Our Fulltime Fullback?

[RABK]

Cooper - but I actually feel it will be Hinton by next season.

In two years Wooden. He is absolutely electric in attack. In open space or on kick returns he looks awesome, very fast on his feet and a step that'd rival Gasniers. Very gutsy and capable defender too.

 

[Johns Magic]

In two years Wooden. He is absolutely electric in attack. In open space or on kick returns he looks awesome, very fast on his feet and a step that'd rival Gasniers. Very gutsy and capable defender too.

How big is he?

 

[BUDERUS]

1. Seage
4. Cooper
5. Thaiday

 

[Johns Magic]

Who would you drop BUDERUS?

Johns, Mullen, Kidley or Gidley?

 

[RABK]

How big is he?

About Seage's size. Similar build but alot faster.

 

[Johns Magic]

Do you know if he's still growing or not?

 

[snapper]

Hughes.

No just joking, Seage.

 

[RABK]

Do you know if he's still growing or not?

He might peak at about 92kg with a season in first grade. At the moment i think he's about 86kg.

 

[roopy]

In two years Wooden. He is absolutely electric in attack. In open space or on kick returns he looks awesome, very fast on his feet and a step that'd rival Gasniers. Very gutsy and capable defender too.

Wooden is an amazing player - but he is slow.
I've been saying for three years that he is too slow for a fullback, and too small for a lock forward (the two positions he plays), but his amazing balanced running style means we have to find somewhere for him to play. He actually gives no clues as to which way he is going to step - no swerve of the hips - no arms waving about to balance a step - nothing - he just suddenly changes direction.
He is especially dangerous on a wet field. I saw his score the best three tries in years last year on a really wet field at Toronto in a Ball match - he left every player on the field clutching at air three times in a row from kick returns.
Having said all that, he misses tackle after tackle in cover defence because any winger has yards of pace on him, and once he is out in the open prop forwards can run him down.
If he could develop some passing skills and maybe a few kicks he could be a great 5/8.
What I would love to see is him play soccer - his balance would make him an amazing soccer player.

 

[RABK]

Wooden is an amazing player - but he is slow.
I've been saying for three years that he is too slow for a fullback, and too small for a lock forward (the two positions he plays), but his amazing balanced running style means we have to find somewhere for him to play. He actually gives no clues as to which way he is going to step - no swerve of the hips - no arms waving about to balance a step - nothing - he just suddenly changes direction.
He is especially dangerous on a wet field. I saw his score the best three tries in years last year on a really wet field at Toronto in a Ball match - he left every player on the field clutching at air three times in a row from kick returns.
Having said all that, he misses tackle after tackle in cover defence because any winger has yards of pace on him, and once he is out in the open prop forwards can run him down.
If he could develop some passing skills and maybe a few kicks he could be a great 5/8.
What I would love to see is him play soccer - his balance would make him an amazing soccer player.

He looks very fast on his kick returns. He casually jogs around then bam, he'll put on step and be through a hole.

 

[Misanthrope]

Realistically they all offer something. Thaidy is easily the best of them in broken field, but lacks any real defensive ability. Cooper is strong and fast and safe under the high ball, which makes him my choice. Seage is the best defender, but injury prone and not as potent in attack as either of the above.

Biggest dilemma I've got is whether we can fit all of them in the squad with the likes of Tighe, Salkeld, and the Gidleys also fighting for backline spots.

 

[Alex28]

I'm a self-confessed Seage fan - I think he has been written off this year based on a few games after a year out of the game. He has proven he has the ability in both attack and defence - however he is continuously written off as "injury prone" after two unrelated injuries. I'd love to see him get a full season under his belt and see what he can really do (maybe with a strong off-season we'll see it next year...).

 

[roopy]

He looks very fast on his kick returns. He casually jogs around then bam, he'll put on step and be through a hole.

If you watch him, he doesn't step through a hole because of an increase in pace - he slips through because he swerves and no one can 'read' his swerve - because he gives no clues at all. I don't know how he does it - but I have watched him very closely - and there is nothing that gives it away.

