SMH article on fullback position

[Guest]

Surely the plan is to have mini play half the seson at FB and the rest on the wing switching with RTS. And whilst i still dont think this plan is ideal we dont have a lot of choice. 3 games at wing in firsts is not nough for a 19 year old to gain confidence and maturity to excel in such an iimportant position.
with additions of SBW and maloney and our young talented side a year older i think we can be therabouts at the hafway point next year coinciding with the switch of RT to FB and a late season good run of form that gets us into the finals and hopefully enough momentum to go deep.
not a terrible idea as gives RTS more experience and other teams less time to figure out our new x factor at 1.
this is not too dissimilar to what happened in 2010 with carney moving to 6.

[Guest]

So who do we blame for this?

[chook 56]

So who do we blame for this?

Smiff.....and Bwaiff.





How many "P's" in per per per pepper?

[Guest]

Mini in his prime was an awesome player. One of the very best. Was consistantly in the top 2 or 3 metre eaters EVERY week. He helped write the book on what it takes to be a modern day fullback. RTS has big boots to fill. It will take much more than one good sidestep or one strip or one great tackle per game to live up to what Mini achieved. He has to be everywhere...every week, just like Barba, Inglis, Slater and Stewart are now. That is the test for RTS. We all know he has the skills but he has to produce much more than we saw from him this year. I'll back him to do it.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Mini in his prime was an awesome player. One of the very best. Was consistantly in the top 2 or 3 metre eaters EVERY week. He helped write the book on what it takes to be a modern day fullback. RTS has big boots to fill. It will take much more than one good sidestep or one strip or one great tackle per game to live up to what Mini achieved. He has to be everywhere...every week, just like Barba, Inglis, Slater and Stewart are now. That is the test for RTS. We all know he has the skills but he has to produce much more than we saw from him this year. I'll back him to do it.

And he has the best of teachers in mini...its a healthy situation.

[Guest]

And he has the best of teachers in mini...its a healthy situation.

I tend to agree. I'm for starting Mini on the wing because it adds experience. We are very young without him there. Too young really.

[Guest]

I love Mini but the game has gone past him I don't want to see a club legend languishing at Newtown or in first grade on past reputation someone needs to tap him on the shoulder for his own good.

[The Rooster Oracle]

Mini in his prime was an awesome player. One of the very best. Was consistantly in the top 2 or 3 metre eaters EVERY week. He helped write the book on what it takes to be a modern day fullback. RTS has big boots to fill. It will take much more than one good sidestep or one strip or one great tackle per game to live up to what Mini achieved. He has to be everywhere...every week, just like Barba, Inglis, Slater and Stewart are now. That is the test for RTS. We all know he has the skills but he has to produce much more than we saw from him this year. I'll back him to do it.

As you say, Mini in his prime was an awsome player, his greatest strength in his prime was his kick returns, being able to break tackles, making great yardage and really laying a good foundation for the start of every set. Everyone of his team mates would appreciate not having to go back so far each time and could conserve a lot of their energy as a result. Mini has lost his main strength.

Mini is nowhere near in the same league as Barba, Inglis, Slater, Stewart and Bowen. These 5 players not only have the strength that Mini use to have with great yardage on kick returns, they are capable of breaking the line, they also have tremendous speed, can kick, are able to ball play and set up line breaks and tries and are lethal with backing up and scoring tries. The real modern day fullback, genuine match winners which we are sorely missing with having Mini.

[Guest]

As you say, Mini in his prime was an awsome player, his greatest strength in his prime was his kick returns, being able to break tackles, making great yardage and really laying a good foundation for the start of every set. Everyone of his team mates would appreciate not having to go back so far each time and could conserve a lot of their energy as a result. Mini has lost his main strength.

Mini is nowhere near in the same league as Barba, Inglis, Slater, Stewart and Bowen. These 5 players not only have the strength that Mini use to have with great yardage on kick returns, they are capable of breaking the line, they also have tremendous speed, can kick, are able to ball play and set up line breaks and tries and are lethal with backing up and scoring tries. The real modern day fullback, genuine match winners which we are sorely missing with having Mini.

