rank the nrl fullbacks

[East Coast Tiger]

I might need to book an appointment with some kind of professional then because I'd have him over Boyd or Hayne any day. Probably not the others though. Actually I would have him over Inglis but only because he isn't a wife beating, salary cap cheating traitor to his state.

 

[dogz08]

Forgot Inglis. He's 3rd

Ummmm Barba?

 

[betcats]

Its a lot of 'what ifs' but if Gordon had stayed healthy and played FB the last two season he would be top two or three, maybe fourth given Barbas hot form this season.

Anyway he will go good for the sharkies.

 

[age.s]

Yeah, nah

Dont get me wrong, I think Gordon is a class player but no one in their right mind would take him over Hayne, Barba, Inglis or even Boyd

Lol.

Hayne at his absolute best is better than Gordon at his, but there's not that much difference (Gordon 2010 was as influential for Penrith as Hayne was for Parra in 2009) and Gordon is way more consistent when injury free (big caveat). They're players with different strengths, but Gordon has fewer weaknesses in my view.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Cant see why you're laughing at that mate

With the exception of Barba, all of the others have played consistently at rep level while Gordon has struggled to make a shitty NSW team, only getting one game on the wing.

 

[betcats]

Struggled cause of injury otherwise he would of played the last three series.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

There must be 2 Michael Gordon's in the comp and I can only remember 1. The one that I am thinking of is a decent player, but not in the realm of the top 6 or 7 fullbacks in the game. The other Michael Gordon sounds like an amazing player. I wonder how I've not noticed him.

 

[betcats]

There must be 2 Michael Gordon's in the comp and I can only remember 1. The one that I am thinking of is a decent player, but not in the realm of the top 6 or 7 fullbacks in the game. The other Michael Gordon sounds like an amazing player. I wonder how I've not noticed him.

:roll:

You are a Souffs fan, there is a lot you don't notice.

 

[age.s]

Cant see why you're laughing at that mate

With the exception of Barba, all of the others have played consistently at rep level while Gordon has struggled to make a shitty NSW team, only getting one game on the wing.

Only laughing at the bold. The rest is arguable and/or true, though as mentioned Barba and Inglis have only really emerged as leading FBs this year.

Part of Gordon's "problem" wrt to rep teams is that he's never been hyped up. Injuries are a part of that, as is the fact he was older when he broke into the NRL but a big part is his lack of flashy hair, man boobs, an on-field attitude or performing a stupid dance when he scores a try. He's just a no nonsense guy who puts 100% in every week.

He should have (but probably wouldn't have) been NSWs FB last year but he copped a season ending injury. Sterlo for one had him as his NSW FB over Hayne in 2011 pre injury.

 

[age.s]

:roll:

You are a Souffs fan, there is a lot you don't notice.

I wouldn't quite be that harsh, but I definitely don't think SSTID watched many Penrith games in 2010.

He was pretty much the reason we finished second with the best attack in the league. FFS think about that last stat, our halves were f**king Burns and Walsh.

 

[betcats]

I wouldn't quite be that harsh, but I definitely don't think SSTID watched many Penrith games in 2010.

He was pretty much the reason we finished second with the best attack in the league. FFS think about that last stat, our halves were f**king Burns and Walsh.

Couldnt help it, his team is about to play to get into the GF, i'm jealous.

 

[natheel]

There is only 5 fullbacks that are able to take full control of a game and turn it in their teams favour

Inglis
Hayne
Barba
Slater
Stewart

You could maybe chuck Dugan and Bowen in there too as fullbacks who can 'take control' of a game

Gordon at his best is way behind these guys imo

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

2010 eh? 3 seasons ago. And like I said, decent player. Don't get me wrong. But after thinking about it there are actually about 13 fullbacks who are better than him if all teams are at full-strength.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Well I left out Stewart and Bowen too

No one appreciates a clubs players like said clubs fans but the reality is he is well down the pecking order, injuries or not.

I think we've derailed this thread enough though

 

[Fingerbang]

You all seem to be forgetting that Michael Gordon is 2 to 3 years older than when he was playing so well, and also the injuriy problems he has had over that time. He is not going to be anywhere near the standard he was before...or have the same speed.

