Jahream Bula #269

[Yossarian]

Which other NRL club would have him as their starting fullback ?

How can I answer that without talking to the 16 other clubs? You also suppose he's competing with the incumbent.
But to answer your question, probably St George, I think given the chance Parra would take him and punt Gutho, right now Cronulla would take him over Tracey, Titans maybe.
The question isn't if he's better than player X and replaces him - I wouldn't want to swap Bula for most of the current NRL fullbacks. The question is what level of interest there'd be if he became available and I'd say a lot.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Which other NRL club would have him as their starting fullback ?
I have no doubt he’s a great athlete, a great talent that I’m glad we have found, he apparently has a great work ethic and very coachable, so definitely needs to be on our starting 13.
I just don’t think it necessarily should be as our fullback as the one position we desperately need a lighting fast player who can ignite our attack is fullback.

Storm.

 

[Vicious]

How can I answer that without talking to the 16 other clubs? You also suppose he's competing with the incumbent.
But to answer your question, probably St George, I think given the chance Parra would take him and punt Gutho, right now Cronulla would take him over Tracey, Titans maybe.
The question isn't if he's better than player X and replaces him - I wouldn't want to swap Bula for most of the current NRL fullbacks. The question is what level of interest there'd be if he became available and I'd say a lot.

Well as you say it’s a matter of opinion.
My opinion is we would be a 10 point better side if Parramatta would be kind enough to swap us for Gutho and I don’t think it’s even close when you compare the attacking prowess of Jayden Campbell or AJ Brunson from the Titans or Tyrell Sloan from the Dragons compared to Bula’s attacking game.
Yes Bula does a lot of good things defensively, but we desperately need a fullback who will regularly spark our attack and create attacking opportunities for our outside backs.
For those reasons I’m near certain all other NRL clubs would see him as a winger or maybe a centre until he develops a more all round attacking game that a modern day NRL fullback requires.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Which other NRL club would have him as their starting fullback ?
I have no doubt he’s a great athlete, a great talent that I’m glad we have found, he apparently has a great work ethic and very coachable, so definitely needs to be on our starting 13.
I just don’t think it necessarily should be as our fullback as the one position we desperately need a lighting fast player who can ignite our attack is fullback.

You have lost the plot on this one.
Have seen more out of this kid than any other player we have had for a very long time.

The amount of energy he shows in defending and follow through on bombs (the only one that does it) without even focusing on playing this time last year like geez cmon mate. We have zero attacking threat and when Api puts a play on Bula is ready, no other player is structuring anything.

Add to it the total lack of any form of combination and stability around him - how is he meant to do any attack at all? Like he has a new halves, back combo every week. All he can do is run as we are totally lack luster across the park.

The kid came within 3mtrs of being the 1st nrl player to hit 220mtrs 4 games in a row & has been saving tries all over the place in his 1st full season of footy for ages. Not bad considering he wasn’t even in the top 30 let alone been playing year on year for the last few years.

He would be totally wasted at center or wing with our mob.

 

[Tom Shines]

Well as you say it’s a matter of opinion.
My opinion is we would be a 10 point better side if Parramatta would be kind enough to swap us for Gutho and I don’t think it’s even close when you compare the attacking prowess of Jayden Campbell or AJ Brunson from the Titans or Tyrell Sloan from the Dragons compared to Bula’s attacking game.
Yes Bula does a lot of good things defensively, but we desperately need a fullback who will regularly spark our attack and create attacking opportunities for our outside backs.

Just be a bit patient with him… I read that he really only started playing RL 18 months ago after a long break from the game where he was playing basketball… and I believe he was playing Center last year..

so he has come a long way in a short time..

 

[Yossarian]

Well as you say it’s a matter of opinion.
My opinion is we would be a 10 point better side if Parramatta would be kind enough to swap us for Gutho and I don’t think it’s even close when you compare the attacking prowess of Jayden Campbell or AJ Brunson from the Titans or Tyrell Sloan from the Dragons compared to Bula’s attacking game.
Yes Bula does a lot of good things defensively, but we desperately need a fullback who will regularly spark our attack and create attacking opportunities for our outside backs.
For those reasons I’m near certain all other NRL clubs would see him as a winger or maybe a centre until he develops a more all round attacking game that a modern day NRL fullback requires.

I reckon you’d struggle to find too many other forum members who’d agree that a Bula-Gutho trade is a good thing. Or swapping him for Sloan or Jayden Campbell would improve our situation. I humbly suggest that Bula is a much superior proposition especially given you’re comparing established NRL players to a kid with a dozen games.

 

[Vicious]

Just be a bit patient with him… I read that he really only started playing RL 18 months ago after a long break from the game where he was playing basketball… and I believe he was playing Center last year..

so he has come a long way in a short time..

