NEWS Isaako: RTS blazed a trail for me to follow

[Super Freak]

Isaako: RTS blazed a trail for me to follow

March 19, 2019

Broncos winger Jamayne Isaako used to watch Roger Tuivasa-Sheck highlights before he'd run out on the field and now he wants to follow in the Warriors captain's footsteps.

The 22-year-old is young and restless to play fullback. He's also respectful and willing to be patient so long as he is serving an apprenticeship under Brisbane captain and first-choice No.1 Darius Boyd.

Isaako starred at fullback for Souths-Logan in the Intrust Super Cup in 2017 where he convinced former coach Wayne Bennett he was ready to be a regular in the NRL side.

He is backing up from a 2018 season where he was the Telstra Premiership leading point scorer, Dally M rookie of the year and won a Test jersey with New Zealand.

Tuivasa-Sheck played two full seasons for the Roosters (2013-14) on the wing where he learned the fullback craft from Anthony Minichiello, before moving to the custodian’s role himself in 2015.

It is a journey Isaako hopes to travel himself.

"Before I played NRL I'd watch highlight vision of Roger before I'd run out for Souths-Logan in the Q [Intrust Super] Cup. I had the clips saved to my phone so just before I'd go out I'd chuck that on and it would give me a boost to play like that," Isaako told NRL.com.

"For him to be that kind of an inspiration to me is huge. I am really inspired to play like him. I love the way the way he can step like he does and just the way he plays.

"All good fullbacks learn off other players who have been in that position and I am enjoying being able to learn off Darius ... Roger did an apprenticeship and learned of Anthony Minichiello and I am learning off Darius, so it is the same process."

Boyd had a similar transition from wing to fullback after making his debut for Brisbane in 2006. It wasn't until he went to the Dragons in 2009 that he became a regular fullback.

"Kids are getting bigger, stronger and faster these days but there is a lot more to it at fullback with barking orders and setting up plays," Boyd told NRL.com.

"While Jamayne has all the attributes now I think there are benefits to learning as a two or three-year player in a position like wing where you can hone your skills.

"Then when he gets the opportunity to play a position like fullback that is more taxing, where you need more experience, he will be a lot more ready for the role."

Isaako said the learning curve under Boyd was getting him prepared to take the next step.

"The pre-season helped a lot. I asked Darbs a lot of questions about our attacking shapes and defensively," he said.

"In that fullback spot you are the last set of eyes in the defensive line and you have to be able to organise. A good fullback has to know where to put numbers especially when you have good attacking halves who know how to exploit teams' weaknesses.

"Darbs is an all-round fullback and that is why I am inspired by what he does.

"I want to play fullback but at the same time I am happy to learn off Darbs. For me it is a waiting game while I develop my game on the wing."

Boyd said Isaako had made the most of every opportunity.

"I think it was out of him and Jonus Pearson to see who would start last year. It was a 50/50 split almost but Jamayne probably trialled a bit better and Wayne picked him," Boyd said.

"He took the opportunity with both hands and in round three he won us the game against the Knights [9-7] where he scored every point ... and from there he grew in confidence and felt a part of the team.

"Jamayne deserves all the credit he gets because he works extremely hard ... If he can keep improving he is going to be a 10 to 15 year NRL player, and rep player as well."

Source: NRL.com

 

[Sproj]

I don’t understand why they can’t swap them between attack and defense.

 

[Allo]

I don’t understand why they can’t swap them between attack and defense.

It needs to happen this season (read:now) if Seibs is intending on Boyd playing out the season at fullback

 

[Battler]

I know this is a big call, but I reckon he's already on RTS' level. His stepping is just as lethal and he's a harder runner than RTS and seems more difficult for defenders to handle. That break he made against the Titans returning the ball was freakish. The only aspects of RTS' game that are clearly better are passing and defence, both of which Isaako will pick up within ten rounds of being a full time FB.

Within twelve months he's going to be the complete package, a dream player to have at FB: constant threat in attack with ball in hand, arguably the best goal kicker in the comp, lethal returning the ball, a freakish athlete, robust in defence.

 

[Alec]

I know this is a big call, but I reckon he's already on RTS' level. His stepping is just as lethal and he's a harder runner than RTS and seems more difficult for defenders to handle. That break he made against the Titans returning the ball was freakish. The only aspects of RTS' game that are clearly better are passing and defence, both of which Isaako will pick up within ten rounds of being a full time FB.

Within twelve months he's going to be the complete package, a dream player to have at FB: constant threat in attack with ball in hand, arguably the best goal kicker in the comp, lethal returning the ball, a freakish athlete, robust in defence.

I'd say it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too early to make a call like that. I don't see how he's a harder runner either, his kick returns on the wing are pretty soft, and he has barely played fullback at first gradelevel.

 

[Unbreakable]

RTS runs back harder than anyone when he wants to, it's just that most of the time he's stepping around the defense rather than going through it. I'd be satisfied if he was 70% of what RTS brings at Fullback, let alone an exact replica.

