One thing is for sure, William Hopoate won’t be playing wing when he joins the Parramatta Eels. The question is, does the club have him pegged as a fullback or centre?
In the signing thread, Blue&Gold opines that the “we will be the envy of every team in the comp with a centre pairing of Loko and Hoppa come 2014”.
That kind of thinking fits well with Parramatta’s decision to only sign Willie Tonga to a two-year deal.
However, I think Hopoate will join the Eels as a fullback, with Jarryd Hayne moving to five-eighth, if he has not made that switch before then.
Indeed, I think that desire to play from the back may have factored strongly in our favour, given that Brett Stewart likely has that position stitched up for the rest of his time at the Sea Eagles.
While Kearney has indicated that Hayne will start as the Eel’s fullback next year he has always indicated that a move to five-eighth was likely down the track. I reckon you can put a two-year cap on that move now.
Hopoate is a born fulback. He has played fullback all through his junior days and has a tremendous running game plus the skills that you need to be a modern-day number one. That grand final flick pass was testament to that. He was man of the match in a number of the games he played from the back for Manly this year, and I would be very surprised if he didn’t have a very strong desire to return to his junior position.
A spine of Hopoate, Hayne and Sandow is mouth watering. It ticks all the boxes and could be a combination that carries Parramatta through to the next decade. Kearney has been very public about his desire to build sustainable success and, coming from, Melbourne knows too well how important a great spine is.
I also think its difficult to have two highly paid centres in your roster and stay under the cap. By 2014, Jacob Loko will likely be in a position to earn big dollars as well and it tends to put too much of your cap out of balance if you have too much money tied up in your centres. Most clubs carry just the one marquee centre, with the idea being that you target your attacking structures around putting that player into space.
I’ve also got a very high opinion of Vai Toutai and let’s remember that while Willie Tonga is signed for two-years and if his body is holding out, there must be a chance that he’ll want to be a part of this 2014 squad given he’ll only be 30. Ryan Morgan showed in his final game of the year, he’s not out of place at centre at NRL level as well. Of course, we don’t really know who is going to be in contention for those centre positions come 2014, but I think it’s definitely fair to say that the second centre spot is a lot easier to fill than a quality fullback of five-eighth.
In the signing thread, Blue&Gold opines that the “we will be the envy of every team in the comp with a centre pairing of Loko and Hoppa come 2014”.
That kind of thinking fits well with Parramatta’s decision to only sign Willie Tonga to a two-year deal.
However, I think Hopoate will join the Eels as a fullback, with Jarryd Hayne moving to five-eighth, if he has not made that switch before then.
Indeed, I think that desire to play from the back may have factored strongly in our favour, given that Brett Stewart likely has that position stitched up for the rest of his time at the Sea Eagles.
While Kearney has indicated that Hayne will start as the Eel’s fullback next year he has always indicated that a move to five-eighth was likely down the track. I reckon you can put a two-year cap on that move now.
Hopoate is a born fulback. He has played fullback all through his junior days and has a tremendous running game plus the skills that you need to be a modern-day number one. That grand final flick pass was testament to that. He was man of the match in a number of the games he played from the back for Manly this year, and I would be very surprised if he didn’t have a very strong desire to return to his junior position.
A spine of Hopoate, Hayne and Sandow is mouth watering. It ticks all the boxes and could be a combination that carries Parramatta through to the next decade. Kearney has been very public about his desire to build sustainable success and, coming from, Melbourne knows too well how important a great spine is.
I also think its difficult to have two highly paid centres in your roster and stay under the cap. By 2014, Jacob Loko will likely be in a position to earn big dollars as well and it tends to put too much of your cap out of balance if you have too much money tied up in your centres. Most clubs carry just the one marquee centre, with the idea being that you target your attacking structures around putting that player into space.
I’ve also got a very high opinion of Vai Toutai and let’s remember that while Willie Tonga is signed for two-years and if his body is holding out, there must be a chance that he’ll want to be a part of this 2014 squad given he’ll only be 30. Ryan Morgan showed in his final game of the year, he’s not out of place at centre at NRL level as well. Of course, we don’t really know who is going to be in contention for those centre positions come 2014, but I think it’s definitely fair to say that the second centre spot is a lot easier to fill than a quality fullback of five-eighth.
Replies
Wow I'm just happy to have him in the team, not too worried where he plays right now. I'm still in shock!
From the way Jodeci on the other site talked about the signing (which was obviously Hoppa) it could turn out that he has signed for 2012.
However, it seems exceedingly unlikely.
Once again he was on the money.
I think he can be the 1 for us most certain and if not he will be the high profile centre if Hayne is not suited to the 6 slot (3rd time lucky hopefully). I think Hayne will be a more confident player at 6 knowing he has a quality backline to produce for alongside Sandow.
A backline of Hopoate, Sio, Loko, Toutai, Yow Yeh, Hayne & Sandow could deliver the goods time and time again I think.
personally id play hayne at fullback - it just has not worked ion the two stints he has had at 5/8.
Therefore hoppa in the centers for me, but either way, i don't care - how awesome is this backline looking - wwoooohhhhooooo
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