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Brian Smith is not afraid to a curve ball - so when veteran coach asked Sydney Roosters recruit Todd Carney to play fullback, the playmaker was immediately caught in two minds.
"I thought he was asking me a trick question," Carney recalled of the proposed switch from his usual position in the halves. "I didn't know how to take it."
"I've never started a game at fullback, never worn the No. 1 jersey in my life."
But Carney wasn't in a position to second guess Smith's radical proposal. The Roosters had just extended him a lucrative lifeline from an 18-month footballing exile, and he had no choice but to embrace whatever challenges came with it.
So Carney agreed. And thus began one of the boldest and most-debated positional switches in recent NRL history.
"I can't remember anything like this in my time coaching," Smith said.
"But it can only happen if you've got a player who's got the right attitude.
"And I wouldn't have gone near it if Todd had not agreed.
But now that he's started, Carney won't dream of giving up. For the kid once touted as a future Kangaroos' No.6, it's been an educational - and at times frustrating - journey through the humid summer months at Moore Park.
The transformation began with whiteboard and training sessions with former Wests Tigers, Parramatta and New South Wales No.1 Brett Hodgson, who tutored Carney while back home from Huddersfield
Hodgson called Smith - his old coach at Parramatta - to do some extras at the Roosters gym. Smith's price was for Hodgson to help Carney adjust.
"Hodgo also showed us video of how the best fullbacks play - guys like Kurt Gidley and Billy Slater," Carney revealed.
"It gave me some tips about where to stand and how to save energy when I'm off the ball.
"I've written everything down in a folder, which I review at home when I get some free time."
Both coach and player are unabashed when it comes to nominating Carney's muse for this season.
"I'll definitely be looking to play a lot like Gidley," Carney said.
"He was also a half who made the transition to fullback and obviously Smithy coached him up in Newcastle for three years.
"In attack, I'll play a lot like him. I'll try to position myself to get involved, coming around the back. Pearcey (Mitchell Pearce) and Braith (Anasta) will be directing the plays in halves, so I'll have a roaming role. I've also practised kicking, and you see fullbacks like Jarryd Hayne and Kurt Gidley doing that as well."
Smith is testing the waters with Carney because he's loathe to split the Roosters established halves combination - Anasta and Pearce.
"He's a long, long way from making me feel that he's comfortable yet," Smith said.
"But what really drives us to persevere is the possibilities for our team. If we have three guys in those positions, it poses a lot of attacking questions.
"But I'm not stuck on it yet. It might take a few trials or even the first few competition games for us to know either way."
Carney concurs and already knows what awaits: a bombing raid to rival Pearl Harbour.
"I know that it's going to be immense pressure," he said.
"I'm going to cop bombs from everywhere during the trials and the first few matches.
"There's going to be a lot of doubters out there. I know there is. But I've just got worry about pleasing Smithy. If that's what he wants, then I'm running with it."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018866,00.html
"I thought he was asking me a trick question," Carney recalled of the proposed switch from his usual position in the halves. "I didn't know how to take it."
"I've never started a game at fullback, never worn the No. 1 jersey in my life."
But Carney wasn't in a position to second guess Smith's radical proposal. The Roosters had just extended him a lucrative lifeline from an 18-month footballing exile, and he had no choice but to embrace whatever challenges came with it.
So Carney agreed. And thus began one of the boldest and most-debated positional switches in recent NRL history.
"I can't remember anything like this in my time coaching," Smith said.
"But it can only happen if you've got a player who's got the right attitude.
"And I wouldn't have gone near it if Todd had not agreed.
But now that he's started, Carney won't dream of giving up. For the kid once touted as a future Kangaroos' No.6, it's been an educational - and at times frustrating - journey through the humid summer months at Moore Park.
The transformation began with whiteboard and training sessions with former Wests Tigers, Parramatta and New South Wales No.1 Brett Hodgson, who tutored Carney while back home from Huddersfield
Hodgson called Smith - his old coach at Parramatta - to do some extras at the Roosters gym. Smith's price was for Hodgson to help Carney adjust.
"Hodgo also showed us video of how the best fullbacks play - guys like Kurt Gidley and Billy Slater," Carney revealed.
"It gave me some tips about where to stand and how to save energy when I'm off the ball.
"I've written everything down in a folder, which I review at home when I get some free time."
Both coach and player are unabashed when it comes to nominating Carney's muse for this season.
"I'll definitely be looking to play a lot like Gidley," Carney said.
"He was also a half who made the transition to fullback and obviously Smithy coached him up in Newcastle for three years.
"In attack, I'll play a lot like him. I'll try to position myself to get involved, coming around the back. Pearcey (Mitchell Pearce) and Braith (Anasta) will be directing the plays in halves, so I'll have a roaming role. I've also practised kicking, and you see fullbacks like Jarryd Hayne and Kurt Gidley doing that as well."
Smith is testing the waters with Carney because he's loathe to split the Roosters established halves combination - Anasta and Pearce.
"He's a long, long way from making me feel that he's comfortable yet," Smith said.
"But what really drives us to persevere is the possibilities for our team. If we have three guys in those positions, it poses a lot of attacking questions.
"But I'm not stuck on it yet. It might take a few trials or even the first few competition games for us to know either way."
Carney concurs and already knows what awaits: a bombing raid to rival Pearl Harbour.
"I know that it's going to be immense pressure," he said.
"I'm going to cop bombs from everywhere during the trials and the first few matches.
"There's going to be a lot of doubters out there. I know there is. But I've just got worry about pleasing Smithy. If that's what he wants, then I'm running with it."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018866,00.html
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