For some players, 2017 was just one of those years where, if they had any luck at all, it was bad. Whether it was inconsistency or injury that made the 2017 season a nightmare for these five Super League stars, 2018 needs to be the year where they bounce back in style. After all, one bad year does not make a bad player. And, if a player is short on confidence and form, performances will suffer as a result. Let's hope these five have what it takes to rediscover their talent that once made them stand out in their respective positions.
Luke Walsh - Catalans Dragons - Halfback
After over 350 appearances in the NRL for Newcastle Knights and Penrith Panthers, Walsh moved to St Helen's ahead of the 2014 season. Having played more than 60 games for the Lancashire club and accumulating over 400 points in his three-year stint, he made his way to the south of France for the 2017 season. Although he registered 204 points in 30 games for Catalans, he proved to be far from the masterful signing that the Dragons had hoped he would be as Walsh could do little to stop the French club finishing tenth in Super League. And, in what proved to be their worst season in seven years, Catalans retained their Super League status by the skin of their teeth, beating Leigh Centurions in the infamous Million Pound Game 26-10.
Though Walsh actually finished seventh in Super League's points-scoring table, his form was far away from what Rugby League has been accustomed to seeing. With Steve McNamara as head coach - whom Walsh claims has "let me play my game and be a leader" - and with Walsh now settled in Perpignan following his maiden year at the club, Super League could once more see the best of the Aussie half-back.
Richie Myler - Leeds Rhinos - Halfback
Myler began his career at Widnes in 2007, but, after only playing two games he moved to the then Salford City Reds whom he helped steer to promotion to Super League in 2008. Whilst at Salford he made his England debut and would go on to earn six caps and score seven tries for his nation.
Impressing in the top flight for Salford the year after, Warrington Wolves shelved out £200,000 for Myler who was then just 19 years of age, making him the most expensive teenager in Rugby League history.
After playing nearly 150 games for the Wolves in a six-year period, he ended his stay at the club - and in England - to link up with French side Catalans Dragons on a two-year deal ahead of the 2016 season. Despite impressing in his first year with 12 tries in 19 games as the Dragons finished sixth, things turned sour for Myler and the French side in 2017. Alongside new half-back recruit, Luke Walsh, Myler endured a torrid year, just doing enough to keep the Dragons in Super League for 2018.
With a move to Grand Final winners Leeds Rhinos announced in June 2017, Myler will be making a fresh start at a club used to success.
The boots of outgoing talisman Danny McGuire will be hard to fill and the Rhinos' fans will have seen little from Myler in 2017 to convince them he is up to the task. 2018, therefore, must be the year where Myler finds the form that had once established him as one of the best young halves in the game.
Kevin Brown - Warrington Wolves - Halfback
Brown began his career with Wigan Warriors, where he played four seasons before leaving to join Huddersfield Giants in 2006. Here, at the West Yorkshire club, he made his name as one of the best halfbacks in the competition. His form was so impressive that he earned representative call-ups with Great Britain and then England. From 2006 to 2012, Brown made over 130 appearances for Huddersfield, scoring just shy of 40 tries for the club.
Brown was now set for the top, but, in a bizarre move, he signed Widnes Vikings in 2013. Yet, his form was never short of brilliant for the Cheshire club either and he was given his due reward when he was made captain for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Then aged 32, Brown signed for local rivals Warrington Wolves in a move that was greeted with disdain from the Vikings' faithful. His reason for leaving was "to win things" at a club which had competed in seven major finals, won three Challenge Cups and two League Leaders' Shields in just nine years. Such a strong statement came back to haunt him as both Brown and his Wolves' side suffered a terrible 2017, finishing ninth in Super League. Although Warrington easily secured their top-flight status in the "Middle 8s Qualifiers", it was a year to forget for both Brown and the Wolves.
Brown, inconsistent and injury-plagued in 2017, will be looking to tap into his recent good form with England at the World Cup to once more make Warrington challengers in 2018.
James Green - Castleford Tigers - Prop
6 ft 6 prop, James Green started his career at boyhood club Hull KR, making his Super League debut in 2012. Green would go on to appear 81 times for the Robins over the course of five seasons. Along the way, the towering forward won Hull KR’s Young Player of the Year award in 2014 after an impressive season. But, his affinity with the club ended at the end of 2016 as, following Hull KR's relegation from the top flight, Green moved to newly-promoted Leigh Centurions on a two-year deal.
Following five decent years on Humberside where he established himself as a no-nonsense, talented front-rower, he struggled for game time at Leigh. Appearing just nine times for the Lancashire club whilst also playing twice for Sheffield Eagles on dual-registration, Green never settled at the Leigh Sports Village and became only a bit-part player. With rumours of disagreements with the coaching staff affecting his game-time and with him making little impact when he did actually make it onto the field, 2017 was a year to forget for Green. Therefore, 2018 needs to be the year for him to get over the disappointment of 2017 and kick on under the tutelage of the superb man-manager, Daryl Powell. Having signed just a one-year deal with the Castleford Tigers, Green will be doing all he can to impress his new club and earn another contract.
Justin Horo - Wakefield Trinity - Second Row
Horo first appeared in the Super League back in 2016 after seven successful seasons in the NRL with Parramatta Eels and Manly Sea Eagles. However, it was not England where he made camp, but rather France with Catalans Dragons. On the back of some brilliant performances and with nine tries in 26 appearances in 2016, Dragons' fans were expecting Horo to kick on in 2017 after settling in seamlessly in Perpignan in his maiden season.
They would be bitterly disappointed however as Horo failed to have the same impact; instead, the Auckland-born forward became just one of the many erratic players that the French side seemed to have in abundance in 2017. His poor showing was not helped by the fact that he was sidelined for nearly three months in the middle of the season through injury.
What the Dragons needed were leaders who could pull the team through in what was a difficult time for the club; Horo, despite his experience and sometimes breath-taking skill and power, failed to become a man Catalans could rely on.
A move to Wakefield, however - a side which finished fifth in 2017 and a club that is very much on the up - could just be the rejuvenation that Horo needs after such a poor season last time out. Horo is a very talented forward and 2018 could well be the year that he regains the form that had once established him as one of the top back-rowers in the game.