I agree he has come a long way in a short time, but we are about to get our 2nd straight wooden spoon, we haven’t got time to let players in vital positions do their P Plates while playing for us, we need genuine match winners now.
As I say, you can still learn plenty about playing fullback, while learning and playing on the wing without the high pressure of being a regular match winner at fullback.

 

[Vicious]

I reckon you’d struggle to find too many other forum members who’d agree that a Bula-Gutho trade is a good thing. Or swapping him for Sloan or Jayden Campbell would improve our situation. I humbly suggest that Bula is a much superior proposition especially given you’re comparing established NRL players to a kid with a dozen games.

Put it this way, if his attack doesn’t improve dramatically before the start of the 2024 season and Bula is still playing fullback, it’s highly likely the record will be on repeat, we will still be the worst attacking team in the NRL and we will still be running last.
And yes I understand the attack doesn’t solely sit with him, but watch how influential the fullback is to every other NRL teams attack, they are all a major part of it.

 

[Tom Shines]

I agree he has come a long way in a short time, but we about to get our 2nd straight wooden spoon, we haven’t got time to let players in vital positions do their P Plates while playing for us, we need genuine match winners now.
As I say, you can still learn plenty about playing fullback, while learning and playing on the wing without the high pressure of being a regular match winner at fullback.

They would have won only 1 game this year without him making try saving tackles at the end of the games against Dragons and Penrith… he plays with confidence and putting his body on the line which seems lacking amongst most of the other young players coming through the squad,.. so he sets an example to them as well..

Look at their buys so far this season, next year is going to be another foot of the ladder year and there isnt a better option at the club anyway to replace him at 1,,,

I gotta feeling that come this time next year the biggest problem iwill be trying to retain him longer term from the other clubs..

 

[Vicious]

They would have won only 1 game this year without him making try saving tackles at the end of the games against Dragons and Penrith… he plays with confidence and putting his body on the line which seems lacking amongst most of the other young players coming through the squad,.. so he sets an example to them as well..

Look at their buys so far this season, next year is going to be another foot of the ladder year and there isnt a better option at the club anyway to replace him at 1,,,

I gotta feeling that come this time next year the biggest problem iwill be trying to retain him longer term from the other clubs..

Who’s to say if we had a fullback such as Jai Field who is not a big name, but has plenty of speed, knows how to chime into the backline and make line breaks and being an ex halve knows how to create for his outside backs, that we would not have won more games ?
There has been plenty of times when we needed an attacking spark and had nobody to provide it.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Who’s to say if we had a fullback such as Jai Field who is not a big name, but has plenty of speed, knows how to chime into the backline and make line breaks and being an ex halve knows how to create for his outside backs, that we would not have won more games ?
There has been plenty of times when we needed an attacking spark and had nobody to provide it.

Bula has also been outstanding in defence, far better than I can recall Tedesco ever been. Let's be happy he has emerged from our system at a time of adversity and is spoken of highly, especially by the player I consider to have been the best fullback in recent times, Billy Slater. Tedesco was v/good at his best but Slater took matters to a different level.

 

[Vicious]

Bula has also been outstanding in defence, far better than I can recall Tedesco ever been. Let's be happy he has emerged from our system at a time of adversity and is spoken of highly, especially by the player I consider to have Ben the best fullback in recent times, Billy Slater. Tedesco was v/good at his best but Slater took matters to a different level.

As much as it’s great having a fullback who can tackle, be good positionally and save tries from their efforts, defence is definitely not the number one requirement an NRL team is looking for from their fullback.
To allow a team to worry the opposition and score tries, the fullback needs to regularly inject himself into the attack to make line breaks or line break assists and score tries.
Love Bula or not, he’s not fulfilling that requirement as a fullback on a regular basis.
I understand he’s young, inexperienced and should only improve with an off season training in that position etc, but what if he is just a robotic athlete and the attacking aspects of his game don’t improve enough to make us a genuine attacking threat with ball in hand ?
There is no guarantee he can or will take his attacking game to a higher level, therefore we definitely need an extremely good back up plan just in case.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

As much as it’s great having a fullback who can tackle, be good positionally and save tries from their efforts, defence is definitely not the number one requirement an NRL team is looking for from their fullback.
To allow a team to worry the opposition and score tries, the fullback needs to regularly inject himself into the attack to make line breaks or line break assists and score tries.
Love Bula or not, he’s not fulfilling that requirement as a fullback on a regular basis.
I understand he’s young, inexperienced and should only improve with an off season training in that position etc, but what if he is just a robotic athlete and the attacking aspects of his game don’t improve enough to make us a genuine attacking threat with ball in hand ?
There is no guarantee he can or will take his attacking game to a higher level, therefore we definitely need an extremely good back up plan just in case.

