Edwards or DWZ for fullback next year

[franklin2323]

I just want both players to rock up day 1 of the preseason with a totally equal chance of playing fullback for the Penrith Panthers

Well Dallin won't be there day 1. Will be with NZ. Aside from the Kikau/Blake left side. No one has earn't their spot so hopefully a few try different roles

 

[billypilgrimnz]

It should go without saying that form is definitely a consideration, and Edwards should not be allowed to coast at fullback if he loses form and plays like shit. But it seems that many have forgotten that he only lost his place in the first place because of a serious injury, not anything to do with form. Hell, we were 5 and 2 when he went down in the 8th game and had lost those two games by 2 and 4 points.

 

[Flashstep]

If DWZ can be a good fullback learning from the wing why can't Edwards be a good winger? it's a much easier position to learn and many fullbacks start playing first grade from the wing, writing him off before he has even played a game there is laughable and if your best argument is that Edwards should be fullback because in your hypothetical world Edwards is a shit winger and therefore makes the team overall worse it's pretty poor tbh, if DWZ is a better fullback which I believe he is then he should play there, just because Edwards was offered the job first doesn't mean he should always get the first crack at it either.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

if your best argument is that Edwards should be fullback because in your hypothetical world Edwards is a shit winger and therefore makes the team overall worse it's pretty poor tbh.

Luckily it not then, right? Or are you just reading the parts you can vaguely think of a comeback to?

 

[Pomoz]

It's very well known that they cheat and the NRL simply doesn't care. The Andrew Gee situation in particular was laughable

I agree with that. Whether they cheated is unproven and difficult to prosecute without Gee's testimony.

 

[Flashstep]

Luckily it not then, right? Or are you just reading the parts you can vaguely think of a comeback to?

Luckily I wasn't going after you specifically I'm just tired of a lot of people using the same baseless argument over and over again, unless one of you guys have a crystal ball and can see into the future, what's to say our team doesn't get better with Edwards/DWZ swapping positions, both arguments hold the same weight.

 

[The Realist]

Long term Edwards. Let them both complete for a healthy rivalry for the spot come round 1 though.
I still wouldn't mind seeing DWZ in the centres later on. I think he is more than just a good winger.

This reply. He has played centre a few times and looked very much at home there. He also gets the chance to be much more involved than on the wing.

 

[Big Pete]

If DWZ can be a good fullback learning from the wing why can't Edwards be a good winger? it's a much easier position to learn and many fullbacks start playing first grade from the wing, writing him off before he has even played a game there is laughable and if your best argument is that Edwards should be fullback because in your hypothetical world Edwards is a shit winger and therefore makes the team overall worse it's pretty poor tbh, if DWZ is a better fullback which I believe he is then he should play there, just because Edwards was offered the job first doesn't mean he should always get the first crack at it either.

These days, the wing position is a lot more specialized than it once was. You've got to be a strong finisher, capable in the air both on offence and defence and be a strong runner of the football. The only aspect of Edwards' game that lends itself to the position is his running game and even then I feel like you're taking away his biggest strength - his agility. Edwards' is usually at his best when he's looking to challenge defenders through the inside, not go around them. In that respect, he's a similar player to Tedesco who similarly struggled to cope on the wing and looked infinitely better at fullback.

I'm not saying he shouldn't be considered at all. Maybe I should have thrown him alongside Malakai Watene-Zelezniak & Tyrone Phillips (still not sure if he'll be around next year) but the point was I don't see him as a long term solution for the aforementioned reasons.

I can also see the argument that the best player should be in the most important position. When he first hit the NRL, I thought we'd talk about Dallin Watene-Zelezniak as if he was the next Greg Inglis or Jarryd Hayne. At 19 he was a natural and it seemed like he had barely scratched the surface of what he was capable of. It's only really been this season that we've been given a taste and I wouldn't have a problem with anybody putting DWZ in their Top 5 Fullbacks this season. Especially not after Saturday's performance against the Roos, he was awe-inspiring. If there was more depth on the wing, I'd be inclined to go with DWZ but as it currently stands I think they'll go with Edwards/DWZ/Mansour at least to start with.

 

[maple_69]

I’d go Edwards. He is safer, his kick returns are comparable, his support instincts I feel are better and we haven’t even seen his ballplaying ability tapped yet but he definitely has it in him. I think Dallin is more dynamic and I’m not sure yet who will prove the better defensive fullback.

