Top 5 at each position

[Big Pete]

Because when you look across their games, there are areas where Boyd & Bowen are superior to Stewart. If you wanted to say he was completely a superior player he'd have to do more than just run support and position myself. That isn't my real concern though, his ability to avoid the sideline is.

I'd also be very interested to see how Foran/DCE go without Des and having the weight of expectation rested firmly on their shoulders. I rate both but next year would be tough for everyone - especially behind a tiring front row.

 

[Raider_69]

When he can last a season and takes on the responsibility of a Bowen or a Boyd then we can talk about him being a step above them.

We're not rating the top 5 fullbacks who have to be take on the responsibility of play making because of inept creativity of their halves

we are rating the top 5 fullbacks
As per the jobs of a fullback, Stewart is ahead of Bowen and Boyd. He defends his line better, he looks comfortable feilding kicks regardless of their type, he's better positionally, he's one of the best support players in the game, he's a home run threat from any where due to his speed, and he can chime into a backline and make the right call as to draw and pass or take them on himself.

He is, based on his form at the back end of last year (who knew it might take him a few games to click after nearly 2 years off?! :lol: )easily in the top 5 fullbacks in the game. Bowen is not, and Boyd is coming off a pretty ordinary year.

Is stewart a superior player? maybe, maybe not. Tough call

Is Stewart a superior fullback? IMO yes. As said, an arguement could be made for Boyd who is in a group with Hayne, Dugan, Stewart for #2 spot behind Slater. They are the top 5, and its down to opinion as to where they rank. On last years form, Stewart is probably #2

 

[Hutty1986]

There are very few other halves combinations I'd swap Soward/Hornby for but DCE/Foran is probably one of them. Dragons spine isn't as good as Manly's but won the comp on the back of a terrific backline and incredible defence. Anyone having a go at manly 1/6/7/9 is having a laugh

 

[AuDragon]

I just don't see the love for Hayne as a fullback.
There is no doubting his potential as an attacking weapon, but he is too nonchalant and lazy in defense to be ranked in the top 5 IMO.
Defense in a fullback is almost as important as attack, which is why Matty Bowen (who is one of my favourite players) isn't in my top 5 either...

 

[Big Pete]

As per the jobs of a fullback, Stewart is ahead of Bowen and Boyd. He defends his line better, he looks comfortable feilding kicks regardless of their type, he's better positionally, he's one of the best support players in the game, he's a home run threat from any where due to his speed, and he can chime into a backline and make the right call as to draw and pass or take them on himself.

Maybe in 2008 but not 2011.

His speed certainly isn't what it once was and his days of scoring 'home-run' tries are over. His involvement during games isn't as high and in fact, his involvement in the past three seasons doesn't measure up to Bowen or Boyd.

And when it comes to those stats. or aspects honestly it wouldn't surprise me to see Bowen or Boyd ranked higher. In fact, when it comes to kick returns - Bowen and Boyd were easily superior to Stewart in 2011.

You probably think this is a negative attack on Stewart - it's not. He's a premiership fullback and he did really well returning from two utterly forgettable seasons. I just think Boyd & especially Bowen deserve more credit than you give them.

 

[firechild]

His involvement in the past 3 season is limited to less than 80min in 20010, 4 games in 2009 and a less than full season in 2011. Defensively Stewart is still one of the best fullbacks in the game. He's lost a touch of speed but that hasn't stopped him from beating players who have nearly 10m start, just look at the cover tackle against the Broncos from June (?) 2011. Look at the try he set up for DCE from the Foran kick in the same game and tell me honestly how many other fullbacks would have converted that opportunity. If anything I think his game has changed in that he's scoring less tries but creating far more. Just look at the GF, while he did score one on the back of his speed, he was looking to put blokes like Robertson away by sniffing around the edges and creating opportunities from nothing.

 

[Big Pete]

His involvement in the past 3 season is limited to less than 80min in 20010, 4 games in 2009 and a less than full season in 2011.

And that's a problem.

Also he took down a second rower. Good tackle, if not a little fortunate & I'd certainly think Boyd & Bowen are capable of similar.

I never disputed he had pace...but he wasn't as lethal as he was in 2008.

 

[GB!]

big pete... i usually like reading your posts, informative and always close to the same way i think about players not from my team (i'm a manly supporter)

but seriously, take the blinkers off Re: bowen & boyd being better fullbacks than stewart!
bowen is my 2nd fav fullback of all time behind lockyer.
but stewart has pretty much always been (when fit to play) a better fullback than bowen.
even based on 2011 form. i think bowen should have played more rep footy tho, i'll give him that...

boyd not close to either of them.


1 slater
2 stewart
3 daylight
4 dugan
5 the rest

 

[Big Pete]

I never said they were better fullbacks - they just did certain things better and that should be considered and based on the past three seasons are at least on Stewart's level.

