Top five fullbacks in the NRL

[Exsilium]

Yet for his lack of skills hes play rep football funny that.

No one is suggesting he lacks skills. His skills are just not refined enough to serve the intended purpose. All the top teams have a ball playing fullback, it's such an integral part of the attacking structure.

It was mentioned before that Dugan is a great hole runner, let's structure the play to suit his running game. Well, the roosters did, they often played the sweep with RTS running a line, sometimes he got the ball but more often it went out the back. When he did get it he created the overlap. In order to do this the defense has to be in two minds, is he going to get the ball or will he run the decoy? He achieves this by being able to do both.

Right now Dugan gets the ball in space, beats the one on one defender but hasn't got the polish to put his outside man into space or a try scoring situation. It became predictable.

 

[BennyV]

I'd be very surprised if any of the above super coaches would keep him at fullback.

Bennett moved Lockyer from fullback in 2004 where he was regarded as the best player in the world in that position. Bennett knew he would be better value for the team at 5/8.
17 year old Karmichael Hunt was given the fullback job.

I believe Bennett would make Dugan the best centre in the game if he was in charge of him.

Robinson and Hasler have no problems moving players to other positions if they believe it improves the team. EG: SKD to wing, BMoz to fullback. I believe they would do the same to Duges.

By the way saying what some other coach may do is a totally pointless argument because we just don't know what they would do.

Just my opinion.

I never stated what another coach would do, just that I'd love to see what they did! Remember, in 2009 Boyd was a hard running fullback with little else in his arsenal, in 2010 he was one of, if not the best, ball playing fullbacks in the game.

Honestly, I'm not saying that Dugan to centre is going to fail. The guy is an amazing footballer, he could play prop and excel, and he'll be a fantastic centre. And Mann could well be a brilliant attacking fullback. But Dugan has so many fundamentals of a fullback near-perfected, and IMO there are better ways to mitigate the loss of those aspects, in particular changes to the game plan and attacking structure that could have been implemented well before now.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Tedesco has to be in there somewhere surely

 

[watatank]

I never stated what another coach would do, just that I'd love to see what they did! Remember, in 2009 Boyd was a hard running fullback with little else in his arsenal, in 2010 he was one of, if not the best, ball playing fullbacks in the game.

Honestly, I'm not saying that Dugan to centre is going to fail. The guy is an amazing footballer, he could play prop and excel, and he'll be a fantastic centre. And Mann could well be a brilliant attacking fullback. But Dugan has so many fundamentals of a fullback near-perfected, and IMO there are better ways to mitigate the loss of those aspects, in particular changes to the game plan and attacking structure that could have been implemented well before now.

I think that's misleading. Boyd showed glimpses of what he could do in 2009, he contributed to our strong left edge attack and took it to another level in 2010. Dugan has been an NRL fullback since 2009 and has really only developed in the gym.

 

[giboz71]

No one is questioning Dugan's ability - he's a fierce competitor and one of the most damaging runners in the game. He's defensively brilliant as well.

But fullback has become such a key position in attacking structures that just about every team in the comp (except us) has fullbacks with half skills. The Cowboys showed what a perfectly balanced spine looks like - and this included a ho hum fullback in Lachlan Coote. The key was he could direct an attack through his ability to kick and pass allowing his halves to pick and choose their moments.

Perhaps if Widdop and Benji had that luxury, we'd likely see an enormous improvement in our halves. But with Dugan at fullback, they will never have this.

 

[watatank]

Disagree about the issue being solved quicker and easier with a ball playing fullback - if the coaching staff had come up with a game plan that suits Dugan, our attacking issues could have been solved in 2014! Instead, weve plodded through the last 2 years unable to score tries until we could finally pull a ball playing fullback.

As for next year - I've got high hopes for Mann, but if hes not up to it then its another year wasted while we wait around for another ball playing fullback. You cant tell me that's easier than a bit if creative coaching and utilising Dugan to maximum efficiency.

There's only so many ways we could restructure the team, when it comes down to it we're still just running plays off one or two ball players and we know Dugan will run. Most teams have more options just by having an extra ball player. That's something we should be looking at, and the most readily available option is moving Dugan.

 

[giboz71]

There's only so many ways we could restructure the team, when it comes down to it we're still just running plays off one or two ball players and we know Dugan will run. Most teams have more options just by having an extra ball player. That's something we should be looking at, and the most readily available option is moving Dugan.

Exactly.

We obviously had a strategy in recruiting Mann who has experience at FB and who has a halves background. Now that we have Lafai, Aitken and Peter M, there is little chance he will be playing centre and he's clearly not going to replace either Benji or Widdop any time soon.

No brainer to at least try him at FB. We saw with the Cowboys what an unheralded FB with passing and kicking skills like Lachlan Coote can do for a team. Hopefully Mann can have a similar impact. And having a centre pairing of Lafai and Dugan looks particularly good. I'd go so far as saying that it could be the best centre combination in the comp.

 

[BrissyRedV]

Exactly.

We obviously had a strategy in recruiting Mann who has experience at FB and who has a halves background. Now that we have Lafai, Aitken and Peter M, there is little chance he will be playing centre and he's clearly not going to replace either Benji or Widdop any time soon.

