The kids are killing it in the NRL this year. It would be easier to stop Payne Haas on a surge towards the try-line than stop him from winning Rookie of the Year. He was joined in Origin by another babyface, David Fifita.
Bronson Xerri is still 18 but already a jet. You can’t have missed the spectacular efforts by flying teenage backs Jason Saab and Dylan Brown, and the Storm’s Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has only needed one outing to become hot property.
But the glow of these shiny new stars should not distract us from appreciating a vintage crop of veterans. The 10 oldest players in the league will not be around forever (with the obvious exception of Cameron Smith, likely to still be playing when Halley’s Comet next puts in an appearance) and we should enjoy this bunch of quirky individuals while we can.
Robbie Farah
Much scrambling at Leichhardt this week to get a red velvet cushion on the scoreboard ready for Robbie’s final farewell. Passed 300 games this year and used the occasion to dump a bucket of bile on former coach Jason Taylor and offsider Rod Reddy. Some fans loved it; some thought it was lousy. Par for the course for the durable hooker. Farah has played every game but one this year, scurrying over for five tries, but his greatest moment for 2019 was attempting to convert one of Fiji’s umpteen tries while representing Lebanon. That’s Robbie.
“This year the Cronulla captain became the player with the most losses in history”
Priceless, where is Ronnie when you need him ?