitude?
JACK BIRD (Dragons)
Age: 28
NRL games: 135
Star rating: 7
Pest rating: 6
Overall ranking: Equal 14th
One of the NRL’s most underrated serial pests, Bird sure knows how to upset his rivals while maintaining his innocence. During what has been a tough period for the Dragons, Bird is also among their best every time he takes the field. And while you rarely see him lose his temper, don’t underestimate the subtle work he gets done when it comes to the art of niggling.
REECE WALSH (Broncos)
Age: 20
NRL games: 45
Star rating: 8.5
Pest rating: 4.5
Overall ranking: Equal 14th
In a team overflowing with good guys the star 20-year-old fullback is fast becoming an easy target for opposition fans only because he’s just too talented, too good looking and makes everything look ridiculously easy. Throw in the fact Walsh turned his back on the Warriors to race back to the Broncos on a stack more money and you can see why jealousy has become a bit of a curse. But certainly not among the Broncos’ faithful.
COREY HORSBURGH (Raiders)
Age: 25
NRL games: 67
Star rating: 7
Pest rating: 6.5
Overall ranking: 12th
Has the personality of a big puppy dog until someone rattles his cage – ask Cronulla’s Royce Hunt. Then it’s a case of get out of the mad ranga’s way because the big fella goes off like a box of crackers. Loves to inspire with big hits, although at times Horsburgh’s emotions have been known to get the better of him (think back to his teary run-in with Parramatta fans a few years ago). But what can’t be ignored is his form this season has made everyone take notice, including Queensland coach Billy Slater.
TOM GILBERT (Dolphins)
Age: 22
NRL games: 55
Star rating: 7
Pest rating: 7
Overall ranking: Equal 11th
Before the season kicked off former Storm enforcer Felise Kaufusi was odds-on to become the Dolphins’ most hated player. But on the back of some monster hits prior to Kaufusi’s suspension, he became the game’s most talked about recruit for mostly the right reasons. Meanwhile, it’s the former Cowboy who has snuck under everyone’s guard to become the Dolphins’ resident shit stirrer, with Tom Gilbert’s whatever-it-takes mentality also making him a huge crowd favourite.
DANE GAGAI (Knights)
Age: 32
NRL games: 253
Star rating: 7.5
Pest rating: 6.5
Overall ranking: Equal 11th
The Clark Kent of club football who turns into Superman every time he pulls on a Queensland jumper. And don’t worry, while Gagai might play the unsung hero to perfection, he also knows how to niggle with the best of them, and can turn on the biff when he needs to. NSW fans only need to remember how he belted the tripe out of Matt Burton last year to know why this is a dude not to be messed with. No wonder Queenslanders rate him.
KYLE FELDT (Cowboys)
Age: 31
NRL games: 182
Star rating: 7.5
Pest rating: 7
Overall ranking: 10th
Brings back memories of the old Broncos winger Michael Hancock in that you’d love Feldt on your team, but as an opposition player he can be as annoying as a fly around the dinner table. While he has been known to let his emotions get the better of him, what you also can’t ignore is Feldt’s ability to come up with the big plays in big matches over many seasons.
RONALDO MULITALO (Sharks)
Age: 23
NRL games: 71
Star rating: 6.5
Pest rating: 8.5
Overall ranking: 9th
Old timers would scratch their heads how a winger gets away with as much lip as this bloke and doesn’t cop a smack in the teeth for his troubles. But this crazy Shark has a bite to match his big mouth, and seems to thrive on the animosity. The issue is Mulitalo’s niggling tactics are also starting to become a huge motivation for the opposition, who more and more frequently are going out to try and bait him. However, fans go too far when they send death threats via social media.
