Hello bazza, and welcome to BHQ!
Allow me to give you some advice and strong suggestion. :wink:
Your post lacks paragraphs, and as such becomes almost unreadable.
It's a pity, because a lot of people might loose out on a very interesting and balanced view regarding Hoffman.
I don't agree with everything, such as Hoffman's having a passing ability, and I think he needs to greatly improve his timing as well. But most of what you write is correct, albeit almost anyone would look good at fullback with Locky feeding them the ball...
Cheers for the suggestions,
I do understand the concern over Hoffman's passing ability, but in my opinion, all he needs is the confidence instilled into him to back his ability and actually pass.
He has to have some sort of passing ability since he's played as a five-eighth for most of his junior football, and it is believed to be his strongest, and most natural position.
Nothing a bit of time, patience, and attention from the coaching of a quality halve (Lockyer) can't fix, to enable him to fully utilise his assets and skill set, that we are not already seeing, which others believe does not even exist.
I also disagree that Lockyer made him look good, as we've all witnessed him play well for NZ against the Kangaroos. It's more a case of a combination that worked, unlike the combinations between Norman/Wallace and Hoffman.
I think if Hoffman was given the #6 jersey, we shouldn't expect miracles, and we should persevere, time is the key, and as he feels comfortable that he belongs at five-eighth, we'll see his game develop, as the case with Locky, who should be a future Immortal, one of the greatest players to ever play the game, in the same class as Wally Lewis.
With a little nurturing combinations will form between McCullough, Hunt, Hoffman and Barba, which in my opinion is a great, young spine, who once settled into their positions and firing, will potentially be quite lethal.