The best full back ever

[Dragon the chain]

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%

You can't just look at stats. The "missed tackles" stat is especially misleading. Gutherson, Edwards, and Tedesco are great defensive fullbacks. Drinkwater looks way better than Gutherson on this list, but Drinkwater is poor defensively.

 

[redVinme]

You can't just look at stats. The "missed tackles" stat is especially misleading. Gutherson, Edwards, and Tedesco are great defensive fullbacks. Drinkwater looks way better than Gutherson on this list, but Drinkwater is poor defensively.

I didn't. I posted an article for others to take what they like out of it.

Which includes the eye test. I just thought it was fun

 

[blue bags]

Hornby was fantastic fullback

 

[blue bags]

Feeling Hornby tonight

 

[Number of the Beath]

Sloan needs to watch every available second of footage of this man:

For kick returns and cover defense there was none better.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

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%

I dunno what to make of this. I'd much rather have Edwards, Tedesco, Gutherson or even Rapana defending the try line. Those guys will seriously bust a gut to get to a tackle and try & stop a try. Yeah, maybe they miss a few but at least they always try. Sloane and Lattrell on the other hand, sometimes they just seem happy to stand to one side and watch a try unfold without even attempting to stop it. So while Sloanes 26 from 29 tackle attempts looks pretty good, I'm not entirely convinced.

 

[Dragon the chain]

I dunno what to make of this. I'd much rather have Edwards, Tedesco, Gutherson or even Rapana defending the try line. Those guys will seriously bust a gut to get to a tackle and try & stop a try. Yeah, maybe they miss a few but at least they always try. Sloane and Lattrell on the other hand, sometimes they just seem happy to stand to one side and watch a try unfold without even attempting to stop it. So while Sloanes 26 from 29 tackle attempts looks pretty good, I'm not entirely convinced.

For example, if an attacker is already acrross the tryline and the fullback comes accross and tackles him but the attacker gets the ball down, that is called a "missed tackle" in the stats. If, on the other hand, you are out of position, you are not given a missed tackle.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

For example, if an attacker is already acrross the tryline and the fullback comes accross and tackles him but the attacker gets the ball down, that is called a "missed tackle" in the stats. If, on the other hand, you are out of position, you are not given a missed tackle.

Exactly. I was thinking more about about Dufty though, who would go for the intercept rather than the tackle. Missed tackles? Not many. Missed intercepts? Quite a few.

 

[Ghostrider22]

Get Billy Slater in to train him up a bit, apparently Billy's willing to do it. Slater is probably the best fullback I've witnessed in my lifetime after Changa, so if he's available you'd be mad not to get him in for a few sessions with Sloan.

That would be a great idea, would the club think that way, I wish they would, it would be massive.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Get Billy Slater in to train him up a bit, apparently Billy's willing to do it. Slater is probably the best fullback I've witnessed in my lifetime after Changa, so if he's available you'd be mad not to get him in for a few sessions with Sloan.

If true we would be mad not to take the offer up.
Billy comes from the system that signed Josh Addo-Car when he couldn't tackle a sandwich at lunchtime.

Under the Storm regime, he became a defensive dynamo.

I'm sure Sloan has the desire and commitment to learn from a master.

Do you reckon Young would be humble enough to accept or see it as a slight on his ability?

He should accept, because if Sloan's defence does not improve, its all on Deano!

 

[BLM01]

Glenn Burgess was a pretty handy fullback also. Occasionally has a beer at Tugun Surf Club. Good guy.
CC

Peaky High boy as was Johnsy. Both Penshurst juniors.

 

[blue bags]

So, what does everyone on this forum think Sloane needs to do, to become, potentially, the best full back ever, for the Dragons?
And is that feasible?

Reece Walsh would be fantastic for Dragon's

 

[blue bags]

Peaky High boy as was Johnsy. Both Penshurst juniors.

Penshurst RSL club

 

[TheRev]

Missed tackles is a useful stat for the front line defenders (still needs a grain of salt though), but almost useless to measure a fullback...

Flanno mentioned it after last game, sometimes you have to put your head where a boot is about to be.. Thats what fullback is... risking serious injury for a 10% chance to stop a try.. And despite the missed tackle rate of 90% it will earn you.

Do you reckon Parra or the Broncos squads are unhappy with guthos or washes desperate defence, that is likely to be in vain? Or would they rather their fullback improve his missed tackle stats by being out of position to start with, or watching the try be scored that he probably wouldn't have stopped anyway?

Edwards was a perfect example a few weeks back.. Full pelt from the other side of the field just for a chance to get a hand under the ball.. He would have got there too I reckon. Maybe 5% chance he could have stopped it.. But sometimes that wins you the match.

 

[Phantom V]

Get Billy Slater in to train him up a bit, apparently Billy's willing to do it. Slater is probably the best fullback I've witnessed in my lifetime after Changa, so if he's available you'd be mad not to get him in for a few sessions with Sloan.

Agree mate. Slater mentored Walsh during origin last year and he found another level. Get it done!!