Re: Speed and Agility at Full Back : Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:10 am  

McClennan wrote:

So you'd have Wellens over Tomkins then?

Erm...no, not today. But to compare them both at their best, I'd have Wellens at full back. Tomkins is sensational and although I don't agree with you about wanting to see him go full length for an ace try when he was handing off players left, right and centre from his own ten metre (esp Jones Buchanan), it was terrific play.

But I believe he lacks some of the attributes to become a great full back. He will again let his team down (Pie Gobblers or England) because of his defensive frailties. He should be Stand Off and, certainly with the national side, we should be looking to set up a team, structure, philosophy or whatever you want to call it that supports him, encourages him, provides him with the opportunities he has (or creates) on the field to attack.

It may be that someone else takes on some of his defensive work (as Pat Richards has done to field high kicks) in order to prevent teams targetting him in defence, if he is to stay at full back. I just think he needs to be in the game more regularly and be more available to take advantage when opportunities arise and allow a full back to play full back (and this is not a call for Wellens to be England Full Back with Tomkins at Stand off)

Re: Speed and Agility at Full Back : Wed Jul 18, 2012 8:38 am  

[quote="No1 Saint"]1 game and Ratkins was still the most dangerous pie eater in attack. He looks like creating something everytime he has the ball in hand even if his defence was iffy today. If you took Ratkins out of that team today Leeds would have cruised the win[/quote


You wish! If you meant on Saturday then remember he gifted them 16. On any other day yes, the Tomahawk would be a great loss, but Leeds to cruise any game against us, with the rest of the squad we have is just wishful thinking on the part of you and others.

Re: Speed and Agility at Full Back : Wed Jul 18, 2012 8:47 am  

No1 Saint wrote:

Attacking prowess at fullback is not something most teams can afford to be without , certainly not if they want to be challengers.

On this, we agree!