Opinion What prevents an NRL player reaching their potential?

[senshidog]

Thought this might make a good conversational topic.

Some players are incredibly consistent in parts of their game, whilst others are hit and miss.

However, ever so often an average player will have a break out game, clearly demonstrating that the player has the ability to play really well.

So what stops a player, hitting that level of ability week in / week out? Would it be entirely psychological and getting their head in that same space? Would a player lose those abilities over time?

Interested to hear peoples thoughts.

 

[belmore_utd]

Thought this might make a good conversational topic.

Some players are incredibly consistent in parts of their game, whilst others are hit and miss.

However, ever so often an average player will have a break out game, clearly demonstrating that the player has the ability to play really well.

So what stops a player, hitting that level of ability week in / week out? Would it be entirely psychological and getting their head in that same space? Would a player lose those abilities over time?

Interested to hear peoples thoughts.

The ability to evade or help evading detection for performance enhancing substances

 

[speedy2460]

Biggest asset an athlete can have is mental toughness. Bred not bought though.

 

[Pity Fool]

Thought this might make a good conversational topic.

Some players are incredibly consistent in parts of their game, whilst others are hit and miss.

However, ever so often an average player will have a break out game, clearly demonstrating that the player has the ability to play really well.

So what stops a player, hitting that level of ability week in / week out? Would it be entirely psychological and getting their head in that same space? Would a player lose those abilities over time?

Interested to hear peoples thoughts.

Players are human and as we all know, humans can be inconsistent due to a number of factors most notably life, We struggle with emotions and in turn causes a crisis of confidence, attitude, consistency etc

 

[CroydonDog]

Unchecked ego.

 

[ILiveForDib]

Majority of us can only provide an opinion personally i feel it a multitude of factors. If I were to imagine myself in the situation of an up and coming player, the media speaking about you fans loving you and a bright career ahead mentally I would feel expectation which can be perceived as a bad and a good thing. The expectation to perform and the exposure from external sources would stress a young player. Adapting to the pressure would be a difficult step, playing in the NRL having thousands of eyes on you can feel daunting especially in the situation where you fail to perform on one occasion can leave someone second guessing themselves. A major factor to note would be coaching for example playing at the storm you have all the support you need, basic and easy to understand roles for each player would be a good environment which is why majority suceed. Where as a younger player in a club who is struggling wouldn’t have the same support and overall confidence due to a negative environment around them.
Interesting topic really made me think and is relavent towards other aspects of life.

 

[ILiveForDib]

Unchecked ego.

Your biggest enemy is yourself the media is what adds to that to definetly one of the main reasons a player won’t suceed.

 

[Alan79]

Loads of things can happen to prevent reaching your potential.

- Injuries.
- Pressure from fans coaches and self.
- Lack of an ideal team to help you get there.
- Getting a big money contract kills off the work ethic.
- Mental demons.
- Non football issues could become a big distraction. Things like relationship issues etc.

Loads of things can happen.

 

[Moedogg]

I think there are many different variables but the most important one is the mental state of a player or confidence and self belief.

You see it in sports like Cricket all the time. A batsman like Ponting could be terribly out of form and facing calls to get dropped but all it takes is one shitty over from a dud English bowler and Ponting gets a pull shot away which brings back his confidence and he goes on to score a ton.

 

[Dog’n’Bone]

women and drugs

 

[KambahOne]

Their club.

 

[TwinTurbo]

Money and time. They have enough money to spend it on alcohol and drugs plus it attracts the money chasing women. They also have the time to waste on sex, drugs and alcohol, particularly in the off season.

Always a Bulldog

 

[Kempsey Dog]

A shit coach... Can kill the passion at any level. Kind of goes hand in hand with mental toughness

 

[senshidog]

Good replies.

I thought of this whilst pondering if perhaps our signings have been based on what a player has been capable of in the past, and then started wondering why many players can't produce similar results on a consistent basis.

Take Corey Allan for example, he was pretty decent for Souths, but to date has been remarkably average for the Dogs.
Or Corey Waddell who played one game amazing for us.
Or Okunbor steamrolling Smith twice in a breakout game.

Or from another team Mbye is a perfect example.

On paper looking at our squad, they are all capable of putting in decent performances, if they click.

 

[Benno Bulldog]

Many things but dosnt that mean they reached their potential.Sport is made up of unique chance and opportunities taken. Lot of great bush and city players never played NRL.

 

[JayBee]

I think the epitome of this could be found in a few players - ill characterize them slightly different:

Did not/played minimal FG

Karl McNicol (aka Karl Filiga)
Greg Waddell
Arana Taumata
Omar Slaimankhel
Jacon Loko

Played over 50 FG
Brett Firman
Tony Williams
Jarryd Hayne


The first lot - either lost to money (McNicol, Waddell and Slaimenkhel) and could not live up to the hype. Taumata was just a sad story of a bloke led down the wrong path who just couldn't keep out of trouble.

The next lot are a mix of players who were either constantly injured, or just could not live up to their own high standards for whatever reason (like their full wallets holding them back).

 

[Dog’n’Bone]

I think the epitome of this could be found in a few players - ill characterize them slightly different:

Did not/played minimal FG

Karl McNicol (aka Karl Filiga)
Greg Waddell
Arana Taumata
Omar Slaimankhel
Jacon Loko

Played over 50 FG
Brett Firman
Tony Williams
Jarryd Hayne


The first lot - either lost to money (McNicol, Waddell and Slaimenkhel) and could not live up to the hype. Taumata was just a sad story of a bloke led down the wrong path who just couldn't keep out of trouble.

The next lot are a mix of players who were either constantly injured, or just could not live up to their own high standards for whatever reason (like their full wallets holding them back).

hayne is a grub but bit harsh lobbing him in the same category as t-Rex and Brett firman lol

 

[D0GMATIC]

Too much money, Being compared to better, experienced players at an early age " he's the next" . . . Relying on natural talents and attributes instead of training harder and doing extras.
Luke Lewis would always train on Christmas day, he knew few, if any other players did that. It may have only given him a slight physical advantage.but that is the attitude,when applied to a players entire career puts them way ahead and staves off complacency.

 

[ILiveForDib]

Good replies.

I thought of this whilst pondering if perhaps our signings have been based on what a player has been capable of in the past, and then started wondering why many players can't produce similar results on a consistent basis.

Take Corey Allan for example, he was pretty decent for Souths, but to date has been remarkably average for the Dogs.
Or Corey Waddell who played one game amazing for us.
Or Okunbor steamrolling Smith twice in a breakout game.

Or from another team Mbye is a perfect example.

On paper looking at our squad, they are all capable of putting in decent performances, if they click.

With Allan you can argue he didn’t have consistent game time and poor quality players around him where as at south’s he was in a well structured team

 

[Kung fu man]

D E S.