RANK THE SHARKS: Fullbacks from Peachey Onwards

[fizman]

Benny Barba - When I watch highlights of the 2016 season I am continually blown away at how fast and direct Benny Barba played his football, furthermore, his defense was magnificent.

What an unbelievably awesome team we had in 2016 - I still sit in amazement that we had Barba - Maloney - Ennis together in the same team.

Love the other Fullbacks, but Benny Barba is the stand out for sure.

If Will wins a Premiership with the Sharks, he would be elevated to the No.1 status.

 

[Stake Removed]

We've had 8 or so regular fullbacks since Peach occupied the position from 1994 to 2005. Some pretty good names among them.

Note below that games played is total number of games played for the Sharks and not the number of games played at Fullback.

How would you rank this lot specifically as Sharks fullbacks (ie: don't factor Val's time on the wing into your consideration)? Where does WK sit for you now, and on potential by the time he has played 150+ games?

PLAYER	GAMES PLAYED
David Peachey	232
David Simmons	112
Brett Kearney	49
Nathan Gardner	43
Michael Gordon	71
Val Holmes	105
Ben Barba	46
William Kennedy	68

I would have to say Barba only that he was integral in winning the comp, he only played 30 games at fullback for us, with 16 tries.

Peach at 2nd Kennedy at 3rd, Kennedy is tracking nicely in line with Peach at strike rate for tries.

Simmons was more a winger for us he had 31 games at fullback, but never offered much.
Sammut as unlucky he came through at same time as Peach he was a quality player again he got 30 games.
Moyza only fullback for sharks to play more than 10 games at fullback for 0 tries.
Val was looking good at fullback in his 42 games, what let's him down way he left the club.
Let's not forget Preston he had 11 games there

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

for me, Barba has the greatest season out of any of those players in 2016. he's said himeslf he played as well in 16 as he did in 12

34 combined trys and assists

man was the absolute truth

shit merkin. great player.

 

[Inferno]

I suppose the rankings could be broken down into playing talent alone, or importance to the Cronulla Sharks.

If it was talent at fullback alone BB has to be number one.

If you were ranking them taking into account other things than just sheer talent I'd rank them as follows:

1. The Peach
2. BB
3. Val Holmes
4. Kennedy
5. Gordon
6. Simmons
7. Kearney
8. Gardner

Brett Kearney was definitely a what might have been. He was lightening quick and very elusive. Shame he was so slight and often bashed out of the game.

Shame Tevita Latu fell into the same category, I felt like he could have been anything.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

1. Peachey
2. Barba
3. Kennedy
4. Holmes
5. Gordon
6. Kearney
7. Gardner
8. Simmons

As others have said it’s very difficult to not have Barba as No.1 considering that brilliant season he had with the Sharks in 2016 and the fact he was a huge factor in the Sharks winning a Premiership. But he was only at the Sharks for a very short time.

Peachey was brilliant for such a long time. He’s only poor seasons were because he stayed in the game a couple years too long.

Both Barba and Peachey were not only brilliant runners but could pass to set up tries for others in the backline very naturally. Both were brilliant in saving tries in defence as well. Both were great at backing up through the middle as well. Very smart footballers.

Holmes was becoming a real weapon at Fullback with us before he abandoned us with a year to go on his contract. He was not as natural passer of the ball but that was improving in his last season with us. But he was a brilliant runner.

Will Kennedy has taken a huge step up this season. Probably more improved as a player this season than even Nicho Hynes this year. And that’s saying something!!
His link up / passing to the outside backs comes very natural. His defence in previous seasons was pretty weak but this season he is really putting his body on the line in defence and he seems to have way more confidence and strength to be effective in making those tackles.

If Kennedy continues the way he is going no way Dykes is taking his place. Dykes best chance in the First Grade side would be at 5/8 to take over from Moylan. Kennedy is a fullback or nothing in the First Grade team.

He definitely still has upside. Longevity in the game and Premiership success will determine if he passes the top 2 nominated fullbacks.

 

[DJDL]

I think it’s kick returns where Kennedy has improved the most this year.
He’s really putting the foot down and his body on the line these days.

 

[Stake Removed]

I think it’s kick returns where Kennedy has improved the most this year.
He’s really putting the foot down and his body on the line these days.

