The ace in the fullbacks
Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne has emerged from a very strong field of custodians to mount a true challenge for Billy Slater's crown as the best No.1 going around.
BY MATT LOGUE
For the better part of a decade, Storm star Billy Slater has been considered the best fullback in the business. Whether it is his scintillating speed, silky skills or sheer dependability, Slater is rated by many as possibly the greatest No.1 we've ever seen.
It's a big call to make, especially when you consider the game's proud history of gun fullbacks from Gary Belcher and Brett Mullins, back to Graeme Eadie, and the legendary Dragon is white boots, Graeme Langlands and little master himself Clive Churchill.
In 2014 though, Slater's position as the undisputed king has come under serious threat following the freakish form of big names Jarryd Hayne and Greg Inglis. Throw in the emergence of gifted rookies like Penrith's clutch player Matt Moylan and no longer is 'Billy the Kid' flying solo as the NRL's premier custodian.
Has there ever been more heated debate about the player deemed to be the game's top fullback?
Big League, with the help of Prozone Sports, collated statistics on all 16 fullbacks to find out who is the NRL's best performing No.1.
Based on rankings from a number of key match-related categories, Hayne has been a standout. The Eel leads the way in an impressive 11 categories, including total run metres, tackle-breaks, line-breaks and tries, but he also sits atop penalties conceded and total errors.
Rampgaing Rabbitoh Greg Inglis has set the competition alight with the b all in hand in recent weeks, but it's his defence that's a standout quality. Inglis is first in kick return metres, kicks defused percentage and tackle efficiency - stats that will go a long way to helping the Bunnies win the competition according to legendary Canberra Raider Mullins.
"That last line of defence is so important and there's none better than GI," Mullins says.
Hayne, meanwhile, is eighth in tackle efficiency, but makes up for it at second in kick defusal percentages. Parramatta team-mate Tim Mannah knows what his co-captain adds to the side.
"I don't know what the stats say, but there aren't many fullbacks that are saving tries like Haynesy," Mannah says. "Obviously GI is very good and a great athlete, but talk to any player even out of our bubble and they;ll tell you Jarryd has saved the for us many times."
"We couldn't ask for anything more from him in defence."
Emerging Penrith fullback Moylan also performs strongly. The Baulkham Hills-born flyer finishes first in four categories - handling, total passes, offloads and like-break assists. While veteran Rooster Anthony Minichiello sits first in a number of categories also, including kick returns and supports. These areas may not make 'Mini' the top No.1 but it's certainly noteworthy given he is in his final season and still performing well.
But as much as stats are a reliable way of gauging form, in many ways they are only one side of the story. There's also a player's influence over a game or those plays that go unnoticed or can't be measured. In that regard, Mullins reckons Slater reigns supreme.
"There is a lot of off the ball work as well in a fullback's game that goes unnoticed," he explains. "For that reason Billy is the type of player you want in your side."
Slater only topped three categories - average kicks defused, dummies and jointly in line break assists. On the other side of the ledger he is also first in missed tackles. But Mullins still rates Slater as the game's best fullback.
"There's no doubt Hayne has improved and Greg is great but I still can't go past Billy," he syas. "He is still doing the job and he is consistent and that's been the case for 10 years."
Changing of the guard
Hayne may be rugby league's modern day wizard when it comes to creative flair, but go back more than two decades and the job description of a fullback was completely different. Just ask Steve McKenzie, Parramatta's No.1 in the club's first ever premiership-winning team back in 1981.
McKenzie recalls the fullback role's main priories being all about hanging back with safety first and limiting mistakes.
"But Jarryd can come to the line whenever he wants and does what he likes," says McKenzie. "That's why I get so excited and I love watching him play. He is a sensation and the best fullback I think I've ever seen. He has got it all - the strength, power and speed."
"You don't know what you are going to get when he is coming at you, so he is just a joy to watch. The game is always alive and never over whenever he is there, because he is always there."
So what's the biggest thing that's changed in Hayne's game? For his co-skipper Mannah the answer is simple.
"I just think this year he has been really selfless, which has helped him grow a foot bigger," he explains.
"He is doing a lot of the dirty work for the team and put his hand up to take on things that are pretty tough and not many fullbacks want to do."
"He is also getting himself into the game. Sometimes he has copped criticism for his performances, but to be honest he can only go as well as the team is going."
"I think he has created a platform now where he can be consistent every week."
Different time
Who will ever forget forget Mullin's 'miracle try' against the Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium back in 1995? You know the one, the cheeky chip over the top followed by a soccer-style kick through and that freakish one-handed pick-up to score under the posts.
Pure brilliance.
"Oh yeah I still get asked about that try," laughs Mullins, who talks to Big League in between his work commitments.
"That try seems to pop up every year and I enjoy watching it. It was very lucky."
He marvels at the ability of the fullbacks in the current era and is the first to admit he'd struggle with the high level of training.
"I don't know if would be able to handle all the running and weights, because I didn't go too well on the training paddock," he jokes. "But the game has changed and I think it's very hard to compare eras. Our training wasn't as intense, so you never know with the training they are doing now the players in my day would have been just as good as the current crop."
Speaking of the modern day starts at the back, Mullins has one final message for the remaining fullbacks in the premiership race.
"The fullback is a pivotal part of the side and they are big game-changers as well," he says. "If they are on their game, they can go a long way to winning you the contest. But if they are quiet, they can cost you, so the fullback has to get involved early."
It's advice Mullins can't wait to see our fullbacks execute with class and precisions in the weeks ahead. |
Replies
I know that Chief posted the signing rumours in another blog but I've been doing a Thursday RLW/Big League post on LU for a few weeks now and figured it belongs over here as well.
Excuse the size of the blog this week as there was A LOT of positive Parra press across both magazines.
Nice Forty/20.
Use the Page Down button!
*Edit* Alternatively, tapping the space bar usually scrolls down the page as well.
Dont worry 40/20 i like reading both any way.
and if the cowboy do sign Kelepi Tanginoa do we have to pay for some of hes contract to all will the cowboy buy him out from us. But i hope he stay with us.
If Kelepi requested the release then we don't have to pay him anything usually. He's broken the terms of the contract, not us.
Yeah, for some reason they seem to be avoiding profiling Parra juniors this year. Other clubs with much weaker rosters have had multiple players interviewed and rapped.
Great fork forty.
Was a great story about Junior Paulo. Dedication and determination. Great young player hopefully he will be at parra for years to come.
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