The Clutch

[Bruce Pickett]

I normally hate 'Americanisms' creeping into the NRL: the big dance, playoffs, touchdown etc. I also hate the term 'howler' which should be restricted to Soccer.

But I like The Clutch because we don't have an equivalent in Aussie. The 'big play' maybe. So lame compared to 'The Clutch'.

Jack Gibson used to love Bunny Reilly because not only was he tough as nails and hit like an axe, he'd win the game for you when the going got tight. 'If we were down by 10 with 10 minutes to go, Bunny would win the game for us' is what Jack used to say.

Our best clutch players to my mind are:

Cronk - goes without saying
Tupou - has never put a foot wrong in 3 GF's and played huge parts in all 3 wins. So cool and composed in big matches. For Tonga as well.
Morely - he was a monster in all 3 GF's and our MOM in 03 & 04 GF's imo.
Brett Morris - Taking bomb after bomb in the tight situation in last year's GF was amazing. Not to mention his precious runs out of dummy half.
Latrell - big play in the final try, but also iced the conversion afterwards which wasn't that easy in a pressure situation. Also the field goal against Melbourne in regular game last year.
Ron Coote - 6 out of 7 GF wins and made the clutch play in the 74 GF when the score was really tight to send Mark Harris over.

Who do you think?

[The Skeez]

Is needed to change gear

[Mickie Lane]

Latrell is an automatic choice for me but then again Cronk could go up another gear when needed.

[The Oracle]

I normally hate 'Americanisms' creeping into the NRL: the big dance, playoffs, touchdown etc. I also hate the term 'howler' which should be restricted to Soccer.

But I like The Clutch because we don't have an equivalent in Aussie. The 'big play' maybe. So lame compared to 'The Clutch'.

Jack Gibson used to love Bunny Reilly because not only was he tough as nails and hit like an axe, he'd win the game for you when the going got tight. 'If we were down by 10 with 10 minutes to go, Bunny would win the game for us' is what Jack used to say.

Our best clutch players to my mind are:

Cronk - goes without saying
Tupou - has never put a foot wrong in 3 GF's and played huge parts in all 3 wins. So cool and composed in big matches. For Tonga as well.
Morely - he was a monster in all 3 GF's and our MOM in 03 & 04 GF's imo.
Brett Morris - Taking bomb after bomb in the tight situation in last year's GF was amazing. Not to mention his precious runs out of dummy half.
Latrell - big play in the final try, but also iced the conversion afterwards which wasn't that easy in a pressure situation. Also the field goal against Melbourne in regular game last year.
Ron Coote - 6 out of 7 GF wins and made the clutch play in the 74 GF when the score was really tight to send Mark Harris over.

Who do you think?

The Fonz also comes through in the clutch!

[Thirteen]

Bruce I love that you’ve included Toops in this list. Well done. Toops deserves it.

[117]

Teddy comes through in the clutch. Scored the winning try in origin and GF. Big game player!

[zac]

freddy obviously.

[easts4eva]

Mitchell Pearce for me...always knew when a big play was needed.

[Rooster1908]

Trouble with the clutch is if you ride them they start slipping , much prefer autos nowdays Boyd Cordner for me. .Always rely on him for a big hitup

[roosterproud]

Looks like the post is in neutral now

[NorthChook]

I would say Teddy, Keary and Radley are our most clutch players in this squad

the players you want to give the ball to last play of the game on the opposition line to win - to make something happen out of nothing

[Bondicigar]

When teddy drops the clutch too hard he slips

[Pablo Escobar]

Cronk for sure.... smart

Him and Cam Smith... class/football brains

[Mad_Rabid_Rooster]

Definitely Freddy, Cronk and Keary for mine.

[Thirteen]

Bruce I think your list is great. Well done.

I’d like to nominate Mitchell Pearce as a ‘non’-clutch player.