 

[Johns Magic]

I'm a self-confessed Seage fan - I think he has been written off this year based on a few games after a year out of the game.

What I don't understand is why everybody thinks he's awesome. He played 2 solid games in FG last year then got injured. They were solid, not spectacular.

Then he's come back this year and offered little.

 

[Risa]

I'd rather Cooper because he seems safer under the high ball. Thaiday scares me a bit in that regard.

 

[macavity]

anyone pick up a common thread here?

they all have weaknesses.

if we had seage's reading of the game, coops defence and high ball catch and thaidays attack, we would have the Oz fullback.

but as it is they all have some pretty major flaws.

I think that Coops and Thaiday have to be in the squad somewhere. Kidley (please, god, let Hages realise he is a sucky 5/8 and we have a bloody good one there now..)and (likely ) carney also have to get a go somewhere. Tighe also looks a good prospect.

who is the odd man out?

I can name a few, but the ones that stand out are Hall, Quinn... and old man gidley.

1. Cooper
2. Carney ( )
3. Tighe
4. Kids
5. Thaiday

would be my first choice backline... although I can really see Milton stepping up at fullback once he gets the hang of NRL footy.

Seage, Hall, Quinn, Salkeld all offer handy backup... but I dont think any would be first choice in a top 4 side.... although Quinn could get there if he re-found his 2003(?) form.

We MUST offload old man Gids to free up some cap space and let our young guys cement their spots..... and allow us to make a BIG play for Lyon in 2007.

 

[Nuffy]

And Greg Inglis from Melbourne

As for the fullbacks, I'd like to see all 3 fit first and challenging for the position.

It also depends on how much our defence is leaking, this year we need a defensive fullback so Seage gets the nod.

 

[Johns Magic]

anyone pick up a common thread here?

they all have weaknesses.

if we had seage's reading of the game, coops defence and high ball catch and thaidays attack, we would have the Oz fullback.

but as it is they all have some pretty major flaws.

I think that Coops and Thaiday have to be in the squad somewhere. Kidley (please, god, let Hages realise he is a sucky 5/8 and we have a bloody good one there now..)and (likely ) carney also have to get a go somewhere. Tighe also looks a good prospect.

who is the odd man out?

I can name a few, but the ones that stand out are Hall, Quinn... and old man gidley.

1. Cooper
2. Carney ( )
3. Tighe
4. Kids
5. Thaiday

would be my first choice backline... although I can really see Milton stepping up at fullback once he gets the hang of NRL footy.

Seage, Hall, Quinn, Salkeld all offer handy backup... but I dont think any would be first choice in a top 4 side.... although Quinn could get there if he re-found his 2003(?) form.

We MUST offload old man Gids to free up some cap space and let our young guys cement their spots..... and allow us to make a BIG play for Lyon in 2007.

What was Cooper's major weakness?

 

[macavity]

he isn't as dynamic as milton at broken field running, and doesn't have the support play of seage... im also not 100% sold on his positional play.

also, he may be more useful on the wing where he can also play an extra-forward role - something that is a bit more difficult from fb.

damn i wish we could combine the three - a 192cm 102kg dynamic broken-play runner with great support play and impeccible catching and positioning....

then again, if we did have that guy, we couldnt afford to keep him anyways!

 

[Ben]

A decision cannot be made this time of the year for our full time fullback. All three have played limited NRL games and have not showed their complete package of what they have to offer. Seage would've been our fullback this year if he had not done the ACL, but currently, both Thaiday and Cooper have just ousted him for the spot in my opinion. Between Thaiday and Cooper, this is a tough one, Thaiday works well with Johns and has speed to burn and can easily run rings around opponents. However, his catching ability will let him down, but i think this will improve over time. On the other hand, Cooper plays completely differently. Where Thaiday will run around players, Cooper will run right over them with his massive frame and deceptive speed. The fulltime fullback will basically come down to what you prefer, a player that is agile and can run rings around players or a player that can smash his opposition to pieces leaving him in his wake.