PLAYER Xavier Willison

[Big Del]

1 1910 From my knowledge Willison has played backrow before, what is your view on him there?

I ask this because we seem to be very covered in the middle with BTK and Marty behind our current Bench options and want to know his capability there if it comes up.

He definitely seems way too big to be a backrower but he is deceptively fast like Haas,(likely because while he is very muscular he is very lean too), last time I remember him playing there for us was against Penrith in the second half and he honestly looked like he was going to tear them apart when he got the ball, the disadvantages would obviously be in defence given his size, but if he is a bench backrower that could be mitigated.

He struggled to defend on the edge in the Allstars game .
Those steppy halves and changes of direction are difficult for him to deal with in defence . He scrambled well and covered .But if he was there full time oppositions would work moves to exploit his lateral movement .

 

[1910]

1 1910 From my knowledge Willison has played backrow before, what is your view on him there?

I ask this because we seem to be very covered in the middle with BTK and Marty behind our current Bench options and want to know his capability there if it comes up.

He definitely seems way too big to be a backrower but he is deceptively fast like Haas,(likely because while he is very muscular he is very lean too), last time I remember him playing there for us was against Penrith in the second half and he honestly looked like he was going to tear them apart when he got the ball, the disadvantages would obviously be in defence given his size, but if he is a bench backrower that could be mitigated.

I can remember him having runs on the left edge, once against the Jets in Meninga he terrorised Sam Walker in 2019.

But I can't remember him ever being named anywhere but front row or bench and then running a bit wider if the opportunity came up like little Sam just standing there.

When he's on an edge even if the Sams of the world hang on- you're not stopping him getting a lightening quick play the ball. Which is his best strength, since 2019 I have been saying if a hooker doesn't run after a Willison play the ball he should be sacked on the spot.