I have never had a rhubarb problem before but now it is terrible.
I bought 2 bog potted plants last year, got them both in, only one made it through the winter, the nursery replaced the dead on so I started off with two again. The new one didn't even start to take off it just withered away, the other one which started to grow is puny, the sticks are less than half an inch and it looks pathetic.
Any other rhubarb I have ever had seemed indestructible. I can't figure it out. It doesn't get the sun all day.
I don't know if it helps, but I've always found that for some varieties, the first year after planting new/splitting a crown my rhubarb is always weedy and some look quite dead. They only pick up after a year or so. I'm afraid I couldn't tell you which varieties as I've inherited some and completely forgotten which is which for the rest!
Fingers crossed this is the same for your newbies!