The challenge is that RTS will likely take a while to find his feet - Barba is 5 years in and only really came into his own this year.

If not Mini, and assuming Barba will take at least a little while to perform consistently at fullback, what is plan C?

[The Rooster Oracle]

[QUOTE=theticket;251611]The challenge is that RTS will likely take a while to find his feet - Barba is 5 years in and only really came into his own this year.

If not Mini, and assuming Barba will take at least a little while to perform consistently at fullback, what is plan C?[/QUOTE

You are correct theticket in saying that we can not rely solely on RTS to play the entire year at fullback, and not have a back up in case of injury or just to give him a little spell at some stage during the season to reinvigorate him at the back end of the season.

I have been saying for a little while now that we need to ideally buy another quality fullback before the end of the year (possibly Reece Robinson or Trent bringing someone over from the ESL), or we need to manufacture a backup fullback to RTS out of Tupou, SKD, Moga, Henry or Oldfield. I much prefer either of these two options instead of having Mini at fullback. Also having Mini on the wing is another terrible option as we have better options to play on the wing such as Tupou, Moga, Henry, Oldfield (and SKD if we decide to use SBW and BJL in the centres).

[tri-hard]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I think Mini will shut up a lot of his critics next year. In a properly structured side with a clearly defined role Mini still has a lot to offer. I laugh at the people here saying he is slow... his acceleration is not what it was, but he showed more than once this year he still has plenty of top-end pace.

Now let the abuse begin!!

Couldnt agree with you more. Whenever the team go well he's one of the best players on the field.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Can someone who say that Mini will shut the critics up next year articulate why he will go well?

[Waylander]

Can someone who say that Mini will shut the critics up next year articulate why he will go well?

I'll give it a shot.

I don't think the Mini situation is all sunshine & roses, but neither do I subscribe to the whole doom & gloom arguments either. I believe Mini's biggest problem in the latter half of this season was trying too hard. Attempting to do things that he shouldn't be involved in. He did this for one of two reasons:

1. He felt he had to try to create something, as no-one else seemed to be putting their hand up, or
2. Smith tried to make him do things that he simply wasn't cut out for anymore.

In a better coached and more competitive side, these two scenarios can be largely eliminated. Mini has his limitations. Only a fool wouldn't be able to see that. (In fact he always did. His ono-on-one defence was never good. Where he could use his pace in open fiefd to tackle a player from the side or behind he was very effective. On the line, front-on, he has always crap.) I believe the team can be structured in a way that allows Mini to play to his strengths, and within his limitations. With more attacking options, i.e. Maloney & SBW, and a better performing pack (which I expect to see), I believe Mini can still offer a great deal in safety under the high ball, directing the defence, general experience and constant support play.

Hopefully he's not asked, or feels the need, to do anything over & above these things.

I don't think anyone is saying he can be our Ben Barba, but I think many still feel he can make a positive contribution if managed correctly.

[Guest]

As you say, Mini in his prime was an awsome player, his greatest strength in his prime was his kick returns, being able to break tackles, making great yardage and really laying a good foundation for the start of every set. Everyone of his team mates would appreciate not having to go back so far each time and could conserve a lot of their energy as a result. Mini has lost his main strength.

Mini is nowhere near in the same league as Barba, Inglis, Slater, Stewart and Bowen. These 5 players not only have the strength that Mini use to have with great yardage on kick returns, they are capable of breaking the line, they also have tremendous speed, can kick, are able to ball play and set up line breaks and tries and are lethal with backing up and scoring tries. The real modern day fullback, genuine match winners which we are sorely missing with having Mini.

Yeah, that's why I didn't put Mini's name in that group. He is not up to that standard anymore but neither will any one of those fullbacks I mentioned, when they reach Mini's age. I am not arguing the fact that the game has passed him by somewhat, but please lets not under-value his contribution. When Mini was at his peak we had a weapon back there. I would not have swapped him for any other fullback in those days. The back injury was a major setback.