TEVITA PANGAI JR (Bulldogs)
Age: 27
NRL games: 123
Star rating: 7.5
Pest Rating: 8
Overall ranking: 8th
The Bulldogs’ ticking time bomb, but that’s what makes Pangai Jr so entertaining. Can hit like a truck and produce a silky offload. But I still laugh every time Pangai Jr does something spectacular at how quickly his crazy eyes glance up at the big screen to try and catch his own replay. It makes him look like the naughty kid in the playground who just got caught pinching someone else’s lunch, but you can’t help but smile.
DALY CHERRY-EVANS (Sea Eagles)
Age: 34
NRL games: 290
Star power: 9
Pest rating: 7
Overall ranking: 7th
While Manly diehards and (most) Queensland supporters wouldn’t swap their skipper for the world, the major complaint from opposition fans is that Cherry-Evans is too squeaky clean and talks in cliches, as well as backflipping on the Titans many years ago. But that also remains the main reason why a lot of rival fans will never forgive him, and just accept him for being the brilliant player he is.
ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE (Warriors)
Age: 27
NRL games: 144
Star rating: 7.5
Pest rating: 8
Overall ranking: 6th
Viewed as the big bad wolf at a club that has become almost everyone’s second favourite team this season. But rival fans have long memories, and some won’t forget how a few years back when Fonua-Blake was at Sea Eagles he taunted Raiders fans by gesturing at them to have a cry. That was after he’d had a running battle with Knights fans.
JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES (Roosters)
Age: 34
NRL games: 285
Star rating: 9
Pest rating: 8
Overall ranking: 5th
Absolutely adored by Roosters fans, but equally feared by rivals for the fact every time JWH goes into a collision it’s almost always the opposition player who comes off second best. But at 34, it has mostly gone beyond resentment these days to sheer respect that after 14 years in the NRL the big Kiwi continues to be the benchmark for toughness in the modern game.
CAMERON MUNSTER (Storm)
Age: 28
NRL games: 179
Star rating: 9.5
Pest rating: 8
Overall ranking: Equal 3rd
In big Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s injury absence, Munster has worn the Storm’s black cap with distinction. There’s no question he is the most brilliant big game player in the game today, and that’s why Melbourne and Queensland fans worship the ground he walks on. But Munster can also get under the skin of his opponents with some at times grubby tactics that would make Jarome Luai proud. The difference is Munster’s ability to do it with a laugh often ends up making him the loveable rogue, not the despised antagonist.
MITCHELL MOSES (Eels)
Age: 28
NRL games: 206
Star rating: 9
Pest rating: 8.5
Overall ranking: Equal 3rd
Comes across as cocky to the point of being arrogant, but what you can’t deny is Moses is also the most naturally gifted playmaker in the game today. Opposition fans will still argue he is a bit of a flat track bully who is yet to prove himself in the big games, or the rep arena. Still, Moses helped guide the Eels all the way to the grand final last year. If he can take them one better come October it will be Moses who gets the last laugh.
CODY WALKER (Rabbitohs)
Age: 33
NRL games: 177
Star rating: 9
Pest rating 9
Overall ranking: 2nd
One of the game’s most gifted players who is absolutely revered among the Rabbitohs’ faithful. The trouble is when Walker loses his cool he can go from zero to 100 in a split second, and it’s often to his team’s detriment. I still rate the Rabbitohs the major threat to the Panthers making it a premiership three-peat this year, and this round’s clash will give us a real insight into where Souths are at. But they’ll need the cool-headed Cody, not the hothead version.
JAROME LUAI (Panthers)
Age: 26
NRL games: 92
Star rating: 9
Pest rating: 10
Overall ranking: 1st
While Panthers fans would want you to believe butter wouldn’t melt in Luai’s mouth, there’s just no ignoring this bloke is the NRL’s biggest pest since Michael Ennis hung up his boots. In fact, I’d go further and say if ‘Ennis the Menace’ was playing today he’d have to settle for being second best. And after that controversial incident last round where Tyson Frizell was penalised for accidentally pulling Luai’s hair, you can just imagine him standing in front of the mirror this week and brushing his long locks in hope it happens again, but this time it’s Cody Walker giving away the penalty.
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