#21 Feleti Mateo
The Warriors began the 2012 with a lot of expectations, after their young team made it to the Grand Final in 2011, most assumed there would be greater things to come from the boys in New Zealand. Instead, the Warriors unravelled into a 14th place finish, a coach shown the exit, and a lot of question marks. It seemed Mateo was playing musical chairs at times with his selection, one week he'd be named at lock then end up coming off the bench, then he'd be named on the bench and start in the second row, trying to turn him into a Michael Luck like tackle machine, trying to use him as an impact player after 20 minutes, everyone was left guessing. Despite this, on a team that often seemed very disinterested, Mateo was one of the few who consistently seemed to be putting the effort in. With a coach that seemed to have no idea how to maximize his talents, not getting the minutes he wanted, no consistency in his role, no consistency from his teammates, Mateo tried in earnest to do what he could to right the ship but it proved a lost cause.
Fast forward a few minutes unless you like reminiscing about how bad videos looked in 2008
At 194cm and 108kg, 27 year old Mateo is a pretty big unit, yet if you watched his footwork you'd think you were watching a fullback. He's incredibly agile for a guy his size, and incredibly talented. So much so that he's actually played several games in his NRL career at five-eighth, for a stretch back in 2008-2009 at the Eels it was his primary position. Bundling the skill to play in the halves at a first grade level into a guy the size of Mateo spells trouble for opposition defences. Then add in the fact that Mateo is the unquestioned king of the offload in the NRL. 2012 saw Mateo with 65, offloads, 13 clear of number 2 on the list. Nobody can pop a offload like Mateo can, but these aren't just willy nilly toss the ball out to anyone offloads, Feleti has the mental game to read a defense, to see the holes and put someone through them, and often he'll do that by drawing a defender or two on to him before springing his teammate. His combination with a hard and fast running James Maloney proved a thing of beauty time and time again, there's a great living to be made in running off this guy. He's one of the elite attacking players in the comp who can really create something out of nothing, he's got the "x factor", the ability to break a game wide open, and it's primarily for that reason that I rate him so highly.
The Eels selection policies proved troubling during his time at Parramatta
Despite being renowned more for his attacking exploits, Mateo is no mug on defense. He'll rack up the tackles at need be, though it's a difficult balance to find between piling up the tackle count and injecting yourself into the attacking game, but with his size, strength and mobility he's more than capable on defense. Often overlooked also is the toughness that Mateo brings to the field, people see all of the flashy stuff and often the toughness flies under the radar. Mateo isn't the type to stay down if he takes a big hit, as seen most recently in the All Star game after he was absolutely smoked by Greg Inglis, but Mateo shook it off and got back to business. At times he can get a real physical edge to his game, if he gets a bit roughed up, he's happy to go looking for revenge and light up someone on the opposition to give a little something back. While his greatest skills are more finesse in nature, he won't shy away from some good old fashioned mongrel footy if need be, he's no pushover, he's not someone who is going to be rattled.
BRING BACK THE BIFF
Unfortunately for Mateo, his exploits on the field have not been rewarded with the representative honours he so keenly desires. He's turned out internationally for Tonga and made a couple of appearances for NSW City and the NRL All Stars, but it's the illusive blue Origin jersey that the New South Wales born Mateo so eagerly craves. Entering 2013 after a happy marriage, a commitment to playing out the season alcohol free, a change in coaching staff, and reportedly being in fantastic shape throughout off season training, and auditioning for a new contract, all signs point to a big year for Mateo, with any luck this may be the year that he breaks through to the Origin level and gets to put his skills to the ultimate test. For now, Mateo remains one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the NRL which is why Mateo breaks into my list despite not having quite the resume of some of the other blokes in the competition.
This is my serious face
Check back in tomorrow for number 20, then on forth into the teens as we march ever close to 2013 kick off. Do you agree or disagree with any of my selections? how would your list look? let me know in the comments section or throw me a tweet @WellsNorthShore
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