So going into 2023, both our starting wingers, Sivo and Blake, are off contract. Meaning usher in the future. Dunster is signed til 2025 though returning from an ACL, MCL & PCL tear in the knee. Russell is the other one just turning 20, playing 3 games in the top grade and is off contract. So one of them will be first reserve if anyting happens, but my question is which one would we prefer moving into the future?
Both are different types of wingers. Neither are overly big say like Sivo, but not like a To'o type either in muscle built. They're lean wingers with some speed but not blistering speed either. Russell is a Fullback by trade, a real goer and has talent. He is the future fullback for us in my opinion, though he is not going to sit behind Gutho til 2026, unless playing on the wing. What i do like about Russell is how he puts his body on the line, in terms of making metres he uses his lean body to make metres. I also love how he dives for the line, always leaning forward and diving a feet or two away from the actual line having momentum take him over.
Dunster on the other hand is a workhorse out the back. Averaging 150-200 metres a game when he would start sets constantly. He uses his leg strength to make post contact metres. Dunster had a rough start to his NRL career, a few dodgy games but towards the back end of 2021 he finished really strong, looking promising for 2022. Had he not injured his knee in the trials he would have started for Sivo for the start of this season and he needed it. Only 14 games so far, only 3 tries. Not a massive try scoring freak but near the line knows what to do. Also has some size to put body on the line.
Where is Russell is a fullback plying his NRL trade on the wing, Dunster is an out and out winger. Waqa Blake and Simonsson left a bit to be desired on the wing in 2022, i would be more than happy for either of these two coming in but which one? I wouldn't want to lose Russell being off-contract for 2023 but Dunster has the experience.
It is a nice issue to have.
Replies
I'd try something like having Waqa Blake on the bench, Start Sivo and Dunster on the wing with Penisini and Simonsson in the centres.
Maybe get more speed from the back and move Gutho to 5/8th bring Dylan Brown to FB.
A curve ball. Train Penisini to be a back up hooker. He has the strong low to the ground build and potential to be a good dummy half runner
A coach with a killer instinct would have sacked blake long ago.
This
I don't see anything special in dunster. I really hope he proves me wrong.
He's not flashy Dunster, but he is safe and know what you are getting from Dunster.
Compared to say Blake who is flashy, faster and has better size yet can be a liability.
Dunster has something about him a confident player without being cocky.
Russell looks like a footballer I think he has the makings of a centre but his try scoring record in both 1st grade and reserves on the wing is pretty good albeit alot of those tries were finishing off the inside players work but 5tries in 3 games is impressive
Dunster wil be a very good player. Potentially our Tedesco. I know trainers that've worked with him that have told me he's one to watch out for , a long before he made his debut. They reckon he's a gun. I'd be putting him on the wing with a vision to move him to fullback asap.
Yeah i remember his debut, Gus was gushing over Dunster. Could not stop talking about him.
Dunster i wouldn't say has cockiness, more so just does his job. He is not afraid to do the hard work. Need him to take a hit up? He is there ready to go. Not knocking Sivo or calling him soft but there are times and games where he is not doing the work needed. Dunster nearly every set takes a run.
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