I feel like we are stuck in some sort of groundhog day time-loop since 2017 when Dufty skipped reserve grade and debuted (he would have been found out in nsw cup at a big name club).. the fullbacks who will make it in the NRL are obvious early.. because they have no fear.. the errors can be fixed, we are not looking for perfection.. they can grow into the role... we just want a base level of toughness.. because you cant really learn that.. you basically need a screw-loose to play first grade in the NRL...
Bula and Walsh are tough... Faalogo hits like an axe.. Jye Gray for souths.. same thing.. these kids were like 19-20 and it was already there.... little blokes but they hit HARD....if you watched the g/final yesterday, Tyler Peckham-Harris who looks about 12yrs old...with his scything cover tackles, putting big blokes on their ass front on, i've seen him make 2 tackles in the same play on multiple occasions.. hes a literal terrier... he's been doing it all year even on a bung leg...puts everything into every run in attack also... absolute 1st grader mentality.. crazy try assists.. but I dont know how he will go against even bigger bodies or how much growth he has in his body (but I'm hopeful).
Flanno is backed into a corner though.. if he had another option, Sloan would be perfect as cup fullback while the younger blokes come thru, but he is stuck, and he just lost Turuva as his plan b... so it may well be that Sloan is the only option for 2025.