Historically, the only safe place to store your money was in a bank.
You had no worries about accessing your money and were comfortable with it being there. You could even get a modest return on your investment relatively risk-free. Besides, what other options do you have?
Trust in banks remained fairly solid. At least until the global financial crisis (GFC) and more recently the banking royal commission. People realised that trust was misplaced.
In part out of the GFC emerged cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, which are designed to turn the financial system on its head and make banks irrelevant.
Now, you may ask what this has to do with rugby.
Well, the Wallabies have a Banks crisis, and we need a crypto.
Current Wallabies fullback Tom Banks is causing a confidence crisis among the following public. They just don’t see him as a safe option to invest Wallabies resources. He has never reached his potential at Test level, too inconsistent on his returns. Fans want that 100-time return.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
So what makes a good fullback?
It used to be good speed, a good kick, good defence, good positional play, good decision-making and good communication.
Good speed: He needs to be as quick as the wingers and just as quick off the mark.
Good kick: He needs to be able to kick tactically either short, long or high and mostly pick the right option.
Good defence: He needs to be able to tackle or at least slow the behemoth down until the cavalry arrive. He needs to be solid under the high ball, 90-plus per cent solid.
Good positional play: He needs to have the ability to be in the right place at the right time, whether attacking or defending. He needs to be able to read the game.
Good decision-making: He needs to make the correct decision most of the time – when to chime into a backline move, follow a breakout, run it or kick and chase. He needs to know when to stay in the defensive line or drop back for a kick.
Good communication: Finally, he needs to rally the troops in defence and inform playmakers of the opposition back three tendencies. Talk like brothers with the wingers.
While these still apply today, the modern fullback needs additional abilities. These extras skills are aerial abilities, line busting, tackle evading, playmaking and game changing.
Goal kicking is still a bonus.
Aerial abilities: He needs to be able to soar above the clouds, pick the ball from the heavens to score tries.
Line busting: He needs to be able to bust tackles like you are playing against 12-year-olds and bend the gain line when tackled.
Tackle evading: He needs to be like Casper the friendly ghost and leave the opponents grasping air.
Playmaking: As modern No. 12s are forwards in disguise, he needs to be able to take over the playmaking from the flyhalf, set up tries and win games.
Game changing: He needs to be able to make that game-changing play every five to ten touches of the ball.
When you look at all the requirements for a good fullback, it’s not hard to see why the Wallabies struggle to find someone for such a demanding role. Usually the fullback is great at some, good at most and average at a few.
My favourite fullback of all time is Christian Cullen – I could watch him all day – but even he didn’t tick off all that list.
You can thank modern fullbacks such as the Barretts, Damian McKenzie, Israel Folau and others for the additions.
We have our Banks, so who is our crypto?
When you look at the Wallabies options for fullback, there aren’t any that stand out.
Reece Hodge is a solid performer and a safe option. He is not known for his speed, especially off the mark.
Jack Maddocks has the skills and potentially the speed, but his headspace needs a lot of work.
Jordan Petaia? You are either a fullback or you are not, even wingers know this, and I think Petaia is more dangerous in the centres.
Tom Wright? Great skills, great potential. Would be a possibility if his decision-making were to improve.
There may be other players as options, and I will leave that for others to discuss.
So where does this leave Banks?
Banks reminds me of Chris Latham but without the self-belief. He needs to win back the public by performing well, minimising errors and bringing some Super Rugby exploits to the Test arena. He needs to improve his in-tackle contact, leg drive and recycling of the ball.
He has plenty to work on, he has a lot of positives; he just needs the self-belief and time.
Will he get the time? I hope so. If he can reach his potential, we might have that fullback that can go from good to great.
If not, who’s your crypto?
Geoff
Roar Rookie
Not sure why you would mention Folua in this discussion, he only had 2 of the attributes you highlighted, he could beat a man and was great with the high ball, other than that he was an abysmal failure as a fullback. Folau had no positional sense as a fullback, poor passer, a bit of a hungas, gives up on defense if it looks a bit hard! no real pace for an outside back, not a talker, no kicking game to speak of and not prepared to do the hard hitups, apart from that yeah great lol.
