Phil Rothfield names his Sally M team of the year of the greatest flops this NRL season

LESS than 12 months ago Ben Barba and Benji Marshall were rated as the two most dynamic game-breakers in the NRL. LIVE BLOG

LESS than 12 months ago Ben Barba and Benji Marshall were rated as the two most dynamic game-breakers in the NRL.

At the same time giant forwards Tony ‘T Rex’ Williams and Dave ‘Coal Train’ Taylor were arguably the game’s most destructive ball runners.

Boom Cowboys second-rower Tariq Sims was tipped to explode his way into the NSW State of Origin team.

And Chris Sandow was the $550,000-a-year half-back who under Ricky Stuart was supposed to engineer a Parramatta Eels revival.

Instead all of the above have been amongst the biggest flops of season 2013, earning selection in the dreaded Sally M team-of-the-year.

Fullbacks

As the Dally M champion, Ben Barba was to launch the season and be the face-of-the-game.

Instead his personal life went off the rails during the off-season as he confronted gambling, alcohol and domestic issues.

He showed patches of good form when he eventually returned but nothing anywhere near the dazzling displays of 2012.

Other fullbacks who disappointed this year included the injured Tim Moltzen at the Sharks and Corey Norman at the Broncos.

Wingers

The one position in the team that was hard to fill.

We’ve had to move Blake Ayshford from the Tigers centres to the wing. He’s struggled because few opportunities have been created by the Wests Tigers halves.

At the Rabbitohs, Andrew Everingham was a revelation last season scoring 17 tries but has hardly been sighted this year, with just four tries in his 15 matches.

Centres

Not hard to find a couple of out-of-form centres.

It’s hard to believe Willie Tonga is on around $350,000 a year at the Parramatta Eels. He’d seriously be flat out making a NSW Cup team at other clubs.

Timana Tahu has also had a forgettable year at the Newcastle Knights. He played only five games before being dumped to NSW Cup.

Ben Pomeroy has also struggled at different stages for the Cronulla Sharks.

JOIN BUZZ'S LIVE BLOG HERE

Five-eighth

Benji was the first chosen. Every area of his game was down on last year’s form and statistics as he struggled under his first new coach since starting in NRL.

At the Dragons, Jamie Soward didn’t make a linebreak in his 12 games this season and even his once deadly accurate goal kicking faded away to just 60%.

He finished in the English Super League, via a stint in NSW Cup. Strangely, Panthers general manager Phil Gould still rates him a ‘marquee signing.’

Ben Roberts has had a shocking season at Parramatta and Terry Campese has also struggled at the Canberra Raiders after coming back from injury.

Kris Keating started the season as a grand final half-back but soon lost his position to Trent Hodkinson.

Half-back

Chris Sandow is the saddest story in rugby league.

Nathan Fein has too done nothing at the Dragons.

It would be unfair to include Albert Kelly at the Titans but he has missed more tackles than any other player in the NRL.

Peter Wallace has also struggled for much of the year at the Brisbane Broncos.

Lock

Braith Anasta has done nothing at the Wests Tigers after switching from the Roosters. His line breaks and try-assists are way down on last season.

He is under contract for next season but will probably be encouraged to retire.

The Eels signed Darcy Lussick from Manly but he too has struggled for much of the season.

Second-row

These guys were almost as easy to pick as Benji Marshall.

Tony Williams and Dave Taylor have the size and strength to tear any opposition apart.

Both were dropped from their State of Origin teams and both were relegated to the bench in club football.

Reni Maitua has also been disappointing at Parramatta as has former origin forward Ben Creagh at the Dragons.

Prop

Adam Blair started the season in the back-row at the Wests Tigers as was rated by some as the worst buy in years, failing to justify a $500,000 plus contract.

He was switched to the front-row with some success but is producing nothing like his old Melbourne Storm form.

Former Test Dave Shillington has been very ordinary at the Canberra Raiders and lost his spot in the Queensland Origin team.

Old stager Michael Weyman (Dragons) and Ben Ross (Sharks) have also been well below their best.

Hooker

The Cowboys signed Englishman Scott Moore to replace James Segeyaro.

He was outclassed in the NRL and played only six games.

**************

Ricky, take the first ride to Canberra

Ricky Stuart has no choice. There is a contract offer on the table from the Canberra Raiders and he should sign it today.

Parramatta is an absolute rabble. The standard of management is worse than the NRL playing roster – and that’s saying something.

It would be worth sticking around and rebuilding if there was stability on the board.

Right now there are three factions going in three different directions.

Recently appointed chairman Steve Sharp is a decent man but has no experience in the often bitter world of football politics.

Coaching a football team under this structure is impossible.

In their current state, the Eels are holding back the rest of the game. TV ratings and crowds are down because they are performing so hopelessly.

Nearly every game they play is a blowout.

In no other business or sport would this be allowed to happen by the head body. Certainly not in a heartland area.

Surely it’s time for the NRL to step in.

As for Stuart, who could blame him for walking out. His reputation has suffered enough this year.

In Canberra he at least inherits a promising young roster but more importantly works under a strong and stable management structure.

His achievements in winning a premiership with the Roosters in 2002 and taking the Cronulla Sharks to equal minor premiers in 2008 is the proof he can coach.

No other senior coach would tolerate the current situation with Parramatta.

They don’t deserve to have him.

**************

HIGHLIGHT

Confirmation racing has new superstar to replace the retired champ Black Caviar. Atlantic Jewel thrashed the best horses in the country on Saturday in Melbourne, taking her record to eight from eight.

LOWLIGHT

The Sam Burgess sin-binning for a professional foul in the opening minutes of Friday night’s game again highlights the terrible refereeing inconsistency in the NRL.

In every other game this year, a penalty was deemed sufficient for the same offence.

Joey the key

The difference between Manly last year and the 2013 version comes down to one man – rugby league immortal Andrew Johns.

Their passing game, set plays and breathtaking movement of the football had Joey written all over it.

Barba drama

The NRL integrity unit needs to properly investigate the Ben Barba issue from the beginning of the season.

The question has to be asked … was a very serious matter covered up?

It’s a delicate one because Todd Greenberg now works for the NRL.

No more Blake

I don’t want Blake Ferguson at the Cronulla Sharks next year.

He needs to be stood down and de-registered from the NRL for 12 months.

His welfare is far more important than football right now.