The language barrier has not caused too many problems for Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham since Japanese star Ayumu Goromaru’s arrival.
However, Graham is yet to find an answer to the question posed by utility Karmichael Hunt ahead of Saturday night’s Super Rugby clash with Western Force at Suncorp Stadium.
Graham said he finally felt on the same page as a settled Goromaru after confirming Japan’s World Cup star would make his starting debut at fullback this weekend.
But mystery still surrounds where he prefers to play Hunt.
The former NRL and AFL player looks set to get a six week crack at inside centre after being named to replace the injured Henry Teafu.
Centre Teafu has been ruled out for six-to-eight weeks with a high ankle sprain suffered in Saturday’s 30-10 first round loss the NSW Waratahs.
Asked where he would prefer Hunt play, Graham said: “That will be interesting.
“This season will give us more of an indication.
“He has now played a bit of 12 (inside centre), 13 (outside centre) and 15 (fullback) – he’s played everywhere.
“Each week he is getting better because he is learning the game.
“He’s a footballer but his instincts are getting better.”
Graham had only considered Hunt as a fullback ahead of the Super Rugby season.
Hunt came into his own in the No.15 guernsey for Brisbane City during last year’s National Rugby Championship and trained the entire pre-season in the position.
But Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made it clear he considers Hunt an inside centre.
Hunt moved aside for Goromaru after the Japanese superstar finally settled into the Reds camp.
“He arrived a bit late in the piece and had played a lot of rugby both at the rugby and for his club in Japan,” Graham said of Goromaru who started last week on the bench.
“It was just a matter of him settling in and I think he has done that pretty well.
“His understanding of the game is excellent, defensively he is very good and he kicks the ball exceptionally good – he adds a very good package.”
Graham settled the anxiety of the considerable Japanese media who claimed “Goro” had looked tense in the past week.
“He just turned 30. Maybe it’s because he is getting old,” Graham smiled.
Centre Samu Kerevi was impressed by Goromaru’s bag of tricks, both on and off the field.
“He told me he was 25. He got me there,” Kerevi laughed.
“But he understands a lot. He tries to speak English now which is really funny.
“It can be real hard (communicating).
“But you just have to give a hint of what move is next and he understands straight away.”
soapit
Guest
and id argue blacklock stood out reaonably well for a game he's been playing for 6 months (?) tho perhaps not as much as when he was playing something hed done his whole life. in any case youre comparing club league with rep rugby
soapit
Guest
as i said above, he was behind hayne until about 70m. and i disagree, he was up there for straight line pace. basically got picked for aus solely because of it (and a low error rate) sorry 1 player vs 1 player just isnt going to prove anything peter. we need to see times (something other than off the top of your head sorry) on enough players so that we can judge what is a sensible level of speed for rugby to then determine how the leaguies measure up.
soapit
Guest
no i didnt, you missed him and i added him to your list straight away. i have always said playmakers trying to change over will likely struggle (see my very first response to you on in here). plus benji was past it and had been left out of the nz team (and even dropped to the bench for the tigers) in his previous year in league so was hardly in the position to give rugby his best.
soapit
Guest
yep, l turner 1 and j grant second. tho hayne was second (to grant) up to about the 70m mark. shame tho dont do more of it tho can understand why they wouldnt want to risk players hammys for a nothing sprint.
DaniE
Roar Guru
They might even get more occupational satisfaction there.
DaniE
Roar Guru
I know! Too late mate! This guy totally operates in the clouds
In brief
Guest
Well they had a race several years ago and union players came first and second with Hayne and friends coming up the rear.
PeterK
Roar Guru
you missed Benji Marshall, how can he be considered a success? He was dropped quickly, could not get a start in his preferred position. You cannot just say because they made the team they were as much a success. Blacklock did not standout in Rugby like he did in league. Tahu was a star in league, a really hyped move. He did not standout in rugby at super level, no better than the other players. He did not perform at the same level.
In brief
Guest
Surely you are stuck in the 80s - greatest game of all hype. You just have to watch a game of league to realise the players are overrated.