There is the possibility that Bula may be rookie of the year. That is fair recognition of his performances and ability. Slater commented on a couple of plays yesterday that Bula did and suggested they were the skills not many players possessed. A fullback who can stop tries from being scored is a valuable player especially in our team which can leak points. Garry Jack is one of the best I ever watched and his game was based on his outstanding cover defence.

 

[earl]

what if he is just a robotic athlete and the attacking aspects of his game don’t improve enough to make us a genuine attacking threat with ball in hand ?

I don't think he is robotic now. Will his attacking game improve is a fair question but we have to give him time.

There is no guarantee he can or will take his attacking game to a higher level, therefore we definitely need an extremely good back up plan just in case.

I don't think we need a good back up plan. We need an option if Bula gets injured but if we re-sign Staines both Staines and To'a can fill that role.

We should also be bringing through juniors that could become gun fullbacks.

I don't think we should be going to market to replace our fullback for a while yet.

I hear what you are stating but I don't think Bula is anywhere near the list of issues the club has right now.

 

[Vicious]

There is the possibility that Bula may be rookie of the year. That is fair recognition of his performances and ability. Slater commented on a couple of plays yesterday that Bula did and suggested they were the skills not many players possessed. A fullback who can stop tries from being scored is a valuable player especially in our team which can leak points. Garry Jack is one of the best I ever watched and his game was based on his outstanding cove defence.

I know Billy Slater is a big Jahream Bula fan and I agree 💯 that if someone like Billy sees ability in him, he’s definitely got something.
Billy did also mention on the Sunday Footy Show a few weeks back that he really hopes Wests Tigers bring in the right coach to help Jahream work on the aspects of his game that need improving. You would have to assume he was talking about making those hidden runs around the back of his halfback or 5/8 to create the extra man which so often creates attacking or try scoring opportunities.
It would be nice if Wests Tigers took on that advise and paid Billy whatever it takes to get him working with our fullback and attacking structures as a consultant once per week.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I don't think he is robotic now. Will his attacking game improve is a fair question but we have to give him time.



I don't think we need a good back up plan. We need an option if Bula gets injured but if we re-sign Staines both Staines and To'a can fill that role.

We should also be bringing through juniors that could become gun fullbacks.

I don't think we should be going to market to replace our fullback for a while yet.

I hear what you are stating but I don't think Bula is anywhere near the list of issues the club has right now.

The young player from our Magpie juniors who was chosen in the Aust Schools team is a fullback and is pretty handy.😀

 

[Vicious]

The young player from our Magpie juniors who was chosen in the Aust Schools team is a fullback and is pretty handy.😀

I assume that is Heath Mason you are referring to ?
I’ve seen him play a few times and am impressed as he has plenty of speed, plenty of courage and most important knows how to chime in and create the extra man.
The downside is he doesn’t look very big and I’ve heard others mention he is a little suspect under the high ball.
I understand he has not yet committed to us past this season, he’s one I certainly hope we hold onto.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I assume that is Heath Mason you are referring to ?
I’ve seen him play a few times and am impressed as he has plenty of speed, plenty of courage and most important knows how to chime in and create the extra man.
The downside is he doesn’t look very big and I’ve heard others mention he is a little suspect under the high ball.
I understand he has not yet committed to us past this season, he’s one I certainly hope we hold onto.

No although Mason is a very good player. His name is Luke Lualli? His brother Kit is also an excellent player.

 

[earl]

t would be nice if Wests Tigers took on that advise and paid Billy whatever it takes to get him working with our fullback and attacking structures as a consultant once per week.

I can't agree with paying someone whatever it takes but surely they have to do something like this.

I'm a fan of MMA (from a grappling background) and I love seeing guys develop their skills via the right coaching. If you watch Volkanovksi he gets coached by Craig Jones who is one of the best pound for pound grapplers in the world. They add technical details to his game all the time. It's critical in becoming a better sportsman.

 

[Vicious]

I can't agree with paying someone whatever it takes but surely they have to do something like this.

I'm a fan of MMA (from a grappling background) and I love seeing guys develop their skills via the right coaching. If you watch Volkanovksi he gets coached by Craig Jones who is one of the best pound for pound grapplers in the world. They add technical details to his game all the time. It's critical in becoming a better sportsman.

I agree with what you are saying.
For whatever reason, possibly due to him being tight with Benji, it appears Braith Anasta has a bit of care factor about Wests Tigers improving as a team moving forward.
I know plenty of our supporters cannot stand Braith, but he’s fairly influential in the game, so it’s definitely a good thing if we can take on a little bit of advice from people such as him.
He mentioned recently he would look very favourable in having any of the players he manages working with Cooper Cronk,
Like many others, I agree that Cronk comes across as arrogant, but instead of spending too much on a new Assistant Coach, surely we could get more value out of Cronk as a consultant working with our halves and Billy Slater working as a consultant with our fullbacks, outside backs and attacking structures.