It is, as they say, a good problem to have. With the impending return of the explosive Michael Gordon from a season-ending knee reconstruction, new Penrith coach Ivan Cleary will have a selection battle on his hands for the Panthers custodian role in 2012.
Gordon has made clear his preference to play at fullback for Penrith, and has excelled when he has done so previously.
The Mountain Men, though, also have available the quicksilver Lachlan Coote, who in conjunction with Luke Walsh, has invariably come up with the right play at the right time from the back of the field.
Undoubtedly both men are incredibly talented, but to date their respective affairs with the fullback jumper have come from the other’s expense due to injury. They have never really had to battle it out for weekly selection in the No. 1.
It seems this time will come in 2012, and Cleary will have to make the call – and not just week to week, but potentially on one man’s future long-term.
Can Penrith continue to waste Gordon’s talents from the wing? Can he make the transition to centre to accommodate? Will he ever return with the same speed and power post-operation?
Conversely, should Cleary look to shore up the troublesome five-eighth spot with the Walsh-Coote combo, or in the modern era of quickfire dummy halves can Coote play 9?
Similarly to Craig Bellamy in 2004, when Billy Slater and Greg Inglis were both vying for the Storm fullback position, a tough decison had to be made. Time has proven that one to be correct. Time will also prove if Cleary is made of the same stuff.
One thing is for sure though – that clubs with cash in the cap and no nailed down fullback (such as the Roosters, Tigers, Dragons, Titans, and Sharks) will be watching the progress of both men very closely.
They may not even wait for the Panthers to play their cards first.
Fletcher_Celand
Roar Rookie
Touché. I was one of the many within the fantasy realms who cried at the loss of such a huge point scorer. The irony being I replaced him long-term with Coote who was not too shabby himself in fantasy points output.
Fletcher_Celand
Roar Rookie
I'm an unabashed Gordon fan and think he has definitely done enough to earn first right to the fullback jumper at Penrith. I agree that then after this he can challenge for representative honors. With this in mind, the big question is where to play the dynamic Coote? First choice would be into 6 so he can still play that semi-roaming role he is so good at rather than outposted to wing. This meaning Trav Burns back to play bench utility/hooker which he is deft at filling in as. Thoughts?
Gareth
Guest
Mick Gordon should have been NSW fullback this year, had it not been for his season ending injury. And that's coming from a big fan of the Raiders and Josh Dugan. He should get first bite of the cherry at Penrith, and hopefully become a catalyst to bring Dugan back into the form he's capable of when fully fit himself.
Das Boat
Guest
Well in Fantasy NRL Gordon is far better when at Fullback. So on the basis of that flawless reasoning, it should be him