 

[franklin2323]

If DWZ can be a good fullback learning from the wing why can't Edwards be a good winger? it's a much easier position to learn and many fullbacks start playing first grade from the wing, writing him off before he has even played a game there is laughable and if your best argument is that Edwards should be fullback because in your hypothetical world Edwards is a shit winger and therefore makes the team overall worse it's pretty poor tbh, if DWZ is a better fullback which I believe he is then he should play there, just because Edwards was offered the job first doesn't mean he should always get the first crack at it either.

These days wingers are tall, power runners and have you seen the finishes they do? It is a specialist position in itself.

Look a Phillips and Crichton. They have skills but mainly played centre in lower grades and as such bombed difficult chances that FG shouldn't of. Not saying Edwards would be that bad but it will take time.

 

[Flashstep]

These days wingers are tall, power runners and have you seen the finishes they do? It is a specialist position in itself.

Look a Phillips and Crichton. They have skills but mainly played centre in lower grades and as such bombed difficult chances that FG shouldn't of. Not saying Edwards would be that bad but it will take time.

I’m not trying to take anything away from the position don’t get me wrong, I just think Edwards already has some of the necessary skills needed to play it already because of his time at fullback, he is a good strong runner and is safe under the high ball, obviously he will need to learn defensive positioning and finishing but I think he has it in him, but you’re right maybe he won’t be able to adapt but I think we should at least try DWZ fullback and Edwards wing and see if it works out, if it doesn’t I’m happy for the club to go back to Edwards 1/DWZ 2.

 

[franklin2323]

I’m not trying to take anything away from the position don’t get me wrong, I just think Edwards already has some of the necessary skills needed to play it already because of his time at fullback, he is a good strong runner and is safe under the high ball, obviously he will need to learn defensive positioning and finishing but I think he has it in him, but you’re right maybe he won’t be able to adapt but I think we should at least try DWZ fullback and Edwards wing and see if it works out, if it doesn’t I’m happy for the club to go back to Edwards 1/DWZ 2.

We ma see that mid season. What has Edwards done wrong to lose his spot atm though? It should be his spot to lose not the other way around

 

[Flashstep]

We ma see that mid season. What has Edwards done wrong to lose his spot atm though? It should be his spot to lose not the other way around

It's not that Edwards has done anything to lose his spot it's just that it's hard to ignore the level of play DWZ has performed at whilst filling in for him and he keeps improving, I'm not saying DWZ is miles ahead of Edwards or anything I just think the club has to think very hard about who our fullback will be round 1 next season.

 

[franklin2323]

We have won 17 of the 25 games Edwards has played. In a key position too most of those had DWZ on the wing. So it works

 

[umina panther]

It's not that Edwards has done anything to lose his spot it's just that it's hard to ignore the level of play DWZ has performed at whilst filling in for him and he keeps improving, I'm not saying DWZ is miles ahead of Edwards or anything I just think the club has to think very hard about who our fullback will be round 1 next season.

Yeah DWZ is playing at a level that Edwards is yet to reach but in time I do think he'll go way past him. I'll be happy either way because this isn't a clear cut decision.

 

[umina panther]

And most my reasoning for DWZ at 1 in 2019 is if IF we can get the best version of Maloney we can win the comp. Yes we are behind other teams but we will be in it imo. The issue is I personally think Jimmy is done

 

[TheFrog]

Yeah DWZ is playing at a level that Edwards is yet to reach but in time I do think he'll go way past him. I'll be happy either way because this isn't a clear cut decision.

And we don't even know yet whose decision it is.

 

[umina panther]

And we don't even know yet whose decision it is.

Daz is very rarely wrong about things like this. It's Ivan

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Yeah DWZ is playing at a level that Edwards is yet to reach.

Despite Edwards having better stats for running meters, tackle busts, line breaks, and try assists? I will admit, it’ll be a while before Edwards captains NZ.

 

[umina panther]

Despite Edwards having better stats for running meters, tackle busts, line breaks, and try assists? I will admit, it’ll be a while before Edwards captains NZ.

I believe so but I'm cool either way on this really, its just some offseason talk.

Sorting our props is the make or break thing for next year I think