Injury no way for star to bow out

INJURIES can be cruel. Especially at this time of year. News that Nathan Murphy is out for the rest of the TRL season, and probably for good, with a knee injury is disappointing for the man himself, his club Souths but also for fans of the game in the area.

Supporters of other clubs would be glad to see Murphy sidelined if he was due to take on their team, but in finals, there is nothing better than seeing the top players do battle in sudden-death.

You just have to look at his list of achievements in the TRL to see why his injury is such a loss for the competition.

The guy is a five-time premiership winner, he’s won multiple Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy finals along with two Bill and Steve Pollard Family Medals.

Murphy has also played in NSW Cup finals, so he is a big-time player.

It is a shame that the sight of him being helped back to the bench during last Sunday’s major semi-final could be the last we will see of the talented playmaker in a playing jersey.

He has been arguably the best player of the past decade, so that is hardly a fitting farewell.

These guys are good

MURPHY could get one last playing accolade tonight though.

The TRL presentation is on tonight and the Souths five-eighth could find himself included in another S&K Drilling Team of the Year.

The top performers will be named in the honorary team which was selected by a panel of TRL coaches.

I’ve picked my team of the year and it would make a formidable line-up.

Steven Lee has had a breakout season at fullback for Highfields and that is why I picked him ahead of the likes of Jackson Green and Aaron Werth.

Werth has still had a big campaign and finds a place on the wing.

Jason Wilmot and Matt Duggan have both been impressive so I couldn’t split them for halfback and went for them as a halves pairing.

I couldn’t leave out try-scoring machine Ashley Boney so I slotted him in at centre, and what is a team of the year without Murphy, so he gets a place on the bench.

Mitch Carpenter has also had a strong year back with Pittsworth and earns a spot in the second-row.