OFFICIAL Liam Fulton [Discussion]

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!!!
 
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.
 
@Centaur said:
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.
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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.
 
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%).
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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
 
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
 
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.
 
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..
 
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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Not knocking Heighno, but the reason he isnt a meter eater is because once he meets the defence, 4 out 5 times instead of a jink or step he'll effectively stop running and try to push the defenders off him. Every one is so strong these days that this tactic doesnt work. He is sometimes very easy pickings for the defence.

If he ran at the gaps and put on a little footwork he would be far more effective. Take a leaf out of Watmoughs book. He has a smaller frame yet consistently makes more meters.
 
@tigertye said:
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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But if our big men are making the metres we can use Liam out wider of the ruck creatively and concentrate on him working his butt off in defence That is when he is most effective and this is better for the team as a whole
 
@Cultured Bogan said:
Jirskyr,

Do you have the tackle breaks and offload stats at your disposal for Blair and the others?
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nrl.com year-end stats does not have tackle breaks, but

![](http://i39.tinypic.com/ras3vb.jpg)

Key - APP = appearances, OL = offloads, pg = per game, LB = line breaks, Tk = tackles, MT = missed tackles.

Heighington was the proven performer in terms of non-metre attack, but he also made the most tackles with good efficiency.

Gibbs was the most efficient tackler (no surprises) but Fulton was just behind and had substantially more tackles.

What is also clear is that although Utai makes lots of metres and line/tackle breaks, he does bugger all defence, which keps him fresher.

Poor Dwyer would have comfortably made the most LBs had he not gotten injured, running wide of Benji. We will really miss him 2012, he was becoming a really strong right-side foil for Benji. Imagine the options Lawrence and Ellis running left, Dwyer and Ayshford running right, with Blair floating either side.
 
@jirskyr said:
@Cultured Bogan said:
Jirskyr,

Do you have the tackle breaks and offload stats at your disposal for Blair and the others?

nrl.com year-end stats does not have tackle breaks, but

![](http://i39.tinypic.com/ras3vb.jpg)

Key - APP = appearances, OL = offloads, pg = per game, LB = line breaks, Tk = tackles, MT = missed tackles.

Heighington was the proven performer in terms of non-metre attack, but he also made the most tackles with good efficiency.

Gibbs was the most efficient tackler (no surprises) but Fulton was just behind and had substantially more tackles.

What is also clear is that although Utai makes lots of metres and line/tackle breaks, he does bugger all defence, which keps him fresher.

Poor Dwyer would have comfortably made the most LBs had he not gotten injured, running wide of Benji. We will really miss him 2012, he was becoming a really strong right-side foil for Benji. Imagine the options Lawrence and Ellis running left, Dwyer and Ayshford running right, with Blair floating either side.
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for someone that cant break the line rhino made more linebreaks than other attacking greats of ellis,galloway,fulton and the player thats the most over-rated on here blair
 
Fulton was massive at the back-end of last year. Both he and Rhino deserve first crack at them in 2012.

To me Rhino works best with a break whereas Fulton is more an 80min player. As other suggest they can be used in the props rotation where Ellis or Blair move into prop and a prop is rotated with a bench backrower.
 
@jirskyr said:
@Cultured Bogan said:
Jirskyr,

Do you have the tackle breaks and offload stats at your disposal for Blair and the others?

nrl.com year-end stats does not have tackle breaks, but

![](http://i39.tinypic.com/ras3vb.jpg)

Key - APP = appearances, OL = offloads, pg = per game, LB = line breaks, Tk = tackles, MT = missed tackles.

Heighington was the proven performer in terms of non-metre attack, but he also made the most tackles with good efficiency.

Gibbs was the most efficient tackler (no surprises) but Fulton was just behind and had substantially more tackles.

What is also clear is that although Utai makes lots of metres and line/tackle breaks, he does bugger all defence, which keps him fresher.

Poor Dwyer would have comfortably made the most LBs had he not gotten injured, running wide of Benji. We will really miss him 2012, he was becoming a really strong right-side foil for Benji. Imagine the options Lawrence and Ellis running left, Dwyer and Ayshford running right, with Blair floating either side.
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Just remember when you look at those stats that Fulton played 6 less games than Rhino and defensively he blows Rhino out of the water
 
@happy tiger said:
Just remember when you look at those stats that Fulton played 6 less games than Rhino and defensively he blows Rhino out of the water
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Yeah I'd be looking at stats per game rather than overall. Even that is a bit misleading, depending on minutes played.
 
Some great comments here, guys. We have no doubt added quality and depth to our pack. The fact that "puppies" Woods, Groat and BMM will be stronger and capable of more game time will create opportunities for Rhino and Fulton to do less mule work and hit the edges on tackles 4 and 5.

A good run with injuries and we will be hard to stop in September. Exiting times.
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