PLAYER Reece Walsh

[1910]

Edwards just had a patch where his hands went and he couldn't catch. Before and after that weird period he was good/great.

He won their rookie of the year in 2017 and played 21 Cup games from 2016-2019 and even that period of hands issues he was dropped for three games. Which isn't too bad.

Edwards is probably what I would say is a traditional fullback- all effort and support play run hard. Good cover defender. I have always argued he could easily have three Clive Churchill's because I think he's been excellent in all of them.

He could play in the 1980's.- I love that the game has these different types and they are still successful. I love watching Edwards.

 

[BroncsFan]

Edwards just had a patch where his hands went and he couldn't catch. Before and after that weird period he was good/great.

I think Edwards was Michael Gordon 2.0... possibly still is to an extent.

He'll catch everything and run for 300m, but you weren't typically relying on him to win you games on his own.

There was a period where panthers were trying Crichton out at fullback and if he weren't so terrible back there I daresay Edwards would've been out the door.

He probably had his best year last year though and was actually a playmaking threat with Cleary out... will be interesting to see if he keeps that up and that becomes his new standard... but he's not really required to do it in the current panthers setup

 

[whykickamoocow]

You'd take one Immortal who changed the game for Fullback's, over another potential Immortal who also changed the game for Fullback's.

Better stop the press for that headline.

FYI, one being incredible doesn't take away from the other being a different kind of incredible too.

Never said Slater wasn’t good, I asked what you thought he did that changed the way fullbacks play. Something you’ve failed to answer by the way. Do you have an answer or were you just sprouting other people’s opinions.

 

[Kooly87]

Never said Slater wasn’t good, I asked what you thought he did that changed the way fullbacks play. Something you’ve failed to answer by the way. Do you have an answer or were you just sprouting other people’s opinions.

You are literally the one who bought Lockyer into this conversation out of absolutely nowhere?

As for Slater, it's already been covered above, but just for your sake, he re-wrote the book on attacking stats for Fullbacks, in particular try scoring, which isn't even close to being matched by other Fullback's with a comparable number of games, both in the modern era or any other era for that matter.

His constant threat with ball in hand, both individually but also as a playmaking option, is taken for granted these days, but prior to Slater coming along, it was something of a revelation. Opinions are subjective, but the sheer numbers for Slater are simply beyond contention.

Like I said, if you don't get the hype, and you're not under 17 years old, Rugby League maybe just isn't the sport for you. No shame in that.

 

[1910]

I think Belcher was a game changer too- he was so good at linking with his winger and bringing the ball back and creating space not lateral space but straight on room for his winger.

I think because he'd played centre at Souths and had to move to fullback because he wasn't getting over Jackson and Mal that Belcher brought that spatial awareness.

Still think he should have the Clive Medal in 1989.

 

[Allo]

You are literally the one who bought Lockyer into this conversation out of absolutely nowhere?

As for Slater, it's already been covered above, but just for your sake, he re-wrote the book on attacking stats for Fullbacks, in particular try scoring, which isn't even close to being matched by other Fullback's with a comparable number of games, both in the modern era or any other era for that matter.

His constant threat with ball in hand, both individually but also as a playmaking option, is taken for granted these days, but prior to Slater coming along, it was something of a revelation. Opinions are subjective, but the sheer numbers for Slater are simply beyond contention.

Like I said, if you don't get the hype, and you're not under 17 years old, Rugby League maybe just isn't the sport for you. No shame in that.

Stop trying to be the arbiter of what is or isn’t a valid opinion on the sport

 

[whykickamoocow]

You are literally the one who bought Lockyer into this conversation out of absolutely nowhere?

As for Slater, it's already been covered above, but just for your sake, he re-wrote the book on attacking stats for Fullbacks, in particular try scoring, which isn't even close to being matched by other Fullback's with a comparable number of games, both in the modern era or any other era for that matter.

His constant threat with ball in hand, both individually but also as a playmaking option, is taken for granted these days, but prior to Slater coming along, it was something of a revelation. Opinions are subjective, but the sheer numbers for Slater are simply beyond contention.

Like I said, if you don't get the hype, and you're not under 17 years old, Rugby League maybe just isn't the sport for you. No shame in that.

Bringing Lockyer into a conversation about fullbacks who changed the way fullbacks play is hardly out of nowhere. Especially when Slaters ball playing is often cited as to how he changed the way fullbacks play. As a Broncos fan that irks the shit out of me given we had Locky doing it for 6 or 7 years before Slater was even heard of. In my opinion, if any fullback from the last 20 to 30 yrs should be credited to changing the way fullbacks play it is Lockyer.