 

[betcats]

2010 eh? 3 seasons ago. And like I said, decent player. Don't get me wrong. But after thinking about it there are actually about 13 fullbacks who are better than him if all teams are at full-strength.

You are f**king dreaming. Name them, there are about 6 that i will give you even though i'd argue some of them.

Slater
Inglis
Barba
Stewart
Dugan
Bowen
Hayne

Ok 7.

 

[age.s]

2010 eh? 3 seasons ago. And like I said, decent player. Don't get me wrong. But after thinking about it there are actually about 13 fullbacks who are better than him if all teams are at full-strength.

It depends on how he comes back. There's obviously huge question marks due to age/injury, but if he plays like he did the last time he had a consistent run of 10+ games without injury there definitely aren't 13 better fullbacks in the comp.

Of the 7 betcats mentioned I'd only have the top 3 over the 2010/2011 model Gordon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFvr6VpsVeU&feature=relmfu

Oh he's a damn good goalkicker too

I've played my part in derailing this thread hard so I'll leave it there

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

If all the fullbacks in the game came off contract tomorrow I'd take Hoffman, Locke, Boyd and Minichiello over him. About the only ones that I wouldn't take would be Zillman, whoever Penrith are using that week, Moltzen or whoever the Tigers are using and Matt Wright.

I've got no ulterior motives and I hope for the Sharks sake that he plays well. But that is just the way it is. Whatever the case he is an improvement on what the Sharks have at the moment and that is all that really matters I'd imagine.

 

[natheel]

You are f**king dreaming. Name them, there are about 6 that i will give you even though i'd argue some of them.

Slater
Inglis
Barba
Stewart
Dugan
Bowen
Hayne

Ok 7.

ok if we are going off top form at their peak then these guys would be better than Gordon

Hayne - 09 turned the whole comp on its head
Boyd - 2010 Great year for him arguably the best Dragons player that year imo
Slater - best fullback
Inglis - unstoppable on his day due to his size and speed
Barba - look at this year
Stewart - great support player and can set up plays himself when he is firing Manly seems to be going well
Bowen - Can really take control
Dugan - Similar player to Stewart. If he's going well Raiders are playing well

Hoffman would be close as he has showed he has a massive future

Gordon while he is a talented player he is too injury prone for his age to get any better imo and also he has spent majority of his career at Wing and only had been a fullback since 2010 and pretty much been injury prone.

If he is injury free at Sharks next year we could see him have his best year but will it be close to any of these guys i have mentioned? i don't think so.

 

[age.s]

ok if we are going off top form at their peak then these guys would be better than Gordon

Hayne - 09 turned the whole comp on its head
Boyd - 2010 Great year for him arguably the best Dragons player that year imo
Slater - best fullback
Inglis - unstoppable on his day due to his size and speed
Barba - look at this year
Stewart - great support player and can set up plays himself when he is firing Manly seems to be going well
Bowen - Can really take control
Dugan - Similar player to Stewart. If he's going well Raiders are playing well

Hoffman would be close as he has showed he has a massive future

Gordon while he is a talented player he is too injury prone for his age to get any better imo and also he has spent majority of his career at Wing and only had been a fullback since 2010 and pretty much been injury prone.

If he is injury free at Sharks next year we could see him have his best year but will it be close to any of these guys i have mentioned? i don't think so.

Ok, last post but Gordon at his peak was extremely good. I can't find the stats (would love some help here) but from memory in terms of meters gained, offloads and tackle busts his second half of 2010 was up there with Hayne 09. Not quite there mind you, but not that far off either. There were fewer bursts of sheer jaw dropping brilliance (though those were there too, his try against the Cows in 2010, his whole game against the Broncos 2011) but he was very very consistent for a good 20 odd games.

He is (was) just a very complete fullback. He doesn't have the step and agility of Hayne but he's a better defender. He's not quite as fast as Stewart (at his peak) but he's better at breaking a tackle. He's not as good at linking up a backline move as Boyd but he's a better support player. Kicks goals like a champ. Penrith fans watched him as a complete package for a long time which is probably why we rate him so highly.

He was every bit as influential for us in 2010 as any of those players you mentioned. How else does a team with Walsh and Burns as halves score the most points in a season.