Malo
Guest
Where are the Roger Gould’s or Marty Roebuck’s. Look at the NRL has a plethra of fullbacks and we have Banks wtf
Shed
Roar Rookie
If the Wallabies win tomorrow night but its another unconvincing performance by Banks then I would like to see Tom Wright given a chance. What makes me a little nervous however is I don't believe has has even played full game of fullback for the Brumbies. I believe Jordan Petaia has elements of being a great running fullback with a real physical, powerful edge to his game. He clearly has ball handling skills but needs to play within himself a little more in that regard. The same issue applies to my thoughts regarding Tom Wright in that these guys aren't playing fullback in Super Rugby. A key point is alignment with Dave Rennie and Super Rugby coaches regarding player positions. 'Ideally', players are given the chance to prove themselves across a season of Super Rugby in one position before being thrust into that position at international level.
Chufortah
Guest
Hmmm... Maddocks for me lacks smarts, and if anything. I feel Marky Mark has been overcoached, inhibited, and with some confidence and experience at Test level, he will find his tempo... again like Jordan, these amazingly talented young blokes need a clear role to play with limited instructions - it seems they try and do too much, and their mental game disintegrates. Hate to say it, but imagine what the NZ system would make them into.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Mate, don't you think there's enough Kiwi involvement in your game? Possibly, the powers to be, haven't considered that.
Chufortah
Guest
Haha stupid iPhone and sausage fingers never mix. I like teat standard tho.
Chufortah
Guest
I think Jordan P is the long term solution. He will be less inclined to throw Quade Cooper Nonsense Flicks at FB. I think Jordan’s game needs some clear structure... FB will provide that, and a little bit of space. At FB he will be forced to play conservatively and do his role - mentally he tries too much at 13 or wing. Can he catch under a high ball?
Pogo
Roar Rookie
Will Genia thought joc would be too slow now
Pogo
Roar Rookie
Too small and never shown fullback like running or tackling
Pete Samu's Tucked Shirt
Guest
Interesting call. Koroibete is simply frustrated he rarely gets given the ball considering defences swarm up in an inverted umbrella and stop our attack getting the ball to him. However, he does go looking for the ball and will happily jump in with the forwards to pick and go with it around the ruck. He is a fairly solid ball carrier, a threat, yet rarely has a support runner off his shoulder to pass too. I don't think DR can drop him. Shame he's going overseas. Perhaps dropping him for a squad player for the third test makes sense
Pete Samu's Tucked Shirt
Guest
Its a tough call for DR to make: does he go with the same team to build on confidence, combinations and experience? Or swap in players this creating new combinations between players who are unfamiliar with each other? Exposing our depth is critical, but so is winning this series for the sake of overall confidence for both team and fanbase. If DR were to change it up I'd go with Lolesio at Flyhalf, and Paisami and Ikatau at IC and OC respectively. Wright and Koroibete on the wings and either Hodge or O'Connor at FB. Neither is fast, but both provide a second playmaker out the back, a steady head and a smarter kicker. Banks unfortunately needs to drop back to club rugby and work on those 'needs to' elements of his game.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Maybe Wright can be developed into a 15 but this would have to start at Super level. Love to see him running a kick back..
Olly
Roar Rookie
I think the reality is we just don't have options at 15. Hodge is well short of a run leaving Kellaway and he could be good as I like Kellaway but I think it is asking alot of him just to slot in since he has played with none of the backs infront of him.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
He’s staying in Japan another season.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Good read GE. I think Banks needs to kick long a bit more. He is a bit predictable with running the ball back most times if he kicks more often it will actually help his running game. Latham was an expert of winning the game of force em backs. That is what we need more from Banks. As you say he has all the attributes but just needs to get the tactics right. Ps. He is brilliant at running off the inside ball from 10, more of that please!
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Right now Kellaway may be the last man standing. Banks does not tick any boxes if he can't bring his A game to test rugby. I would not be surprised to see Banks and Kellaway start on Tuesday. Another mediocre performance from Banks and a strong game from Kellaway could well see him at 15 in the 3rd test.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I couldn’t agree more mate, he was genuinely world class when he was leading the backline at the Force. I hope as he’s a Perth adopted boy, we get him home maybe after a year of making some good coin in Japan.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Thanks TJFF. Saw him play a few weeks ago at Jeep’s in Brisbane. A “simple” touch that oozed class to set up a try. A pity we haven’t had the chance to see the best of him on a consistent basis.
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
How would he look in Gold? :silly:
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
DHP is moving to Japan. Told Rebels, he’s moving on. Force said they will offer him a deal if he wants to stay in Oz. Sadly DHP wasn’t offered a central contract, which given fact he hasn’t played for a year is understandable. However, means he’ll be on 250k at somewhere like the force vs 400k he’ll command in Japan.