Fullback required

[avocadoontoast]

@willow if that’s the case Mbye is a better option IMO.

 

[Sunnycoast_tiger]

With Dylan Smith, is its possibility to can we get Billy Slater to help him out for a few weeks/ months? just to help with the fine points of being a fullback.

 

[Geo]

@Tweed_Tiger He is available now but not ready from what I have see now from him to date.

Except he's been out for a month injured

 

[Madge]

@Sunnycoast_tiger I thought that's what brett hodgson was there to do... help out the fullbacks. Im not sure whats going on inside training, but to me doesn't seem like he's doing much, evident through our fullbacks.

Dylan Smith is still injured and I don't even know if he's back this week so he wont even be considered for a while.

 

[Sunnycoast_tiger]

@Sunnycoast_tiger I thought that's what brett hodgson was there to do... help out the fullbacks. Im not sure whats going on inside training, but to me doesn't seem like he's doing much, evident through our fullbacks.

Dylan Smith is still injured and I don't even know if he's back this week so he wont even be considered for a while.

Was thinking more along the lines for next year Madge, and besides Slater is/was one of the best going around a few years backs.

 

[gallagher]

@Sunnycoast_tiger I thought that's what brett hodgson was there to do... help out the fullbacks. Im not sure whats going on inside training, but to me doesn't seem like he's doing much, evident through our fullbacks.

Dylan Smith is still injured and I don't even know if he's back this week so he wont even be considered for a while.

He coaches his own team and is also Madges assistant. Other teams have dedicated assistants but we skimp in n this area so we can make a tiny profit.

 

[barra]

@Sunnycoast_tiger I thought that's what brett hodgson was there to do... help out the fullbacks. Im not sure whats going on inside training, but to me doesn't seem like he's doing much, evident through our fullbacks.

Dylan Smith is still injured and I don't even know if he's back this week so he wont even be considered for a while.

No doubt Hodgo would be helping him but we don't know in which way. Slater's commentary last night showed how technical his knowledge is and basically explained why he was dropping the ball each time it happened.
One thing to practice catching bombs all week - which is what Thomo said he does - but another entirely to be able to have your body positioned properly in a game situation, and have the others around you on the same page and helping.
So I'm with @Sunnycoast_tiger on this one - Slater would be a massive help.

 

[Madge]

Valid points, as like others have said it probably wont even happen because of how stupid the NRL is just like they did with Laurie Daley.

 

[851]

Off contract fullbacks........

Jesse Arthars, Jai Field, Bevan French, Josh Hoffman, Jordan Kahu, Gideon Mosby-Gela, Tristan Sailor

Arthars looks a prospect playing out of position in the centres, he is a good ball runner

 

[Zach]

I may get backlash for this, so apologies, but that fact we have a midget as FB sums up how dire we are in lack of quality.

NO other team would have him start there.

He has heart, more then many of our current squad. but he is an average player at best. not someone who will take this club anywhere.

but i guess that sums up are roster currently - average at best

 

[Tcat]

@TIGER Yep agree. We aren't going to win the premiership this year, so give him some time to get his confidence. Mbye has had his chance at fullback and I don't see anyone else for the $$ or with enthusiasm for it.

 

[supercoach]

I would be talking to the Dogs re Meaney. If DWZ goes to fullback young Meaney might be surplus to requirements. If that fails young Smith should be fast tracked into the team

 

[Nelson]

@supercoach I don't think it's worth going after Meaney as a stop-gap, he's just not a clear improvement - better in some aspects of the game but less effective in others than what we already have. What we really need is pace and/or power at the back but there are unfortunately no options available until the end of 2020 now. End of 2020:
- Tom Trbojevic;
- Latrell Mitchell;
- Ryan Papenhuyzen
- AJ Brimson
- DWZ
- CNK

If we want to change up fullback for next year then I think we'd be better taking a chance on a talented youngster than going for a Meaney or Kahu type player.

 

[Tcat]

@Nelson Correction to my reply. We need to be smarter regarding our signings. No point signing another average player, unless you want to continue with average results i.e. 9th/10th place.

 

[jirskyr]

A lot of players dropped balls last night, so I won’t judge Thommo on this game alone. He’s been so good at FB in the past, so I’ll put it down to an off handling night.

Sorry I don't think that's right, he dropped too many last night and several last week too. As @WeHaveCheeKam said, it's something like 5 bombs in 2 weeks and mostly they were uncontested. Add to last week failing to defuse the Raiders short kicks either.

He's a good lad Thompson but frankly I expect the more consistent game time he gets at FB, the more the cracks in his game are shown up. He's a good backup option but you want to bring in quality at FB.

 

[Snake]

@supercoach Meaney is the real deal ,when this kid fills out a bit could he anything and not mentioned he can kick so not many have watch him closely . DWZ goes back to fullback the Dogs still have cap issues and want to sign more players .... I see no reason the Dogs would not do a deal to free up money it is a fix fix for the Tigers Imo .

 

[Mccarry]

Can those who have watched Dylan Smith share some perspective please:
Ball playing?
Pace?
Defence?
Stands out in his current level?

 

[supercoach]

@Snake ..agreed mate, he is very quick as we saw on display at Cambo when we played the Dogs. We chased hard for his signature before we signed MM. I just think he has plenty of upside to him and that’s what we need

 

[Nelson]

@Snake ..agreed mate, he is very quick as we saw on display at Cambo when we played the Dogs. We chased hard for his signature before we signed MM. I just think he has plenty of upside to him and that’s what we need

He's had 11 consecutive games to show his wares at fullback and has produced no tries, no linebreaks and one try assist. He is not a dynamic fullback. Even in ISP in 2017 he made 13 linebreaks and scored 5 tries across 24 matches. In 2018 in ISP he had 2 tries and 1 linebreak across 9 matches. He has no form line to suggest he is going to be a huge attacking threat at the back and that is something this team needs given our general lack of threat elsewhere.

 

[weststigers]

A lot of players dropped balls last night, so I won’t judge Thommo on this game alone. He’s been so good at FB in the past, so I’ll put it down to an off handling night.

Sorry I don't think that's right, he dropped too many last night and several last week too. As @WeHaveCheeKam said, it's something like 5 bombs in 2 weeks and mostly they were uncontested. Add to last week failing to defuse the Raiders short kicks either.

He's a good lad Thompson but frankly I expect the more consistent game time he gets at FB, the more the cracks in his game are shown up. He's a good backup option but you want to bring in quality at FB.

Agree he had a bad game with his hands, but there were 12 errors last night by our guys...Thompson wasn't the only one who dropped the ball. That's all I was saying.

Would I like to see a quality fullback in the team. Absolutely!, but my point is, given this years squad, who else do you put there? We can only work with what we have. Mbye is just as bad under the high ball.