PeterK
Roar Guru
soapit - We do have some evidence. Lachie Turner beat the fastest league guys, including Hayne, in a 100 metre race. And Lachie was no where near the quickest in super rugby at any time.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well yes the youngest player to ever debut for the kangaroos quick transition is surely evidence of how easy the switch is for NRL players...
soapit
Guest
btw thsts a ridiculous crieria for success peter. not everyone crosses over to be a wallaby great especially if that goal is unrealistic based on the individuals ability. hard to take you seriously based on that.
soapit
Guest
dont know, james roberts would be id be confident and hayne would have come close but then again we but we dont have any evidence either way so far
soapit
Guest
ok blacklocks played 2 tests for oz and zero for nsw in his entire career in league. was able to play consistently for nsw in his short spell in rugby but didnt like it and left. not sure why this is a failure. tahu. given your earlier commentsi have to disregard your unreliable subjective assessment of his form (given he's a leaguie) and judge on facts. 1st season he played consistently for nsw and achieved aus a selection and then aus selection. had a worse 2nd season but still was picked consistently for nsw at least on the bench. was picked for a single origin match after his return for the sake of the argument lets say thats a failure tho it seems pretty debatable. craig wing did well enough to be part of a historic japanese victory over wales. seemed to cut it (despite your unreliable subjective assessment). craig gower was nowhere near rep scene in league and hadnt been fr years when he crossed over yet still made 14 tests in 2 seasons for italy (doesnt suggest he wasnt cutting it). once again im disregarding your subjective assessment. sticking to the facts doesnt leave much. you can bung tahu on the list if you like, dont think itll impact the success failure ratio much)
PeterK
Roar Guru
soapit - You think the fastest NRL players are as fast as the fastest super rugby players?
PeterK
Roar Guru
soapit - As you said Tuqiri was up there for pace in league but not in super rugby. He wasbeaten for pace by many even early on when he first moved. Tuqiris best 40 metre time was 4.82 Rod Davies was 4.59, Davies raced against Beale and said Beale was as quick over 40 metres. The best 40 metre time on the fastest league players in that article is 4.7 secs. James O'Connor beat Billy Slater over 40 metres in the Greatest Athlete show. AUSTRALIA wing Lote Tuqiri has the potential to run as fast as South Africa speedster Bryan Habana, according to strength and conditioning expert Dean Benton.
PeterK
Roar Guru
at the minimum. Yes Blacklock - could not last even 1 season, far better in league before and after Timani Tahu - poor at tah level, promoted to wallabies by deans and promptly dropped it was a disaster, went back to league after and did well again Craig Wing and Graig Gower play for second tier nations and do not cut it against the opposition they play Yes also add Benji Marshall. He was a success before and after in league and failed at the Blues.
soapit
Guest
i know what you said peter, im just waiting on some evidence to back it up. sorry but restating your opinion isnt a substitute.
soapit
Guest
well tuquiri had the record for nsw for a while apparently. not sure which mug was saying he would match habana for pace. he was up there in league when he first came over but was pretty pedestrian by the time he came back ah ok its an completely subjective opinion. not sure overhyping of rugby players is the solution to your grievance. looking forward to evidence.
soapit
Guest
so basically, every leuge convert is a failure if he doesnt become a long term wallaby no matter what level his ability allowed him achieve in league before coming over. Sam Burgess, K Hunt (so far), Paul Franze, Tasesa Lavea, i removed all the ones from your list that achieved more or higher honours in rugby then they were able to in league when they came over (surely that isnt failure). you really were reaching. give you benfit of the doubt on paul franze as he seems to have not done much in either (hadnt heard of him. and lavea was a 5/8 which as i said above is not commonly a success (you also left off dear benji). so that leaves a guy who was playing at the highest level when he quit (debatable regarding success) and hunt who is really a pretty early call. even if we give you those its a very low percentage even just from the list you provided and not takng into account the ones who somehow achieved success in your eyes.