Welcome to the first of what will no doubt be at least one of our new Rugby League bit – The NRL Forgotten Player Smackdown.
As our mantra of The Gurgler in general is celebrating the forgotten, what better way to relive some of our old Rugby League memories with a weekly or more likely occasional head to head battle of two of the past’s finest.
For our number 1 Smackdown, where else could you start than the number 1 position on the field – The Fullback.
We have selected two players from this position who have some things in common, but are both very different.
One was very tall, the other no so tall. One had a very brief career that ascended to great heights and disappeared as quickly, the other was a long, flatter curve. Both were quality fullbacks on their days, and both born in 1970.
Our poll is open to vote for the best forgotten fullback now.
1 – PAUL HAUFF
Standing at 197cm, he came from the local beat as a policeman to the Brisbane Broncos in 1990. His meteoric rise began not long after with a hat trick on debut. That form continued as he won the rookie of the year with Willie Carne.
This quality form continued into 1991, where in the one year he represented Queensland and Australia as the number 1 number 1. But a dreaded game against New Zealand exposed his version of kryptonite – the grubber kick. From that game onwards the word was out, and that word was low kicks.
He quickly lost his Australian spot, then Queensland, and injuries in the following plagued the rest of his Brisbane Broncos playing days. He did the Neighbours moving to Qld equivalent in 1996 by joining the London Broncos, and although he scored 13 tries, his career ended in 1996 having played less games in 5 seasons than his breakthrough first two.
1 – ROD MAYBON
Unlike Hauff the Rob Maybon project lasted 156 games from 1988 to 1999 across 12 seasons, and across 5 different teams – South Sydney, St George, Parramatta, Adelaide and Canberra.
Another difference is that Rod Maybon only played 2 games in his first two seasons for Souths. By which time Hauff had started fro Brisbane and represented Queensland and Australia and back.
Maybon could be described a journey man as he took his considerable skill under the high ball across the 5 clubs in the NRL. His stint at the Adelaide Rams is a wonderful double up of obscure rugby league.
He ended up with 33 career tries, and a lifetime of rugby league memories.
WHO IS THE BETTER FORGOTTEN FULLBACK. VOTE NOW!
