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| Josh Reynolds has to be at the top of the current list, 'Grub' is his nickname. |
In
recent years the ‘one punch and your off’ rule has allowed certain players to
have free reign with such acts, that is they are not afraid of retribution, as
there will be none. Over the weekend a number of players were involved in
incidents that have led to suspensions. Whether it is a cheap shot, high
tackle, ‘dog’ act, verbal stoush or rough play, the grubs are well known in
today’s game because of the extensive television coverage. Sport/Life/Australia
decided to examine just who are the biggest grubs and toughest players in the
NRL.
The Grubs
Josh Reynolds
Almost
renowned now for his ‘Rottweiler’ attitude of just not going away, the pesky
and tearaway five-eighth has risen to the top of the game through his energetic
yet not-give-a-stuff attitude. No other young player in the game rips in more
than Josh Reynolds and his early mentor in Michael Ennis certainly did rub off
on the Canterbury-Bankstown junior. Andrew
Johns summarised Reynolds efforts as “like driving at 120km/h all the time”. He
also went on to say that “whilst its gets you places in quicker, in the short
term, in the long term it catches up with you”. The ‘grub’ as he has been nicknamed
would have to close to being marked the number one grub.
Paul Gallen
Many
commentators in the media often state that Paul Gallen polarises people’s
opinion; that you either hate him, or you love him. While there’s no doubt his
hated in Queensland, you’d have trouble finding many fans in New South Wales
outside the Shire that would preach their love for their own State of Origin
captain. While Gallen had seemed to have cleaned up his image off the field
before the ASADA drugs scandal hit, his on-fields efforts at times often take
his team two-steps forward but one-step back. Credited with more statistical
achievements than any of the other forward in the game today, Gallen’s
toughness and commitment can never be questioned, but the G-Train’s discipline
often lets him down. A penalty given away for a cheap shot too often leads to a
try against his team, which ultimately lets down more people than just himself.
Fines, suspensions and public apologies,
Gal’s had them all.
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| Dubbed the 'Bash Brothers' when they line up together, Greg Bird and Paul Gallen are a formidable pair. (Photo courtesy of The Daily Telegraph) |
Greg
Bird’s tackle on the weekend has resulted in a six-week suspension due to carry
over points from pervious charges of the same nature. The tackle was described
by Matthew Johns as “the perfect tackle five years ago” and whilst bird
believed the referee “saw something else”, Peter Sterling was strong in his
opinion that Bird had no angle to try and avoid the charge deeming it simply “a
dumb tackle in today’s game”. But Bird is one of the hardest players in today’s
game who retains the instincts of the player of previous decades. His
hard-nosed and take-no-prisoners approach has proven invaluable at
representative level particularly for the NSW blues, but to have Bird’s
approach is a risky style, he’s one of the most penalised players in the game.
Michael Ennis
Dubbed
the ‘Minister for trouble’ or something of the like by legendary commentator
Ray Warren, Michael Ennis has to be one of the all-time grub’s of the game. He
even has the honour from the annual Rugby League Week Players Poll. Ennis’ sly
use of sledging and the thuggery components to his game elevate him to the very
top of the game’s foul. For Ennis, it’s business as usual and his tactics seem to
un-nerve some of the game’s biggest stars. Labelled ‘a grub’ by the cool and
collected Nathan Hindmarsh after a fist-fight in 2012, Ennis took it in his
stride. He has had running battles with Billy Slater, Robbie Farah and Jarryd
Hayne over his career. Ennis seems to avoid suspension by using tactics within
the realms of the rules, while the others on this list have visited the judiciary
on numerous occasions.
Nate Myles
Nate
Myles has proven he has one of the hardest heads in the NRL, although James
Graham might protest. Myles is Queensland’s current go-to man to put the Blues
players off their game. His face rubs, neck bends, knee twists and head charges
only serve to fire up the New South Wales side and make Myles look like a
goose. The man has one infamous off-field records but has found his stability
on the Gold Coast. Not to suggest that hasn’t changed his style of play which
can range from just running hard to head-high tackles.
The Toughest
James Graham
Many
will argue Graham should be well and truly on the Grub list, and there is
plenty to argue for with his crazed bite of Billy Slater’s ear in the 2012 NRL
Grand Final, but Graham has a steel to him. He work rate is huge and loves to
be involved in the thick of it.
Steve Matai
If
Steve Matai isn’t out this weekend with a shoulder injury, you can be sure he’d
be close to being out via suspension. Matai’s shots are usually reckless rather
than dirty, and when a centre looks at the opposition team sheet before a game,
the last name you’d want to see is S.
Matai. Manly’s enforcer for the last decade, Matai has pulled off some
of the biggest hits in that time.
Beau Scott
Scott
rose through the ranks virtually unheard of at Cronulla, but his emergence in
the Wayne Bennet led Dragons in 2009 saw him become a State of Origin first
pick, and a player the Blues relied upon for a toughness and force against the
sublime Maroons. He taken it to Johnathan Thurston at club and origin level and
in recent times had the entire Cowboys side wanting retribution on him.
Jared
Waerea-Hargreaves
The Kiwi-enforcer is a plain rough-nut who
loves the battle in the middle of the park. When a challenge comes his way,
Hargreaves takes it head on and nothing is better than seeing him engaged in a
full-game clash with another prop. He takes as many cheap shots as he gives
out, and you could never say he can’t take what he gives.
Isaac Luke
Isaac Luke once ran a cannonball tackle at
his own cousin Rangi Chase who was playing for England while the fired-up Luke
had the Kiwi-fern over his heart. The spiteful tackle almost broke Chase’s leg
and Luke was suspended for weeks. Just last year Luke had to sit out the Grand
Final due to suspension and missed playing a part in South Sydney’s long
awaited victory. He sure gives it out but Luke puts his body on the line in
every game and gets up and walks away even after the hardest of hits, the type
that knock you out.