Who was the best? A Decade of amazing fullbacks

[Firey_Dragon]

I think Slater will be the way all the young fullbacks will try and play. So basically, he's changed the way fullbacks play.

I'm pretty sure Lockyer played that style before Slater did, and did it a hell of a lot better.

 

[nrlnrl]

We have had a glutton of fullbacks over the last 10 years. So who do you think has been the best?

I'm going to go with Billy Slater. The guy is a freak on the field, and arguably the best player in the game. Most underrated goes to General Patten. This guy barely made a mistake for the last 10 years of his career but never got a mention in selection panels. Disgrace

Cheers,
Moffo

same as the wingers, is there going to be a poll at the end of next season for the period of 10 years from 2002 to 2011 ?

 

[simostorm]

I'm pretty sure Lockyer played that style before Slater did, and did it a hell of a lot better.

I dont think Locky so much.. but more Robbie Ross regarding Slater..
he was a great great player, best supportive fullback.. He's the guy that mentored Slater.. i can still see Robbie's influence on Slater's game.. but the additions that slater has aquired id say is simply due to his freakish talent and competitive desire..

 

[Firey_Dragon]

I dont think Locky so much.. but more Robbie Ross regarding Slater..
he was a great great player, best supportive fullback.. He's the guy that mentored Slater.. i can still see Robbie's influence on Slater's game.. but the additions that slater has aquired id say is simply due to his freakish talent and competitive desire..

Slater is more of a ball player than Ross was. Lockyer kickstarted much of the modern day fullbacks play, using the ball instead of being simply a support player and ball runner, which has seen the emergence of players like Slater, Boyd, Hunt (while he was in the NRL), Gidley, Moltzen etc etc

 

[Stagger eel]

Billy Slater just shades Stewart imo.

 

[RUBIKS]

in regards to the list, schif was an oversight and should've been there ahead of mckinnon. dugan was probably a dubious selection but threw him in

i'm pretty happy with the rest of the list though:

peachey - i think he did his best work pre 2000
o'davis - see peachey
ross - pfft
webb - not better then the people on the list
burt - not a fullback

Peachey played great up until '04 and was still playing through till '07 (skipped a year in there somewhere)
O'Davis played until '04 (I think)
Regardless of when you think they played best if you are going to put a list up like this you are asking other people their opinion so it is irrelevant when you "think they did their best work".
Burt played as many seasons at fullback as Hayne...

Not trying to argue, however I think saying you forgot would have been better than trying to argue why people should or shouldn't be in the list.

I mean even Tim Brasher cranked out two seasons in the past decade so I understand it's obviously not viable including every fullback in the list.

 

[simostorm]

Peachey played great up until '04 and was still playing through till '07 (skipped a year in there somewhere)
O'Davis played until '04 (I think)
Regardless of when you think they played best if you are going to put a list up like this you are asking other people their opinion so it is irrelevant when you "think they did their best work".
Burt played as many seasons at fullback as Hayne...

Not trying to argue, however I think saying you forgot would have been better than trying to argue why people should or shouldn't be in the list.

I mean even Tim Brasher cranked out two seasons in the past decade so I understand it's obviously not viable including every fullback in the list.

Use to love watching Tim Brasher play.. he had soem great Origin games, some games, pretty much everytime he touched the ball he looked so dangerous.

 

[typicalfan]

Peachey was great this decade gone as well, he was unlucky to be overlooked for rep duty. His 2000-2002 were quite outstanding, firstly as captain under that brilliant Lang coached Sharks side that were probably a season away from winning a premiership until the Sharks signed Anderson but still played great football.

No one could take themselves seriously by rating someone like McKinnon ahead of Peachey. Peachey may have had his best year in 1999 but his next best were 2000-02. Certainly more a 00s player than a 90s player.

Robbie Ross also had his best year in 1999 and we never saw him reach those heights again. Still would have him ahead of Dugan and McKinnon so far.

Brent Webb wasn't up there with the likes of the Lockyers or Minis but certainly a class above the likes of McKinnon and has achieved more than Dugan. He was a vital cog in the Warriors stronger years from 2002-2004. I remember the game he had in 2003 v the Bulldogs in a qualifying final in Sydney, he and Meli tore the Bulldogs apart who were one of the favourites for the title.

O'Davis did play in the 2001 decider and may have been past his best but still good enough to be named alongside a few here.

I can accept Ross not being there but if Peachey, O'Davis and Webb were there in front of Dugan and Mckinnon then the list would be just about perfect.

 

[besthalfbackPEARCE]

lol at Slater winning this. people have short memories

 

[AlwaysGreen]

lol at Slater winning this. people have short memories

Your user name gives you zero credibility on any topic.

 

[besthalfbackPEARCE]

Your user name gives you zero credibility on any topic.

dw I'm sure matt orford will be great at your club. oh wait...

 

[AlwaysGreen]

dw I'm sure matt orford will be great at your club. oh wait...

what am I waiting for - your punchline?

 

[Loudstrat]

Minichiello even though I love watching Slater play. Can't split them to be honest. As for Lockyer I am not convinced he would be the player today if he was not moved to 5/8.

As for best fullback ever I rate Graham Eadie the best one I have seen. If you wanted one under the high ball. Glenn Burgess was your man. He is one of the main reason the ball caught on the full in goal is now a 20 metres re start.

I doubt if the Heather lovers saw Wombat in his prime.

I Voted Locky because he took the role of fullback and tranformed it. Was a freak! Slater was 2nd day light 3rd. How did Hayne get any votes he played a hand full of good games at the end of last year thats it. Stewart has been unlucky with injury for the past few seasons but has got the tallent, and mini was a good fullback 5 years ago but has also been unlucky with injury.

It's a bit of a stretch claiming it was all Heather's doing. Firstly, it would have been a Bennet ploy. Secondly he was running off Kevin Walters - a play invented by Vic Hey and Frank McMillan at Wests in the 1930's and used by every attacking fullback running off a decent ball player since then - eg Langlands off Clay, Fairfax off Beetson, Eadie off Fulton, Belcher off Wally. What Bennet did differently is a subtle change playing Heather inside his centres rather than outside. And that was because in those days Brisbane didn't really have a halfback.

Besides, Heather shirked the duty of goal kicker. Eadie didn't - and became the first man to score 1900+ points. Plus I never saw Eadie beaten - until Eric Grothe ran over the top of him in the 1982 GF. He retired the next day.

What a waste having him at a filthy club like Manly!

 

[Big Pete]

And that was because in those days Brisbane didn't really have a halfback.

Huh?

 

[Mad Dogg]

Over the entire decade, Slater has to get the nod.

At their best I rate Lockyer and Mini significantly ahead of him, but Locky only played fullback for three years of this decade and Mini only had three years at that level before injuries took their toll.

 

[boxhead]

Over the entire decade, Slater has to get the nod.

At their best I rate Lockyer and Mini significantly ahead of him, but Locky only played fullback for three years of this decade and Mini only had three years at that level before injuries took their toll.

I can definitely agree with all that.

I'm surprised that Jarryd Hayne has the most votes out of the players not in the big 3 (Slater, Minicheillo and Lockyer).