Blues to get new fullback and skipper
Roar Guru
By ScottWoodward.me, 30 Nov 2009 ScottWoodward.me is a Roar Guru
Blues coach Craig Bellamy made a rare error of judgment at the State of Origin selection table this year when he plumped for Knight Kurt Gidley as his fullback and skipper.
You cannot help but admire Gidley’s work ethic, and there can be no doubt that Bellamy is one of his greatest fans, but as a State of Origin number one up against champion Billy Slater, he simply is not in the same class.
Bellamy has painted himself into a corner for the 2010 renewal, assuming he takes the job again as expected.
NSW have an embarrassment of riches all vying for the crucial job of custodian, and Bellamy will be under pressure to sack his captain in favour of try scoring freak Brett Stewart or Dally M Player of the Year Jarryd Hayne.
Stewart and Hayne play fullback at club level and both are prolific as try scorers and with try assists.
It is unheard of for a captain to play off the bench which is where Gidley is likely to be selected. The only club captain who is certain of selection aside from Gidley is Gallen, who enhanced his reputation with an outstanding series in the 4 Nations recently.
If Bellamy is to start with the best 13 Blues players then Stewart will fight out the fullback position with Hayne with the loser playing wing. Gidley will be benched and Gallen should be skipper by default.
Bellamy is one Rugby League’s greatest coaches, second only to Wayne Bennett. But if he has a weakness, it is that he is fiercely loyal. But surely these stats will assist Bob McCarthy and his selection panel when the Gidley argument is raised.
Tries Playing Fullback 2008 2009
Brett Stewart 22 (24 games) 6(5)
Jarryd Hayne 2 (6) 10(19)
Kurt Gidley 7 (17) 5 (21)
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby League articles
- Gallop and some of his precious Sydney NRL clubs must go (101)
- The NRL is back baby! (65)
- The NRL needs a vision (50)
- The NRL’s scariest players (50)
- Bulldogs setting benchmark for Sydney’s NRL clubs (46)
- Channel Nine needs NRL-cricket ODI compromise (35)
- NRL tackle count rule a surefire winner (33)
- Federal Court has it wrong on sports broadcast copyright (1)
- An open letter to Channel Nine (1)
- The NRL’s scariest players (50)
- Is the All Stars match increasing the divide? (23)
- Channel Nine needs NRL-cricket ODI compromise (35)
- The NRL needs a vision (50)
- New breed of NRL players continue to develop (22)
Mr Sports said | November 30th 2009 @ 7:51am | Report comment
Is Paul Gallen still captain of Cronulla? I thought they took it off him after the racial slur incident earlier this year?
I don’t think it will matter anyway, the NSW selectors will find a way to pick Gidley to start, even if they have to play him at five-eighth.
M1tch said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:07am | Report comment
Gidley will be picked…but on bench
There would be a revolt from the fans if Gidley is picked in front of Hayne
Jay said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
Im a knights supporter and I dont understand why Gidley is an automatic selection in any rep team.. even on the interchange bench…
next year, it should definatley be hayne at fullback if his form is as good.
Mark said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Gallen is not captain for Sharks, Barrett is, and in Barrett’s absensce Covell steps up from the wing to captain.
sledgeross said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:31am | Report comment
I think gallen is still “club captain” at the Sharks, but not first grade skipper due to his big gob.
Having said that, I think he would make a good origin skipper, especially given our lack of leadership depth. He leads from the front, can play the full 80, and is always enthusiastic (too much so sometimes!). If Kimmorley is selcted, I would probably plump for him. Noone can slow the game down by chastising the refs onfield like Noddy!
Springs said | November 30th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
I would appoint Hindmarsh captain, but since he is unlikely to be available, Kimmorley/Barrett to be captain. Farah is the only other captain that could be picked, but… no. Gidley captain after 4 games was a terrible choice.
macavity said | November 30th 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
I am a Knights fan and love the passion he plays with, but even I have to concede Kids will need a monster start to 2010 to keep the blue #1 from Hayne.
Kids takes a lot of unwarranted flack, seems to be the target of the month with a lot of league fans.
Unfortunately while Kids leaves it all out there, he is possibly the most predictable player in the NRL (and was apparently coached to play that way by Smith). Be interesting to see what a change of coach (and likely change of role) brings.
It is quite possible that Kids will be playing in the halves, at least some of the time, for the Knights.
