Huge
International Rep
Contributor
- Mar 7, 2008
- 13,620
- 10,547
Nothing wrong with the suggestion. It has merit for the reasons outlined. There is currently no better qualified in the roster and he doesn't have to learn the role. It allows others to be considered for centre. As for putting his body on the line, I personally never believed he didn't regardless of popular opinion.Okay before you go nuts, hear me out. I've been thinking about this since the last game and hearing Gal and Gus say it too helped re-iterate it to me, but I honestly think Darius Boyd is our best option at fullback right now and here is why.
1. Yes I know he offers nothing in attack apart from a 3 on 2 long pass which he gets wrong 20% of the time now.
2. Yes I know he offers nothing with his kick returns.
3. Yes I know when a forward breaks the line, he is not willing to put his body on the line and tackle them.
BUT
1. No other FB we have is a better passer than him. Yes they have better footwork but they haven't done anything with it (Milf last year, Issako and Nui this year).
2. Isaako's kick returns are better than Boyds, but Milf and Nui seem too small to really make an impact with their kick returns and rely on their footwork to go around defenders in which I haven't seen anything happen
3. And the whole not putting his body on the line thing? Okay this was when we all chucked out hands in the air last year and requested he moved from fullback because it's damn right embarrassing to see him fall over when a forward comes at him. But it only happened maybe 3 or 4 times last year. Now I'm not saying any of it is good, but hear me out.
PRO's
Our defensive line is better when he is at fullback. It does not seem like there is any communication going on in defense at the moment and it wasn't more obvious than that Tigers game. Sure the Eels and the Roosters putting that type of score on us is one thing because they are quality sides, but the Tigers abused us and our players were so much out of position it isn't funny. I can't help but think that Boyd would've actually got our players into a better defensive position and it wouldn't have been as bad.
Now I'm not saying he is the answer for us long term (obviously), but until Nui is more experienced vocally and is able to organise the defense, I think he is our best option. I've always liked Issako and he was quite solid defensively and very reliable under the high ball, but his attack is not better than Boyd's apart from his returns and he doesn't organise the defense as well.
Anyways, I am ready to be roasted but these are my thoughts in this desperate time.