Fulton or Heighington ???

[gatorman]

To my mind Sheens has to pick either Fulton or Heighington in the side for 2012 and leave the other player out of the 17.

I believe that size has become such a factor that we carn't carry 2 players that size into the game when we can have a player like BMM come into the game and make an impact.

Both Fulton and Heighington have been great servants for WTs and its unfortunate but Sheens himself put the writing on the wall when he made both available to leave.

Circumstances dictated otherwise and we see them both still here but I feel that is contary to what Sheens wants and he will be looking to bulk up his bench.

BMM has to step up next year and show strong consistancy, Bell will be a hard honest toiler doing a Gibbs role and Groat will be looking to take another step to playing regular top grade.

With Reddy making an ideal bench player that leaves either Fulton or Heighington out all together with to my mind only injury allowing both to play in the same side.

Its a great problem to have and puts the pressure on them to perform week in and week out or find themselves in Reggies.

With Dwyer hopefully fit enough to come back in 2013 that will leave one of them redundant so its a great chance for them to showcase their talents to other clubs.

Maybe Heighno may still finish up at the Panthers down the track !

 

[Demonborger]

I like Heighington but all he offers is a consistent quantity of work, he doesn't dent or break the line, he doesn't physically dominate the opposition but he always takes the run and makes good total metres (but no per run). If the other backrowers increase their workload on average then Heighington won't add much for the team.

Fulton has very apparent deficiencies and his metre eating is near non existant, but he offers creativity in attack and has been able to shutdown key players in the opposition attack - if the other second rowers and the props are going forward then Fulton adds more to the team.

If Dwyer didn't get injured then they both would possibly be out of the team next season and certainly the season after.

 

[innsaneink]

They'll both be there - somewhere

 

[Guest]

They'll both be there - somewhere

Exactly. Injuries will happen and invariably both will be used, and they're both too good not to be used.

 

[LaT]

There is no way Heighington will be dropped, an given Fultons form and consistency, he won't be missing out anytime soon.

IMO Bell will be pushing for a bench spot, but won't be making the bench easily unless we get hit with injuries.

BMM size is great, but it counts for nothing against ability and experience. I'd love to see him step up, but I won't be holding my breath for a regular bench spot straight away.

 

[cunno]

It is good to have the depth particularly if WTs get a fair go during SOO and of course the inevitable injuries need to be covered. The experience and ability that both players bring to the team can't be discarded. Besides, I'm looking forward to when we play manly to see Heighno get his own back next time he has to tackle TREX Williams after his effort in the 4 nations.

 

[hammertime]

With our lack of prop depth, I really think sheens might be moving a 2nd rower to the front row. Blair, Ellis or BMM.

There might be a spot for both fults and heigno.

 

[tigersrule4life]

They are two gud not to be in the team chris lock and liam bench is the best option.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

IMHO Fulton should be our lock. He's a terrific defender and offers another dimension in attack. Heighington should go to the bench for mine, and play 40-50 minutes. It might increase his impact if he's coming on against tiring forwards.

 

[tigerbenji]

Both will be in the 17, & either Ellis or Bla.ir moving into the front row sometime during the game

 

[happy_tiger]

My thought on how Sheens would play this out (especially after his comments last season in regards to both Ellis and Rhino) would be this
8 Gallaway
9 Farah
10 Woods
11 Blair
12 Ellis
13 Fulton

At first interchange Prop he brings on Rhino and puts Ellis into front row
2nd interchange he replaces other Prop and brings on either Groat or Bell .
It will keep our props fresher and they can do more damage in shorter stints and saves one replacement also

 

[WhiTe Tiger]

Both deserve spots in the 17\. Both are much better players than what BMM and Groat are at the moment (hopefully they prove me wrong) imo both needing another year in first grade to develop and Bell needs to earn his spot.

Sheens must be rubbing his hands together for 2012\. Go the Tigers!!!

 

[Pierre_M7]

I've been told that Sheens will use Blair in the back row with Ellis and Heighington at lock, with Fulton coming off the bench!

 

[Centaur]

I think Fulton offers more of an impact of the bench than Heighno would. Heighno plays a workhorse role, it is not as if he often makes barmstorming runs or massive tackles - he just does his thing. Fulton could play this role as well, just as well probably - but the best combination for the team would be having a player of Fultons hole running/ball playing ability coming off the bench to add some extra spice during games.

 

[Pierre_M7]

I think Fulton offers more of an impact of the bench than Heighno would. Heighno plays a workhorse role, it is not as if he often makes barmstorming runs or massive tackles - he just does his thing. Fulton could play this role as well, just as well probably - but the best combination for the team would be having a player of Fultons hole running/ball playing ability coming off the bench to add some extra spice during games.

That's exactly right what you said Centaur! also I reckon he could be a back up hooker off the bench if we ever need him to cover for Farah.

 

[jirskyr]

Fulton's meterage was VASTLY improved at the back end of last year. I don't know quite what he was doing differently, but he exceeded 130m in 4 of the last 6 games. Both players finished the season strongly and I would expect to see both in the Top 17.

As an interesting aside on forwards meterage in 2011, Gibbsie was surprisingly the most effective per hitup. Heighno totalled most metres and hitups, with Galloway best at exceeding 100m per game.

2011 stats:
>
Heighington - 2817m from 391 runs (av 7.20). Broke 100m 16 times from 26 appearances (62%).
>
Galloway - 2547m from 302 runs (av 8.43). Broke 100m 15 times from 23 apps (65%).
>
Woods - 1991m from 233 runs (av 8.55). Broke 100m 5 times from 24 apps (21%).
>
Ellis - 1770m from 220 runs (av. 8.05). Broke 100m 8 times from 18 apps (44%).
>
Gibbs - 1702m from 197 runs (av. 8.64). Broke 100m 8 times from 20 apps (40%).
>
Fults - 1538m from 236 runs (av. 6.52). Broke 100m 5 times from 20 appearances (25%).
>
Groat - 407m from 50 runs (av. 8.14). Broke 100m 0 time from 10 appearances (0%).
>
BMM - 322m from 39 runs (av. 8.26). Broke 100m 0 times from 7 appearances (0%).

Then if you look at Matt Utai's stats, hard not to find a spot for him in the lineup:
Utai - 2258m from 252 runs (av. 8.96). Broke 100m 16 times from 20 appearances (80%).

These are from nrl.com

 

[happy_tiger]

Both Fulton and Rhino are reliant on our go forward from our big men but Fulton offers more as he is far more mobile than Rhino and far more dangerous in attack Rhino will be far more effective off the bench (remember 2005) Seeing our go forward will be much better with an 100% fit squad and the new signings for 2012 the side will see Fulton as the starting 13 and Rhino off the bench

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Interesting (though not surprising) that the likes of Woods, Ellis, Gibbs, Groat and even BMM in his limited games all have a higher metres per average than Heighington.

 

[Chief44]

Both Heighington and Fulton will be in the starting 17, but I think Sheens will opt for an international back row of Blair, Ellis and Heighington. But I have heard in the past that Heighington leads the NRL for least effective hit-ups/meters. Will be an interesting choice that Sheens has to make..

 

[tigertye]

Heighno is coached to run at the markers and wear them out and look to offload for second phase, thus not making as many metres. Either would work, however I feel Fulton coming off the bench would be better as he could be more creative around tired forwards, instead of having to barge his smaller frame through fresh, larger forwards.
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