Bellamy loves him, the blues are short on halves, and he is certainly one of NSW’ best 17.
….. It is quite possible he will be at 7 for the blues.
Not saying I agree with this. He will need to have improved a heap on his last efforts in the halves to be worth it.
Stewart? He might be behind bars by then…..
ScottWoodward.me said | November 30th 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Interesting comments fellas. Here is some no brainers:
* Brett Stewart will be the greatest try scoring fullback in the history of the game both in numbers and trys per game ratio by the time he retires.
* Jarryd Hayne has the ability to rival Ken Thornet and Peter Stirling as Parramatta’s greatest ever player by the time he retires.
They simply both must be starters and in the interests of the team, Hayne is more comfortable on the left wing, where he was the Blues best player this year. Bellamy gave him a roving role which worked well.
Mal Meninga would have sleepless nights with this backline:
1. Brett Stewart
2. Jarryd Hayne
3.Josh Morris
4. Michael Jennings
5. Michael Gordon (90% goal kicker)
6. Trent Barrett
7. Brett Kimmorley
Regardless who gets the big “C” next to their name, Kimmorley will call the shots.
M1tch said | November 30th 2009 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
Hayne is a creator, Stewart if a finisher..
Hayne =fullback
Stewart = Origin winger
ScottWoodward.me said | November 30th 2009 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
M1tch everyone loves Hayne but he is not your classic fullback and often found wanting trying to read the game and position himself in defense.
Stewart reads the game better defending, scores more 4 pointers and according to the stats has a similar try assist record to Hayne.
TRY ASSISTS PLAYING FULLBACK;
2008
STEWART 14 FROM 24 GAMES (EQUAL TOP WITH SLATER)
HAYNE 2 FROM 6 GAMES
2009
STEWART 3 FROM 5 GAMES
HAYNE 15 FROM 19 GAMES
M1tch said | November 30th 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
Stewart good in defence is even more reason for him on the wing, Hayne yeh isnt a good defender, but he will create more from fullback than Stewart will
Springs said | November 30th 2009 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
A lot of Stewart’s and Slater’s try assists are from set plays where they run into the backline off the halves or hooker creating an overlap, often throwing a cut-out pass to the winger or breaking the line and drawing the fullback. Hayne’s try assists he usually creates out of nothing, like in the Bulldogs game. His kicking game is also better than Stewarts.
Springs said | November 30th 2009 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Start Hayne at fullback. Also they didn’t pick El Masri for NSW as he was always classed as just a specialist goal kicker, Gordon will not be picked on goal kicking. Another option for Captain I would put forward is Andrew Ryan. Even though some say Bobcat’s Too Old he has been forgotten since the ’07 series. He is an experienced leader, experienced rep player and is as good if not better than Hoffman, Waterhouse, Stewart and Laffranchi.
sledgeross said | November 30th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Yeah, Bobcats a good choice. But I think they need someone who has been in the squad recently.
Mick from Giralang said | November 30th 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Agree Hayne should be fullback if his form warrants it next year but I reckon Josh Dugan from Canberra is ahead of Brett Stewart. Dugan can kick goals too. ( Not that I’m biased or anytyhing like that…)
ScottWoodward.me said | November 30th 2009 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
It not about who is the best, it is about what is THE BEST for the team and that will be Bellamys call. If he thinks Gidley is ahead of Hayne as fullback then he certainly will think Stewart is.
El Masri was selected for NSW based on his goal kicking. To date Gordon has a higher conversion rate and is a much better player.
As for Bobcat, fellas you cant be serious! He has been well past his best for 3 years IMO. He is not in competition with Waterhouse, Stewart or Laffranchi as they play on the right he plays on the left in competition with Watmough, Tupou and Hoffman.
Agree Josh Dugan is a star. I will be surprised if his next contract is with the Raiders.
Springs said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:49pm | Report comment
El Masri was selected once. If they wanted him for goal kicking they would have selected him before the series was gone. And to say that Gordon is a better player than El Masri…El Masri has played over 300 games, including when he wasn’t 1st choice goalkicker, scored 150+ tries and is the highest pointscorer ever. Gordon has played 59 games and is already 26 and hasn’t really shown he is better than Morris, Morris, Grothe, Tahu, Burt, Turner, Quinn, Williams, Monaghan, etc. etc.