Slater and Mullins both scored tries around the 58% so he only had longevity going for him on that one.

Again, I never questioned Slaters ability all I asked was how did he redefine how fullbacks played to which you finally answered by citing 1910 and I would suggest that anyone who brings up ball playing as an example, well maybe rugby league isn’t the game for them. Come back to me when you have an original thought of your own.

 

[broncsgoat]

Has literally anyone seriously argued that he isn't playing poorly?

Read the first line of the image I was commenting about

 

[Kooly87]

Bringing Lockyer into a conversation about fullbacks who changed the way fullbacks play is hardly out of nowhere. Especially when Slaters ball playing is often cited as to how he changed the way fullbacks play. As a Broncos fan that irks the shit out of me given we had Locky doing it for 6 or 7 years before Slater was even heard of. In my opinion, if any fullback from the last 20 to 30 yrs should be credited to changing the way fullbacks play it is Lockyer.

Slater and Mullins both scored tries around the 58% so he only had longevity going for him on that one.

Again, I never questioned Slaters ability all I asked was how did he redefine how fullbacks played to which you finally answered by citing 1910 and I would suggest that anyone who brings up ball playing as an example, well maybe rugby league isn’t the game for them. Come back to me when you have an original thought of your own.

I raise you bringing Lockyer into it because you seem to be under some sort of misapprehension that because one was brilliant and revolutionary, the other couldn't be, when nobody else was making that argument in the first place. Of course Lockyer was those things too. Nobody ever suggested otherwise, least of all me.

As for original thoughts. @1910 is simply pointing out Slater's tryscoring record, which is hardly some state secret or privileged knowledge. It was constantly talked about his entire career. If you weren't paying attention then I'm sorry you missed it, but that's your problem, not mine.

A Slater and Lockyer comparison is largely subjective. Both were incredible. Both changed the game at Fullback but in slightly different ways. Lockyer was the more talented ball player, but Slater had ballplaying too, and his threat when running the ball was arguably without peer. This is not to mention his work in organising the Melbourne and Queensland defence, which was simply incredible too.

I'm inclined to say Slater was the better Fullback simply because he played so many more games there and dominated in that role for so much longer, but I don't think there is any doubt Lockyer was the better player overall. Perhaps the very best ever.

 

[Mustafur]

I think Lockyer wouldn't have worked as a Fullback much longer than he did it, he lost his speed much earlier, Slater kept his into his 30s.

 

[ningnangnong]

From memory, David Peachey and Rhys Wesser both scored a bounty of tries from fullback, before Billy Slater was around.

 

[broncsgoat]

Read the first line of the image I was commenting about

@Kooly87 did you read it yet

 

[Battler]

So in other words you just spew out the shit other people say. He was a great fullback but what aspect of the game did he change. Ball playing? That’s a nope, support play? That’s another nope. Slater had to change his game because he was getting overlooked for rep sides for KHunt. It’s complete bullshit that he changed the way fullbacks play the game. There’s nothing in the way he played that other fullbacks like Lockyer and Hunt weren’t already doing. So again, how did he change the game for fullbacks

Karate kicks mid-air? Sliding in with the knees or feet to stop tries? Costing Aus a WC with a no look cowboy pass (worse than the Hunt GF drop btw but nobody talks about it when discussing Slater for some reason)?

 

[Jedhead]

Karate kicks mid-air? Sliding in with the knees or feet to stop tries? Costing Aus a WC with a no look cowboy pass (worse than the Hunt GF drop btw but nobody talks about it when discussing Slater for some reason)?

That WC Hail Mary pass was right in front of me. It was sheer panic as he did not want to get tackled. Luckily my bro in law and I had rattled off a few massive spliffs before the game so I was able to stay relatively calm and merely scolded him like an errant schoolboy. He was fair dinkum shattered though.

 

[Big Del]

I think Lockyer wouldn't have worked as a Fullback much longer than he did it, he lost his speed much earlier, Slater kept his into his 30s.

Slater had a year and a bit off for a shoulder reco .
Worked hard on his running in the down time . Came back faster than he was .

 

[Morkel]

Slater didn't revolutionise shit, all he did was play really bloody good in the position. Lockyer revolutionised it.

 

[broncsgoat]

@Kooly87 did you read it yet

How bout now champion? @Kooly87

 

[1910]

From memory, David Peachey and Rhys Wesser both scored a bounty of tries from fullback, before Billy Slater was around.

Wesser 127 tries
Peachey 117 tries

They are both less than 184. Both good players but they're not in Slater's class.