No brainer to at least try him at FB. We saw with the Cowboys what an unheralded FB with passing and kicking skills like Lachlan Coote can do for a team. Hopefully Mann can have a similar impact. And having a centre pairing of Lafai and Dugan looks particularly good. I'd go so far as saying that it could be the best centre combination in the comp.

Both sides of the field look very dangerous next season. If Mann succeeds at fullback we could have one of the most damaging backlines in the comp so long as the improved pack does their job. Just imagine the left and right side attacks...

Right side
Benji
Frizz
Dugan
Flo
Left side
Widdop
Thomo
Lafai
Mata'utia/Milne/KFFL/YKG

 

[kit66]

Both sides of the field look very dangerous next season. If Mann succeeds at fullback we could have one of the most damaging backlines in the comp so long as the improved pack does their job. Just imagine the left and right side attacks...

Right side
Benji
Frizz
Dugan
Flo
Left side
Widdop
Thomo
Lafai
Mata'utia/Milne/KFFL/YKG

Looks pretty good doesn't it. Imagine a left side attacking raid with the 4 you have plus Benji and Mann chiming in. Those Benji and Widdop run arounds worked well for us last year, I'm salivating at what options the new recruits might add to that.

 

[BennyV]

There's only so many ways we could restructure the team, when it comes down to it we're still just running plays off one or two ball players and we know Dugan will run. Most teams have more options just by having an extra ball player. That's something we should be looking at, and the most readily available option is moving Dugan.

Moat really available now, yes. But nothing has been done to fix it the past 2 seasons and if Mann doesnt work out, it's another season of shitty attack.

 

[watatank]

Moat really available now, yes. But nothing has been done to fix it the past 2 seasons and if Mann doesnt work out, it's another season of shitty attack.

I don't agree with nothing has been done. It looks to me that Widdop and Marshall have been given more responsibility and that the coaching team have tried to get Dugan to ball play more and Rein is working on his skills. To add to that, the forwards have been ball playing more. They even dabbled with playing Matautia as a ball player swapping with Dugan in attack. But really the execution is poor because none of those players are ball players other than Widdop and Marshall.

Anyway my point was about the changing structure vs changing players, changing structures still leaves us with limited options. Changing player personnel is an actually a viable option and it seems actually the sensible move.

 

[giboz71]

I don't agree with nothing has been done. It looks to me that Widdop and Marshall have been given more responsibility and that the coaching team have tried to get Dugan to ball play more and Rein is working on his skills. To add to that, the forwards have been ball playing more. They even dabbled with playing Matautia as a ball player swapping with Dugan in attack. But really the execution is poor because none of those players are ball players other than Widdop and Marshall.

Anyway my point was about the changing structure vs changing players, changing structures still leaves us with limited options. Changing player personnel is an actually a viable option and it seems actually the sensible move.

The best example of this is Morgan's and Milford's move from FB to the halves. Both were potent attacking options at FB, but were moved for the overall good of their teams. And they were replaced by more natural ballplayers in Coote and Boyd.

Morgan and Milford both had outstanding seasons in their new positions and their potent running game didn't suffer playing up in the line. And both their teams made the GF.

I fully expect Dugan to make this adjustment as well, and he has already proven himself at centre, so it's the easy move really.

 

[Highland Saint]

I think the negotiations to extend Dugan will become very interesting if a move to the centres is cemented.There was a lot of talk about "spine money" the last time he was moved. I wonder if he'll be as happy with move if they offer a reduced contract.

 

[giboz71]

I think the negotiations to extend Dugan will become very interesting if a move to the centres is cemented.There was a lot of talk about "spine money" the last time he was moved. I wonder if he'll be as happy with move if they offer a reduced contract.

If our attack clicks and we have a successful season, don't see why we would pay Dugan any less. It's not like Mann is on spine money anyway.

 

[BennyV]

I think the negotiations to extend Dugan will become very interesting if a move to the centres is cemented.There was a lot of talk about "spine money" the last time he was moved. I wonder if he'll be as happy with move if they offer a reduced contract.

Cap increases. He is still a very valuable player. I reckon it would be around the same.

 

[Shadow Dragon]

5. Coote

4. Slater

3. Inglis

2. Dugan

1. RTS

 

[BennyV]

5. Coote

4. Slater

3. Inglis

2. Dugan

1. RTS

Again, love the loyalty, but way off...

 

[thommo4pm]

Again, love the loyalty, but way off...

No he isn't, he is very close to the mark.

 

[BennyV]

No he isn't, he is very close to the mark.

No way. Tedesco, Stewart and Boyd would all be above Coote, and Inglis and Slater both above Dugan.

 

[thommo4pm]

No way. Tedesco, Stewart and Boyd would all be above Coote, and Inglis and Slater both above Dugan.

Stewart past his best, Tedesco stands out in a poor team. Coote was a vital link in the Cowboys side last year.
Based on last year, Dugan is ahead of Slater and Inglis.
Slater missed half the season and Inglis second half of the year wasn't great.
Dugan was outstanding for us.