Fight for Fullback

[Big Pete]

It seems like everyone has a different idea of who should be our fullback.

Some (*cough*me*cough*) want us to stick loyal with an incumbent Test player in Hoffman.

Others want to utilise the talents of Norman & try and capitilise on the potential he's shown ever since he came onto the scene in 2010.

Then you've got the Hodges fans. Fair to say he played a huge part in our last premiership victory and now that he's looking like in career best shape, maybe a return to the position might be the spark you want to see?

Either way, who should wear the #1 for Brisbane in 2013?

 

[ningnangnong]

It's a bloody good question, Pete. I reckon it depends on what you want in a fullback.

I'm going with Josh Hoffman.

I think everyone is a little too quick to forget Hoffman's form in the two seasons prior to 2012. He was hands down our best back. You seriously couldn't fault him. Strong, dynamic and elusive - people were asking, Karmichael who? Fast forward to now, and it seems the majority can't wait to see the back of him at fullback.

There's no denying that he was substandard last season. He looked a completely different player to the one that BHQ had been lavishing praise on the year before. Those comments about not trying hard or whatever he said haven't helped him either. There are a few areas of his game that need a bit of work (passing!), but I think last season was more a drop in form (for whatever reason... perhaps he was unmotivated?) than not being good enough.

I reckon he'll be back to his best this season.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Our options aren't great IMO but I've gone with Norman. I'd love a fast fullback but we just don't have one. Hoffman to me just can't do enough with the ball in hand. His positional play is fine most of the time but he is generally poor in regards to support play. Hodges would be excellent but who plays at right centre? Maybe if Copley wasn't injured it would be worth a try. The other issue with Hodgo is his injury history. Norman while not fast or great as a defensive fullback I think he has the potential to at the very least add something in attack from Fullback.

 

[Big Pete]

My only issue with Hoffman and it's been an issue he's had ever since he came to the club, is that he simply doesn't involve himself enough near the line. Maybe with Prince there as opposed to Norman, he can get some good ball and actually be able to use it, but even with Locky there I never thought it was a strength.

I just think he's our safest option and at his best, our best option. All-round, he has it all and he's a specialist.

Norman offers a pass and an extra kicking option, but even those can't be guaranteed at this stage. It seems obvious that he's spent bugger all time back there and fullback isn't a position you can spend a few weeks on and expect to be great at. Just look at Ben Barba in 2011, they figured him out so quickly it was almost embarrassing to watch him at the end of the season.

Hodgo is an option but who could replace him in the centres? We going to give Stagg another shot?

 

[Ari Gold]

It's a bloody good question, Pete. I reckon it depends on what you want in a fullback.

I'm going with Josh Hoffman.

I think everyone is a little too quick to forget Hoffman's form in the two seasons prior to 2012. He was hands down our best back. You seriously couldn't fault him. Strong, dynamic and elusive - people were asking, Karmichael who? Fast forward to now, and it seems the majority can't wait to see the back of him at fullback.

I highly disagree. Even when Hoffman was playing well he offered very little in attacking movements. Yes, his bomb defusal and kick returns were stronger than Hunt's, but even in the Lockyer days he offered us very little in the way of backline movement contributions. Once more, not only can Hoffman not contribute to setting up tries, he is also quite poor at scoring them. Cooper Cronk has more tries in the last 2 seasons than Hoffman does in the 3 seasons he's played in his career. I'm pretty sure his strike rate is less than 1 in 3 games, which is just so unacceptable for a fullback who doesn't set up tries.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I highly disagree. Even when Hoffman was playing well he offered very little in attacking movements. Yes, his bomb defusal and kick returns were stronger than Hunt's, but even in the Lockyer days he offered us very little in the way of backline movement contributions. Once more, not only can Hoffman not contribute to setting up tries, he is also quite poor at scoring them. Cooper Cronk has more tries in the last 2 seasons than Hoffman does in the 3 seasons he's played in his career. I'm pretty sure his strike rate is less than 1 in 3 games, which is just so unacceptable for a fullback who doesn't set up tries.

