Blake Ferguson to replace Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as Roosters fullback

[2026]

I think that whilst RTS is an excellent player he is somewhat overrated. Did he win us a premiership as a fullback?

Expecting SBW - 2014 and RTS - 2015 to step up and win us a premiership has been one of our biggest problems.

Thurston was average in this years GF yet a number of his team mates stepped up and collectively dragged their team into the record books.

Make no mistake, Rog is a gun but it's a team sport.

[eddie]

I certainly am.

I considered it as well, and would love to see him carve up initially........but even our coach admitted he's a centre..

We are fullbackless atm

But you don't talk about league, do you?

[eddie]

I think that whilst RTS is an excellent player he is somewhat overrated. Did he win us a premiership as a fullback?

Set a record for metres gained in a single season.
Yay Roger.

And we still have fans who blame Minicheillo for his sudden exit?????????????

Kinda makes me sick.

[liver1971]

Ohhh how some people have a selective memory. Calling rts overated!!! Ptfff.....

[Thirteen]

I witnessed Pearce playing fullback this week. He certainly has the skill set

Through your come filled glasses after shooting up at yourself....
Get back to Centrelink and get a job you bludger.

[Thirteen]

I considered it as well, and would love to see him carve up initially........but even our coach admitted he's a centre..

We are fullbackless atm

But you don't talk about league, do you?

GI was a centre who learnt to play fullback.
I always hoped Fergo could develop like GI and turn into a fullback.
With his pace and power Fergo is very similar to GI. But hopefully unlike GI, Fergo will actually want to get involved throughout the game rather than just when he feels like it.
I reckon he will be a huge asset to us and although I think SKD is a better winger than centre, he won't let us down in the centres. Hopefully Burgess comes good.

[ism22]

GI was a centre who learnt to play fullback.
I always hoped Fergo could develop like GI and turn into a fullback.
With his pace and power Fergo is very similar to GI. But hopefully unlike GI, Fergo will actually want to get involved throughout the game rather than just when he feels like it.
I reckon he will be a huge asset to us and although I think SKD is a better winger than centre, he won't let us down in the centres. Hopefully Burgess comes good.

My opinions...
1) All this article says is that Fergo will be training as FB from week 1 of pre-season while others are given a chance to develop. Given pre-season is mostly aerobic, this could even be because the other guys are fitter than Fergo and Fergo needs to up his fitness incase they aren't ready by the start of the season.

2) Fergo looks like GI? WTF?!? GI is a LOOOOT bulkier. Fergo's more of a learn, athletic build. GI is just a massive guy with a Guerra-style awkward 'step' (awkwardness tricks people) and a massive palm (which he practices on his Mrs when he gets angry).

3) I still don't think GI's much of a fullback. He's just a strong ball runner so naturally when he gets the ball in space he'll make some metres. This makes him a good fill-in fullback, but he's a bit slow and (IMO) not much at reading people in defence. Every time I watched hom in 2015 he was late to tackles and let in tries as a result. Maybe it was his knee, but he wasn't good at all compared with a bunch of specialist fullbacks that nobody cares about.

4) Fergo leaps a LOT higher than GI, he's faster and from what I saw this year he's better in defence. That said, he's a centre and I think should only play FB as a fill-in. Damn I hate the Warriors!!!

[Cockadoodledoo]

GI was a centre who learnt to play fullback.
I always hoped Fergo could develop like GI and turn into a fullback.
With his pace and power Fergo is very similar to GI. But hopefully unlike GI, Fergo will actually want to get involved throughout the game rather than just when he feels like it.
I reckon he will be a huge asset to us and although I think SKD is a better winger than centre, he won't let us down in the centres. Hopefully Burgess comes good.

GI was a fullback all his life until he was shifted to the centres at the Storm. He even debuted for the Storm ar fullback when Slater was unavailable and absolute killed it.

[Double]

Agree. Defensively GI was a turnstile for whatever reason... but I don't agree Fergo is any quicker. As well, the increased aerobic fitness and the shedding of bulk to play 1 seems to be contrary to Fergo's natural physique and approach. Fergo is more a strike player and IMO not your typical endurance type athlete.

[roostersrule2]

GI was a fullback all his life until he was shifted to the centres at the Storm. He even debuted for the Storm ar fullback when Slater was unavailable and absolute killed it.

GI debuted on the wing.

Back to the thread though, I really can't see Ferguson doing to well at FB. He'll have his moments but he has too many mistakes in him, his ankles are dodgy and as aforementioned he's a strike player not an endurance one.

[Thirteen]

GI was a fullback all his life until he was shifted to the centres at the Storm. He even debuted for the Storm ar fullback when Slater was unavailable and absolute killed it.

I didn't know this.

[eddie]

Last years backline was the best we've fielded since the seventies imo, but at times our strike centres were under utilised.
I thought the team looked a bit at sixes and sevens in attack too often.
The SKD/Fergo combination could've worked out real well.

Anyway,
Fergo may kill it at fullback.
Someone else could step up.
Mitchell might surprise.
The plane might land.

I dunno......

[2026]

I think Fergo's game is based around instinct.

He's a powerful instinctive beast that may find the decision making aspect, reading of play and timing required when playing FB a challenge.

Then there is the big motor required for all the extra work.

[eddie]

I think Fergo's game is based around instinct.
.

No doubt.
Robbo said as much.
This season , both times he got going, he seemed too inhibited to go with that...............on occasion.

Hate over analysing , but maybe the longer he's here the better he'll get?
Injury free for a year I hope.
Then he'll be apples.

[Mickie Lane]

Even though it is early days in pre season & Robbo is quoted as saying what ever I believe they will go with Fergusson at FB, I personally wouldn't & being compared to Inglis is madness. I cant see why you wouldn't give the VB NSW Cup Fullback of the year Omar Slaimankhel a go, he plays a lot like Tedesco when I have watched him.
There must be concerns about the SKD court case IMO even though I know nothing about it other than that SKD is up on 11 charges & if things did go pear shape & he was ordered to sit the season out having Fergusson at FB makes things a bit skinny in the centres. It would mean you would have Elliott & Burgess as your right edge if in the worst case scenario SKD is out.
On the flip side Fergusson at FB & Elliott, Burgess combo might kill it.