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The best full back ever

Old Timer

Old Timer

Coach
Messages
17,905
Sage63 said:
Dennis Preston, who kept Chang in the centres until Norm Provan took over as coach.
Click to expand...
Not quite right
D P came into 1st grade in 66 for a few games and then played full seasons in 67, 68.
Sticks retired the year before.
D P didn’t keep Changa in the centres rather with the loss of Gasnier Changa & Smithy both played centre to fill the gap which was huge and DP was adequate as a F B
 
D

denis preston

First Grade
Messages
8,761
Old Timer said:
Not quite right
D P came into 1st grade in 66 for a few games and then played full seasons in 67, 68.
Sticks retired the year before.
D P didn’t keep Changa in the centres rather with the loss of Gasnier Changa & Smithy both played centre to fill the gap which was huge and DP was adequate as a F B
Click to expand...
Ken Maddison played centre in 66/67/68. Smithy never played centre again after 64 or 65. Played for Australia as a 7 from 1966 onwards.
 
S

Sage63

Juniors
Messages
291
Old Timer said:
Not quite right
D P came into 1st grade in 66 for a few games and then played full seasons in 67, 68.
Sticks retired the year before.
D P didn’t keep Changa in the centres rather with the loss of Gasnier Changa & Smithy both played centre to fill the gap which was huge and DP was adequate as a F
Click to expand...

Old Timer said:
Hey there OT, I distinctly remember Provan saying when he took over again as coach, that Chang was not a centre, that he was a fullback. correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
 
Old Timer

Old Timer

Coach
Messages
17,905
Sage 63
Apologies champion I was only thinking about the years when Norm was captain / coach and completely forgot about Sticks just coaching us in 68.

Preston played that entire year at 1 so you are no doubt correct in Sticks somewhat misguided assumption.
 
redVinme

redVinme

Bench
Messages
2,795
From the mad dragons vodcast, taken from FB.

GREAT IN ATTACK, BUT HE CAN'T TACKLE?

Or can he? Let's have a look at the 17 fullbacks in the competition during the first 4 rounds of the 2024 season. Yes I know it's a small sample size, but lets try not to judge players based on what they did or didn't do in 2023 and instead have a look at what they've actually done this year. Maybe some players actually put hard work in during the off season to improve in this area and maybe we should start to recognise that hard work. All I can do is show you the facts. it's up to you how you interpret these facts. So lets rank all 17 fullbacks based on their defensive efficiency this year:

1. Reece Walsh - I’ve criticised his defence in the past, but his start to the year before injury has been solid. Not a lot of volume defensively, but he has yet to miss a tackle in 2024 so is 12 from 12 at 100% efficiency

2. Taine Tuaupiki - He was the back up for the Warriors with CNK out injured and now he’s been injured as well, but hard to fault the rookies work defensively making 14 from 15 tackles at 93.3% efficiency

3. Tyrell Sloan - There’s an argument that he’s been the most impressive defensively of all the fullbacks in the competition. Only Will Kennedy has made more tackles than the Dragons custodian, while Kennedy has missed almost triple the number of tackles that Sloan has. Sloan has made 26 tackles from the 29 attempted at 89.7%

4. Jahream Bula - like the top 2 Bula only has the 3 games compared to Sloan with 4, but for Bula it’s because his team had a bye. Pretty reliable defensively and a touch busier than the top 2 with 15 from 17 tackles at 88.2%

5. Latrell Mitchell - A bigger body it is expected that Mitchell will be fairly capable defensively. Not as busy as Sloan in this area of the game and the same number of missed tackles 18 from 21 at 85.7%

6. James Tedesco - 24 from 29 at 82.8%

7. Ryan Papenhuyzen - 8 from 10 at 80%

7. Hamiso Tabuai Fidow - 12 from 15 at 80%

9. Will Kennedy - 27 from 35 at 77.1%

10. Scott Drinkwater - 16 from 21 at 76.2%

11. Jordan Rapana - 25 from 33 at 75.8%

11. Dylan Edwards - 25 from 33 at 75.8%

13. Tom Trbojevic - 13 from 18 at 72.2%

14. Keano Kini - 10 from 14 at 71.4%

15. Blake Taafe - 17 from 24 at 70.8%

16. Kalyn Ponga - 11 from 16 at 68.8%

17. Clint Gutherson - 12 from 18 at 66.7%
 
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