That is an excellent point. Looks at Darius Boyd. He doesn't score a lot of tries but he is involved in a fair few of them. Billy Slater scores them and sets them up same with Stewart, Barba, Hayne. We really need a good fullback.

 

[Mr Fourex]

I'm prepared to stick with Hoffman.

But I'm looking around.

Kahu when match fit and has his confidence back could provide more and that's the direction I'm heading for a new fullback push.

One thing I was disappointed with in Hoffman was his lack of urgency when covering across in the Vatevei try Saturday night. Seemed to be ambling .......

Also his comments last year about not really being "into it" in the context of playing, haven't left me. This is something I thought of while watching him stroll in behind to watch Manu score.

 

[Mr Fourex]

It seems like everyone has a different idea of who should be our fullback.

Some (*cough*me*cough*) want us to stick loyal with an incumbent Test player in Hoffman.

Others want to utilise the talents of Norman & try and capitilise on the potential he's shown ever since he came onto the scene in 2010.

Then you've got the Hodges fans. Fair to say he played a huge part in our last premiership victory and now that he's looking like in career best shape, maybe a return to the position might be the spark you want to see?

Either way, who should wear the #1 for Brisbane in 2013?

How awesome is Inglis looking........ !!!

I know there's a lot of stories about why he never signed with us, but...... "somebody" should have done WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY to put him in a Brisbane jersey.

Whoever was handling the deal fucked up....IMO.

 

[Broncoman]

I voted for Norman. He burst onto the scene as a fullback in 2010 and has shown potential to play there. He has a really good running game and ball skills which I think would add some spark into from the back, I thought Hoffman was average last night as he was taken backwards every time he ran the ball back.

 

[Browny]

Hoffman is a pea heart with no ball skills.

Norman has ball skills but doesn't use them.

Not a fan of moving a star centre to fill a void.

Give Bond a go

 

[pennywisealfie]

Hodges. He is our best player, get the ball in his hands more.

 

[Kimlo]

Hodges. I reckon he would change the entire dynamic of our team for the better with him at the back. Kahu can take the centre spot.

 

[jarro65]

I'm going to go with Hodges.

I have been holding out hope that Hoffman might come good again and show us some form in the trial games, but that hasn't happened :(

 

[IBA]

I think Hoffman could make a great center and honestly believe it is his position. We need a fullback with a little 5/8 in him. Look at our highlights with Hunt at the back, so many tries went through his hands. I like a lot about Hoffmans game but I have always thought he misses that timing in attack near the line. I could never imagine him throwing a cutout pass to a winger with an overlap or rolling in a little kick. I'd love to return to a fullback with those skills.

 

[Alec]

I'd like to see Joe Bond get a go, because he's actually shown some heart in his limited time in the trials, and pace and some ball playing in QLD Cup....but it just ain't gonna happen. So I guess Norman is my next in line and hope that he eventually picks up on all the subtleties of the position. If Hoffman has to be fullback, then I hope Hook just tells him to not get involved in any more sweeping plays at all. Just have him as a full time support runner.

 

[broncos4life]

I think Hoffman could make a great center and honestly believe it is his position. We need a fullback with a little 5/8 in him. Look at our highlights with Hunt at the back, so many tries went through his hands. I like a lot about Hoffmans game but I have always thought he misses that timing in attack near the line. I could never imagine him throwing a cutout pass to a winger with an overlap or rolling in a little kick. I'd love to return to a fullback with those skills.

I 100% agree. I think he would make a great centre. His skill set suits centre best and apparently he tore up when he played there for reddy

 

[Browny]

He'd be like Tate and never pass to his winger

 

[broncos4life]

He'd be like Tate and never pass to his winger

That's what reed does, so what would be the difference... Better footwork?