 

[firechild]

Agree with the above. For a Broncos supporter, Pete is usually pretty well balanced in his views but judging a bloke based on time on the sideline is just poor. When Stewart has been fit, he has been lethal, far moreso than Boyd and even Bowen. His defense is superior, his ability to read the game is superior and if it wasn't for Slater and a run of injuries, Stewart would be talked about as one of the best players in the game. He is as fearless as Slater when taking kicks of any type (and drops fewer than slater) and he can find gaps that don't appear to exist.

 

[Big Pete]

For a Broncos supporter

Like we're any worse than your lot.

 

[Allstar Knights]

Fullbacks:
1. Billy Slater
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Darius Boyd
4. Brett Stewart
5. Josh Dugan - Kevin Locke is probably a fraction behind.

Wingers:
1. Aku Uate
2. Jharal Yow Yeh
3. Manu Vatuvei
4. Michael Gordon
5. Jason Nightingale

Centres:
1. Greg Inglis
2. Jamie Lyon
3. Chris Lawrence
4. Justin Hodges
5. Matt Cooper

Halves:
1. Johnathan Thurston
2. Benji Marshall
3. Todd Carney
4. Kieran Foran
5. Cooper Cronk

Props:
1. Matt Scott
2. Petero Civinoceva
3. James Graham
4. Ben Matulino
5. Kade Snowden

Hookers:
1. Cameron Smith
2. Robbie Farah
3. Issac Luke
4. Jake Friend
5. Matt Ballin

Backrowers:
1. Paul Gallen
2. Sam Thaiday
3. Luke Lewis
4. Gareth Ellis
5. Glen Stewart

 

[typicalfan]

When he can last a season and takes on the responsibility of a Bowen or a Boyd then we can talk about him being a step above them.

Stewart at his best is a class above both. Stewart has amazing support play far better than Boyd who isn't that great in support and Bowen who is good but not great.

That is probably the main asset of any fullback. Hayne needs it in his game, Dugan has it to a degree, Slater is a freak at it.

Responsibility isn't everything either, you could argue Stewart was the missing ingredient that turned Manly into a premiership force.

I see your point but I think Stewart is superior.

 

[firechild]

Like we're any worse than your lot.

Queenslanders are worse than any lot. :lol:

 

[Big Pete]

Queenslanders are worse than any lot. :lol:

We have nothing on you when it comes to in-balanced views, firechild.

Would have sworn I compared Brett Stewart to Rhys Wesser the way you're carrying on.

 

[firechild]

You might want to read back Pete. I've got no problem if people don't rate Brett or DCE or anyone else for that matter. My point was there are people like Poopoo that don't rate anyone in the Manly side. I was saying that if they're all average, how can you say they are made to look good by all the talent around them? You began discussing Brett and I responded, as did several others. As someone who watches every Manly game with great interest I can tell you that without Brett, Manly wouldn't have been anywhere near as successful as they have been. Having said that, I think that if Brett were playing in a side like Parra he wouldn't be as good as Hayne in that he is unable to carry an average side. In contrast, surrounded by good players, I think Brett is twice the player Hayne is.

 

[Big Pete]

You might watch a lot of Manly games - I watch a lot of games in general and enjoy making comparisons. I don't have a problem with anybody ranking Stewart higher but to suggest there's no comparison with him, Boyd & Bowen (among others of course) was out of line. Fans need to realise that we have a lot of talented players in this competition and there isn't a whole lot between them. You can make as many hypothetical arguments as you'd like but that doesn't change anything.

I just didn't like the unnecessary quip about my club nor the assertion that I was wrong simply because you disagree. I think both sides have made fair points and that's it really.

Enough derailing, let's keep the lists going.

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

You might want to read back Pete. I've got no problem if people don't rate Brett or DCE or anyone else for that matter. My point was there are people like Poopoo that don't rate anyone in the Manly side. I was saying that if they're all average, how can you say they are made to look good by all the talent around them? You began discussing Brett and I responded, as did several others. As someone who watches every Manly game with great interest I can tell you that without Brett, Manly wouldn't have been anywhere near as successful as they have been. Having said that, I think that if Brett were playing in a side like Parra he wouldn't be as good as Hayne in that he is unable to carry an average side. In contrast, surrounded by good players, I think Brett is twice the player Hayne is.

The last time Hayne had half decent players around him he won Dally M and got us to the GF almost by himself.

Stewart is a great player and if you'll look back i said the second best fullback but when Hayne isn't marked by 4 players there aren't many things he can't do. Hopefully this year with a halfback who knows what they're doing and a representative centre we will be able to see that.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

You might want to read back Pete. I've got no problem if people don't rate Brett or DCE or anyone else for that matter.

Yeah that's obvious. :roll:

My point was there are people like Poopoo that don't rate anyone in the Manly side.

You might want to read back Pete, erm, firechild. I said I don't rate Manly's spine as anything special and that they look good because they're surrounded by quality players - that means I rate pretty much every other part of Manly's team, especially the edges (wing, centre, edge forward).

If that makes you cry then maybe being a f**kwit on the internet isn't the right sport for you.

 

[firechild]

being a f**kwit on the internet isn't the right sport for you.

Clearly not but you've got it down to a fine art. Well done.