What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Dugan

Divine

Bench
Messages
3,168
The only thing that will settle Dugan down in the centres is a ripsnorter debut at fullback.
I'll leave it to the experts to decide if Dufty is ready but he looks to be the only one who'll truly own the No.1 position over Duges.
 

Dragon Revival

Juniors
Messages
1,603
I do not consider that Mann is a fullback. However I think that he would be suitable
anywhere else in the backline. As he would be in our top four attacking backs he must be in the team alongside Dugan and Aitken and Hutchison who can also score tries. Mann should have played more fullback in the Cutters to hone his skills. As Dugan has a medial ligament tear Grade 1 and Nightingale an ankle injury they might not be available early on which means that other backs will come into contention.
 

SaintElroy

Juniors
Messages
709
Ahhhh this old chestnut. We have visited this topic a million times. Dugan at the moment is the best we have at the back. Moving him just weakens our side to strengthen another. Issue is we don't have the halves to utilise him properly at centre to make him an attacking weapon like he is when playing for Australia. I think the current Aussie halves would make lesson ah mau look great out wide as well. Prefer to leave him at fullback until a geniune fullback is ready or some decent halves can put him through a hole.
 

Lethal25

Juniors
Messages
1,502
Supercoach has already declared Dugan will play fullback.

Don't you remember last year when he declared Dugan will play centre.

That should clear things up
 

Morotti

Juniors
Messages
335
Big step up from 20's to first grade for Dufty. Definitely would not be ready for that. Dugan will stay at fullback.

Dufty will need 2017 to play fullback at the cutters and perhaps some games in first grade during origin period. 2018 we should be targeting him for first grade fullback duties.
 

Slippery Morris

First Grade
Messages
7,923
I bet everyone said the same about Ash Taylor and Kane Elgey (not being ready) because of their size, youth etc. I think Dufty will be fine and should get a crack their some time this season. Kurt Mann should also be given another crack. Duges should stay in the centres as he looks good there and will be playing his rep footy in that position by the looks of things.
 

hazzbeen

Bench
Messages
4,617
I bet everyone said the same about Ash Taylor and Kane Elgey (not being ready) because of their size, youth etc. I think Dufty will be fine and should get a crack their some time this season. Kurt Mann should also be given another crack. Duges should stay in the centres as he looks good there and will be playing his rep footy in that position by the looks of things.
Agree give him a go he will make mistakes he will learn and IMO will be a very good fullback . We are not going to win the premiership next year or the year after that so lets get our future players ready ....
 

Mr Red

First Grade
Messages
6,193
Even I could look like a world class centre with Cronk and Thurston inside providing high quality ball....
Doesn't mean he's a good centre option though ....
 

Gareth67

First Grade
Messages
8,840
Duffy must start sometime , give him the opportunity this year , how old was Atkins when he came to 1st grade ? I realise that we are looking at him for the fullback role , however I would be starting him on the wing , build his confidence and then move him to fullback .

Then Dugan could play in the centres , thus giving the team a bit more strike power .
Good to see him play the football that we all knew he was capable of , in the 4 nations series , as with Frizzell and the rest of the Dragon boys .
 

TomRedVRiver

Bench
Messages
3,685
Mann shouldn't be talked about as a full-time fullback again. He's a skilful and handy player but I feel like his utility value is priceless and should be playing for the cutters to cover injuries anywhere in the backline.
If Dugan is to make the permanent switch to the centres it should be Dufty who replaces him without a doubt.
Personally i'd have Dufty lining up at fullback in round 1 for a number of reasons.
1. He can pass the ball like a halfback, he has that quick tap on pass in him that we've seen Tedesco pull off so much.
2. He has blistering speed, if he makes a break and there's no fullback at home you can pretty much guarantee he's safe to make it to the try line untouched. We haven't had that in our side for some time.
3. He has incredible vision, if you watch some of his highlights you will see he has an uncanny ability to know when to make the right play (i.e knowing when to hold the ball, not forcing a pass too early, drawing in defenders, dummying etc).
4. He can break tackles well, even though he's a little guy.
5. His support play is some of the best i've seen, he's always backing up every play.

Yes Dugan's kick returns are invaluable. He's a metre eater no doubt, but Dufty is 21 now and he's been talked about for some time. I feel like now is his chance, he's ready.
 

BringTheNoise

Juniors
Messages
1,172
1) Stepping up from NYC to NRL is a HUGE jump.

2) It is very rare that a player can step from NYC to NRL and handle the week-to-week grind that is NRL. It takes time to build a battle hardened body that can handle the weekly rigours of first grade footy. This is especially true for a key position like fullback where Dufty would be under immense pressure and targeted for 80mins every single week.

As stated above, he should definitely play first grade this year but only given game time during the Origin period and cover for injuries where necessary, spending the rest of the time in Cutters where he can get used to playing against bigger bodies.

Anyone who honestly expects him to start Round 1 and play the entire season at fullback (and be effective every single week) is living in a fantasy world. It would be setting the young kid up to fail. Absolutely no need to throw him in the deep end when we already have a quality fullback.
 

Coffs dragon

Bench
Messages
4,401
Give Duges the 2017 gig at fullback and blood young Dufty for injury cover, which is probably around 8-10 rounds. Then in 2018 Duges needs to shift full time to centre on less $$ with A TPA to compensate. ALDI would be a perfect fit, short for :- Always Lays Down Injured.
 

st.phil

Bench
Messages
4,674
Some weird logic at play here - main school of thought seems to be dufty to cutters and stepping up in SOO for a handful of games with a view to 2018 FB. What happens to Duges then? Centre? Not re-signed? We are pro-longing the inevitable.Dugan no longer looks like the long-term FB for saints...however we are saying allow him to play there this year , get a new contract on FB money and then move him to centre? What a mess. Bite the bullet I say...he looks like a centre and sure as hell passes like one. Yes - he is always gonna shine on kick returns and in defence cos he is the Dugan, but we gotta start looking past the trees and into the woods.........
 

TomRedVRiver

Bench
Messages
3,685
People need to understand that this whole idea about Dufty playing at fullback over Origin is pretty unlikely this year. Dugan will do very well to make the NSW side if Hayne finds his old form and Leilua continues to be destructive.
Dufty has been training with the first grade squad for a couple of seasons now so it's not like he will be completely shell-shocked by the transition. He has to learn somehow, let him play fullback in the trials and see how he goes.
 
Last edited:

BringTheNoise

Juniors
Messages
1,172
People need to understand that this whole idea about Dufty playing at fullback over Origin is pretty unlikely this year. Dugan will do very well to make the NSW side if Hayne finds his old form and Leilua continues to be destructive.
Dufty has been training with the first grade squad for a couple of seasons now so it's not like he will be completely shell-shocked by the transition. He has to learn somehow, let him play fullback in the trials and see how he goes.

5c2.jpg
 

Latest posts

Top