And he is pushing up in attack more now, someone makes a break he is there.
The confidence of having a quality half in Nicho helps

 

[shaggs]

for me, Barba has the greatest season out of any of those players in 2016. he's said himeslf he played as well in 16 as he did in 12

34 combined trys and assists

man was the absolute truth

shit merkin. great player.

A lot of the greats were/are

 

[shaggs]

And he is pushing up in attack more now, someone makes a break he is there.
The confidence of having a quality half in Nicho helps

His support play through the middle and pushing up as the extra man was a big part of why I wasn’t fussed with him.
Huge improvement

 

[Special K]

His support play through the middle and pushing up as the extra man was a big part of why I wasn’t fussed with him.
Huge improvement

Agreed. It is like a totally different player. 0 to 100!

I put that down to Nicho loving him and into him all the time to be in and around.

 

[DJDL]

His support play has definitely improved, but still a work in progress.

There was a moment against the Cows when he was sweeping around behind Nikora, who stepped off his right foot, poked his nose through and was looking for a runner outside him.

WK gave up on his support run as soon as Nikora stepped though.
If he’d been awake to that he’d have been away.

 

[Frenzy.]

His support play has definitely improved, but still a work in progress.

There was a moment against the Cows when he was sweeping around behind Nikora, who stepped off his right foot, poked his nose through and was looking for a runner outside him.

WK gave up on his support run as soon as Nikora stepped though.
If he’d been awake to that he’d have been away.

hhmmmmm

 

[Frenzy.]

I don't see him as a different player. Same player but not hampered by a busted shoulder and a busted ankle which he finished the year with

 

[Dragon Slayer]

I don't see him as a different player. Same player but not hampered by a busted shoulder and a busted ankle which he finished the year with

Disagree Frenzy.

He’s definitely playing with more aggression and confidence in everything he does on the field than I’ve ever seen from him.

It’s like he knows this young kid named Kade Dykes wants his position and he’s said we’ll see about that. I’m going to make sure he can’t take my fullback spot.

 

[Frenzy.]

Disagree Frenzy.

He’s definitely playing with more aggression and confidence in everything he does on the field than I’ve ever seen from him.

It’s like he knows this young kid named Kade Dykes wants his position and he’s said we’ll see about that. I’m going to make sure he can’t take my fullback spot.

Of course he is. That comes from being fit and uninjured. That's the beginning of where the confidence comes from and the aggression, not that I see that at all would follow. Tevita Tatola fecked Kennedy up with a hip drop before they were a thing and that put him on the operating table. Then there was the shoulder injury in Round 7 vs Manly that saw him play out most of the year with a broken wing. That had to wait till the off season to get fixed.

Dykes isn't getting his spot. He's out for the year and will battle to get up to NRL ready for a while after he returns. 2025 at the earliest. There's no pressure on Kennedy there for a long time

 

[sladden road]

No Barba.
No premiership.
No Peachey, maybe drawing a long bow, no Sharks.
It is those two then daylight second.

honourable mention to John Docking. Outside the age range but he would be third.
Played inthe brutal times and shined. Headgear and all.

 

[DJDL]

Peach. What a player.
He’s no 1 based on longevity for mine.

Barba could have passed him, but really only delivered the one season (and what a season).

Bubba is tracking well. Time will tell if he can go past them both.

 

[Special K]

I love Peach but 02 IMO was his last good year. Our team declined sure but in 03 we sucked and he scored 6 from 24 games, 9 in 18 in 04, 11 in 25 in 05. 04/05 especially was full of kick returns floating to a winger for a pass to not run it back. Remember that thing where if he did not take the first kick return back he wouldn't have a good game? I was blowing up about him being moved on for Simmons at the time and rightly so but in hindsight I can see why coaches wanted change.

Pre 03 Peach was awesome. He is a top 3 reason I am a life long sharks fan. If you dropped Peachey into our team now as a rookie you can only imagine how far he would go. Love Peach. Ando victim? Shoulda had longer with prime Presto... But 2016 Barba is different gravy.

No Barba.
No premiership.
No Peachey, maybe drawing a long bow, no Sharks.
It is those two then daylight second.

Great way to put it. Peachey picked up a shit ton of kids in the 90s/early 00s with his style. Nobody was like him and as a kid who was at the time living in an area without a team he made me watch and love the Sharks when history shows we needed it!

 

[Mr Angry]

I know this is an after Peachey, but geez I have fond memories of Jonathan Docking.