Most talented position in the nrl

[gunpk]

What do you think the most talented position in the NRL is?
I was watching Manly against the Titans and seeing B Stewart playing so well I was thinking how many talented fullbacks there are at the moment.
Stewart, Inglis, Slater, Dugan, Hayne.....etc.

 

[Pierced Soul]

agreed. the fullback position has really developed over the past decade into a ball playing position and also allows players with a bit of speed to bring the ball back from kick returns and chime into the backline when it suits them

now if only we could start developing halves and centres again...

 

[betcats]

Yeah FB..

For the forwards I think Prop is fairly decent.

 

[Michael Bishop]

That catch and pass from Stewart behind his head was quality. I don't think there's a poor fullback running around in any club. For mine that's the most talented position.

 

[gunpk]

Is there such a thing as a specialist centre these days?
Wingers seem to move in one when they get experience or they just put some back rower there

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Fullback is the position with the most quality talent across the game at the moment, definitely. And it's a rough position. Taking high balls with several people charging at you, no real time to guard your body. Screw that.

Plus, you need a fair amount of skill to be a truly classy fullback. Play making ability, speed, ability find a hole, taking high balls, strength for bringing back kicks.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Good wingers and centres get switched to fullback. Some 5/8s who aren't the best defenders get switched to fullback. And some guys just grow up as fullbacks.

Thus we have a lot of good players playing fullback.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

I'd rate hooker and the halves before fullback.

It's easy to look better at fullback because they always have so much more time to work with.

*edit* I misunderstood the OP :-(

 

[The Elephant In The room]

Fullback is the position with the most quality talent across the game at the moment, definitely. And it's a rough position. Taking high balls with several people charging at you, no real time to guard your body. Screw that.

Plus, you need a fair amount of skill to be a truly classy fullback. Play making ability, speed, ability find a hole, taking high balls, strength for bringing back kicks.

Unless your name is Billy Slater. in that case you can kick people in the head to guard your body.

http://media.smh.com.au/sport/sports-hq/slater-cleared-over-kick-4132046.html

 

[Raider_69]

Definitely fullback. It's a golden era for them at the moment
In 1995 it seemed just about every team had a gun halfback, but now that's moved to fullback

Stewart, Dugan, Hayne, Slater, Inglis, Barba, Gordon, Boyd... and the next generation look very impressive, Tedesco, RTS, Moylan/DWZ, Milford, Tompkins coming next year

5/8th is pretty stacked too actually.

The trade off is the lack of genuinely quality halfbacks and hookers right now. I recon there is lucky to be 5 top class hookers and halfbacks in the league

Cronk, Reynolds, DCE... outside of them, it's pretty run of the mill.
Smith, Farah, Luke are the only truly elite hookers imo. Ballin and Friend are probably the best of the rest, and from there on its another crack shoot

 

[orochimaru]

who revolutionized the fb position?

lockyer ?

 

[eozsmiles]

The FB has to do everything everyone else does. They hit the ball up into the teeth of the defence like a prop. They run from dummy half. They hit holes out wide like a 2nd rower or centre. They call plays and ballplay like a half and they organise defensive lines. They catch bombs and finish tries like wingers.

Then there is the s**t they do that nobody else hardly ever does. Like being constantly in motion. FB's have to sniff out both opportunities and threats. They can't just stand 3-wide of the ruck and tackle the same 2 blokes all day, then run at a winger when the ball comes their way. They have to swing from side to side depending on where the attack is focused. They are the only player on the field who regularly runs in any direction 20m+ to get the ball and then make a play. Most players have the ball passed onto their chest or they run forwards 10m to make a tackle. Catching bombs sux. And then they also have to make plenty of one-on-one tackles when their teammates fail. They haven't got the support of a man either side. When the FB misses, the opponents score. It's a high pressure position.

 

[magpie4ever]

Fullback by a country mile. The list posted by OP all could play for Aust without the team losing any talent.

Whilst I not a Melbourne supporter (hate them, actually); Slater is the best fullback (possibly, the best player) I've ever seen play the game.

 

[Mr Saab]

Winger. Lachlan Maranta

 

[DIMEAST]

Definitely fullback. It's a golden era for them at the moment
In 1995 it seemed just about every team had a gun halfback, but now that's moved to fullback

Stewart, Dugan, Hayne, Slater, Inglis, Barba, Gordon, Boyd... and the next generation look very impressive, Tedesco, RTS, Moylan/DWZ, Milford, Tompkins coming next year

5/8th is pretty stacked too actually.

The trade off is the lack of genuinely quality halfbacks and hookers right now. I recon there is lucky to be 5 top class hookers and halfbacks in the league

Cronk, Reynolds, DCE... outside of them, it's pretty run of the mill.
Smith, Farah, Luke are the only truly elite hookers imo. Ballin and Friend are probably the best of the rest, and from there on its another crack shoot

I watch a lot of footy and I'm probably way on my own here but I think DCE is criminally overrated. He's a very good player but I just don't think he's as great as others make him out to be (I'd take Foran over DCE any day) and reynolds has a great kicking game and works well in a very structured outfit but lacks creativity. I think it's Cronk then daylight in the number 7 at the moment

 

[Raider_69]

I think you will be on your own there mate. DCE is an absolute gun. I agree Foran is the better half but DCE is a hell of a footballer i recon

 

[macavity]

How bad are the halfback stocks at the moment. Not one current 7 would have even made top 10 15 years ago.

Fullbacks though, we have some guns at the moment (although Slater is made to look way better than he is as he is allowed to cheat).

 

[Noa]

I'd rate hooker and the halves before fullback.

It's easy to look better at fullback because they always have so much more time to work with.

*edit* I misunderstood the OP :-(

still 100% correct though. Very easy position look great in. Less pressure = more time to exucute. When a supremely talented player like Jarryd Hayne struggles up in the front line it should tell you all you need to know.

 

[Helmet Man]

I don't think there's a poor fullback running around in any club.

William Zillman - Titans

 

[Helmet Man]

The amount of quality playmakers in the NRL is appalling tbh. And by quality I mean the quality of Thurston.