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Eels.v Round One 2018 Team List Thread

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French was statistically one of our best playmakers last year at fullback. He is a fullback. The coach has said his best position is fullback. When he plays on the wing he is playing out of position.
Coaches say a lot of things about players, often to bolster their confidence. We'll have a better idea about his ability when he's played there for a bit longer.
 

Poupou Escobar

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Coaches say a lot of things about players, often to bolster their confidence.
So why do you think French has played so much fullback, given we have so many in the squad? Josh Hoffman has played almost 100 games at fullback in his career as well. The last time he played wing before coming to Parra was in 2013.
We'll have a better idea about his ability when he's played there for a bit longer.
I've seen enough. He is absolutely the type of playmaking fullback that is wasted on the wing. Plus his go forward on the wing is a massive weakness. He has only played there because we have lacked a second NRL quality winger (after Radradra).
 

Gary Gutful

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French = Fullback
Hayne = Centres

Arfurs might mix it up a bit week to week and even during games but that's where I reckon both merkins will spend the majority of their time.
 

Poupou Escobar

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True. He's an excellent finisher. Actually I was thinking about the no try from Hayne's pass. But it's irrelevant as it's just one game.
He is indeed an excellent finisher when power isn't required, but players don't have to play wing to use that skill. There are fullbacks, centres and even halves who score a decent amount of tries each year.
 
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42,876
So why do you think French has played so much fullback, given we have so many in the squad? Josh Hoffman has played almost 100 games at fullback in his career as well. The last time he played wing before coming to Parra was in 2013.]
Because like many people he believes in the progression of a talented attacking winger to fullback. Hoffmann was a known quantity.

[I've seen enough. He is absolutely the type of playmaking fullback that is wasted on the wing. Plus his go forward on the wing is a massive weakness. He has only played there because we have lacked a second NRL quality winger (after Radradra).
So maybe he's not a great winger but it's not a good argument for him being a good fullback. How many games has he played fullback? A dozen? Plenty of people thought Will Hopoate was a good fullback after just seven games there for Manly. How many people now think he's a good fullback?
 
Messages
42,876
French = Fullback
Hayne = Centres

Arfurs might mix it up a bit week to week and even during games but that's where I reckon both merkins will spend the majority of their time.
I think they probably will. But Hayne wasn't shifted to fullback in the trial for no reason. We tend to overrate (loyal) incumbents. But Hayne has won the Dally M twice from fullback and is not yet 30. How soon we forget.
 

Gary Gutful

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53,906
I think they probably will. But Hayne wasn't shifted to fullback in the trial for no reason. We tend to overrate (loyal) incumbents. But Hayne has won the Dally M twice from fullback and is not yet 30. How soon we forget.
Some merkin once told me that you choose your best 17 and worry about the numbers on their back later.

As I become older and wiser I am more inclined to believe that this is true.
 

Poupou Escobar

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So maybe he's not a great winger but it's not a good argument for him being a good fullback.
The argument for him being a good fullback is his ability to create linebreaks for himself and others. Plus he is excellent against the kick. His only weakness - lack of size - is less a factor at fullback than anywhere else on the field.
How many games has he played fullback? A dozen? Plenty of people thought Will Hopoate was a good fullback after just seven games there for Manly. How many people now think he's a good fullback?
I still think he's a good fullback.
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
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96,000
I think they probably will. But Hayne wasn't shifted to fullback in the trial for no reason. We tend to overrate (loyal) incumbents. But Hayne has won the Dally M twice from fullback and is not yet 30. How soon we forget.
Radradra would've won the Dally M if he'd played fullback as well. And we would have been weaker overall as a team.
 
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