Ben Jones plays fullback for Newtown

[fletch]

not sure if there is anything to read into Jones playing fullback for Newtown on the weekend just past, but maybe Smith is toying with the idea of Jones being a longer term option at fullback once Carney moves into the halves and Mini retires.

also good to see JWH and Paea back into full contact training, after a horrid injury toll early in the season we are now in a situation where only Cherro is missing and presents Smith with some interesting selection dilemma's for this weekends match against the Warriors.

[Cockadoodledoo]

not sure if there is anything to read into Jones playing fullback for Newtown on the weekend just past, but maybe Smith is toying with the idea of Jones being a longer term option at fullback once Carney moves into the halves and Mini retires.

also good to see JWH and Paea back into full contact training, after a horrid injury toll early in the season we are now in a situation where only Cherro is missing and presents Smith with some interesting selection dilemma's for this weekends match against the Warriors.

Stop gap at best.

[Guest]

Speaking of Cherro, any news? Geese I hope we give this kid time to heal and get his confidence back, would love to see him running wide.

Chook.

[Guest]

Dugan will be our long term fullback.

Chook - don't worry about Cherro. Smith has a HUGE opinion of him as well as cordner and bj. These kids and Hargreaves will form the cornerstone of our pack for years to come.

[Guest]

Gee, talk about screwing this kids development up. Give him a position and let him develop in it.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

[Guest]

Benny jones is one of my favs but at fullback?....lol

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

In a lot of ways its reminiscent of Craig Wing, when he first came to the club - stints at five-eighth, half, fullback, centre, before they finally worked out his best position was hooker.

And that's where I think Jones' best position is, too.

[Johnny Tobin]

What happened?

[Johnny Tobin]

Speaking of Cherro, any news? Geese I hope we give this kid time to heal and get his confidence back, would love to see him running wide.

Chook.

Cherro has told me a few times that he expects to be back just before the semi's.

[Guest]

Where did Luke Towers play?

[Guest]

In a lot of ways its reminiscent of Craig Wing, when he first came to the club - stints at five-eighth, half, fullback, centre, before they finally worked out his best position was hooker.

And that's where I think Jones' best position is, too.

Agreed. I have said this before, but I have been shot down a lot of times for saying it. But the similarities are uncanny. Aside from the fact that Wing had a full season at five-eighth in 1999, the fact is that they are similar in playing role. Jones is best used as a super-sub utility off the bench, who can fill in at other positions if necessary, but ideally comes on to provide that extra spark around the ruck after Jake Friend does the hard yakka up front.

But this aside, if we are linked to Anthony Watts as people say we are, I wouldn't mind that. He is a dirty little bastard definitely, but he is also more proven as a high impact supersub than Jones, and has a bit more mongrel in his game too. Either way, I like the way the core is building:

Ryles
Friend
Hargreaves
Nuuausala
Aubusson
Myles

Jones/Watts
Symonds/Leilua
Masoe/Paea
Kennedy/Conn

Healthy competition for bench spots, a big but aggressive and mobile starting pack too. Great impact off the bench - a nippy utility rake with a kickig game, a linebreaking backrower, a big hard running impact forward, and a workhorse prop.

It will be hard to see how Guerra, Cherrington, etc will break back into that lineup.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Agreed. I have said this before, but I have been shot down a lot of times for saying it. But the similarities are uncanny. Aside from the fact that Wing had a full season at five-eighth in 1999, the fact is that they are similar in playing role. Jones is best used as a super-sub utility off the bench, who can fill in at other positions if necessary, but ideally comes on to provide that extra spark around the ruck after Jake Friend does the hard yakka up front.

Apart from the fact Jones is not even half the player Wing was.

[Vasco]

And that Wing was one of the most dynamic players in the NRL.

[stephenj]

ill bet wingy is creaming them in jap rugby?many years ago in my distant past i played an invitational game in japan in that comp, the standard wasnt up to subbies first grade, probably is now with all the imports? in that case wingy would rule!

[Guest]

I have reason to think Ben Jones will be playing fullback for the NYC side this weekend. With Todd Carney moving to 6 and Braith Anasta to 13, I have a feeling Jones is being groomed to take over the number 1 jersey if not this year, then certainly next.