 

[tommy]

I wouldn't say he's on RTS' level but we have a good one in Isaako.

 

[Sproj]

He's nowhere near RTS, only a biased Broncs fan would think that (and there is no shame in being one of those fans!!!). He hardly ever runs hard and he rarely ever shows his freakish ability, certainly not regularly anyway. He would be 50% of RTS at the moment at best.

 

[pagey]

I know this is a big call, but I reckon he's already on RTS' level. His stepping is just as lethal and he's a harder runner than RTS and seems more difficult for defenders to handle. That break he made against the Titans returning the ball was freakish. The only aspects of RTS' game that are clearly better are passing and defence, both of which Isaako will pick up within ten rounds of being a full time FB.

Within twelve months he's going to be the complete package, a dream player to have at FB: constant threat in attack with ball in hand, arguably the best goal kicker in the comp, lethal returning the ball, a freakish athlete, robust in defence.[/QU
He needs to be consistent, he isn't close to RTS atm . RTS was a lot more involved when he was on the wing , isaako drifts out of games .

 

[Jedhead]

I don't think Isaako drifts out f games at all. If you watch where the storm kicked it was mostly to Oates to try and nullify his hit up on the first tackle. This means Isaako's wing saw hardly any ball.

 

[Foordy]

I don't think Isaako drifts out f games at all. If you watch where the storm kicked it was mostly to Oates to try and nullify his hit up on the first tackle. This means Isaako's wing saw hardly any ball.

that just shows how strong our wingers are ... imagine having to kick it to Oates (a player that makes huge meters on the first tackle) to try and nullify the other wingers first tackle hitup ... lol

 

[Super Freak]

I would prefer Isaako didn't become another RTS, but it looks like that's the type of fullback he is going to be.

Whenever we go up against the Warriors, I can't say RTS concerns me that much.

 

[Jedhead]

that just shows how strong our wingers are ... imagine having to kick it to Oates (a player that makes huge meters on the first tackle) to try and nullify the other wingers first tackle hitup ... lol

Yeh I fink I meant to say second tackle hit up there.

 

[Brotherdu]

He's nowhere near RTS, only a biased Broncs fan would think that (and there is no shame in being one of those fans!!!). He hardly ever runs hard and he rarely ever shows his freakish ability, certainly not regularly anyway. He would be 50% of RTS at the moment at best.

To be fair to him, he's not often collecting the ball in the middle of the park on the 20 (like a fullback would) with opp players 20m away still, letting him wind up.

He's catching it in a corner and and having to use what space he has to run infield for support and not get bundled into touch.

 

[BroncsFan]

To be fair to him, he's not often collecting the ball in the middle of the park on the 20 (like a fullback would) with opp players 20m away still, letting him wind up.

He's catching it in a corner and and having to use what space he has to run infield for support and not get bundled into touch.

Yes but as either a winger or fullback RTS dummy half runs always seems to make the first man miss, which then allows him to work towards a quick PTB and gets their sets off to a good start.

I don't think Isaako is doing that at the moment... not to say he can't but he can get dominated in tackles every now and then. I remember last year he was getting driven backwards due to poor body positioning and offloaded out of panic to lose the ball putting us under huge pressure (may have been against the titans??).

I would like to see Isaako and Boyd switch around in defence if anything to preserve Boyd's health. I recall a game last year where Isaako was playing fullback and he was cleaning up kicks very well... would be a good way to progress Isaako into the fullback role without hampering our attacking structures

 

[Eta Carinae]

Both are very talented but at this stage, it seems RTS has an outstanding work ethnic to go with his talent. One could make precisely the opposite argument with Isaako but I don't see any reason why he can't be trained or threatened with being dropped to rectify that.

 

[Brotherdu]

Yes but as either a winger or fullback RTS dummy half runs always seems to make the first man miss, which then allows him to work towards a quick PTB and gets their sets off to a good start.

I don't think Isaako is doing that at the moment... not to say he can't but he can get dominated in tackles every now and then. I remember last year he was getting driven backwards due to poor body positioning and offloaded out of panic to lose the ball putting us under huge pressure (may have been against the titans??).

I would like to see Isaako and Boyd switch around in defence if anything to preserve Boyd's health. I recall a game last year where Isaako was playing fullback and he was cleaning up kicks very well... would be a good way to progress Isaako into the fullback role without hampering our attacking structures

I agree with you, RTS is definitely better at returning the ball. I was just pointing out that he's playing wing, not FB where RTS has played most of his games. So not exactly an apples/apples comparison.

 

[tommy]

Both are very talented but at this stage, it seems RTS has an outstanding work ethnic to go with his talent. One could make precisely the opposite argument with Isaako but I don't see any reason why he can't be trained or threatened with being dropped to rectify that.

What are you basing your argument on? You do realise Isaako has been praised by everyone in the know for the extra efforts he puts in at training?