Golden Age of English Fullbacks

[NRLandSL]

The amount of exceptional young Fullbacks in England right now is absurd.

Logan Moy

Cai Taylor-Wray

Zach Eckersley

Harry Robertson

Alfie Edgell

Fletcher Rooney

Nathan Connell

George Flanagan Jr 

I predict half of those guys will become world class players in the future.

Not to mention Jack Welsby who is already one of the best players and fullbacks in the world.

And also some remarkable talent in other positions not just fullbacks. Very positive signs for future of the English National team and SL.

[BroncoFan]

There’s a 17yo fullback at Huddersfield Giants Logan Blacker, keep an eye out for him.

[NRLandSL]

32 minutes ago, BroncoFan said:

There’s a 17yo fullback at Huddersfield Giants Logan Blacker, keep an eye out for him.

Wow, just seen a highlight of him scoring a full field try, certainly looks impressive. Will definitely keep an eye out.

[Phil]

43 minutes ago, NRLandSL said:

Wow, just seen a highlight of him scoring a full field try, certainly looks impressive. Will definitely keep an eye out.

He scored 5 tries in that game 

 

 

Edited July 13, 2024 by Phil

[Phil]

2 hours ago, BroncoFan said:

There’s a 17yo fullback at Huddersfield Giants Logan Blacker, keep an eye out for him.

I was lucky enough to coach him in the U/14s 

[Damien]

Zach Eckersley is pretty much an out and out centre. Sure he filled in at full back last night with injuries but I'd be amazed if he played there in the longer term.

[NRLandSL]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

Zach Eckersley is pretty much an out and out centre. Sure he filled in at full back last night with injuries but I'd be amazed if he played there in the longer term.

I’d be excepting him to start at fullback for Wigan until Field and French are back. He certainly didn’t look out of place there against Saints. But yes you’re right he is primarily a centre.

[JM2010]

Will some of these young players coming through be pushing for an England shirt for the next WC?

 

[NRLandSL]

1 hour ago, JM2010 said:

Will some of these young players coming through be pushing for an England shirt for the next WC?

 

For sure, 2 years is a long time. Though I’m not sure Welsby will be giving up that fullback jersey any time in the next decade or longer.

[GeordieSaint]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

Zach Eckersley is pretty much an out and out centre. Sure he filled in at full back last night with injuries but I'd be amazed if he played there in the longer term.

Robertson at Saints I believe is a halfback as well. 

[Moe syszlak]

Cai Taylor-Wray is a freak of nature! He was 18th man on Thursday and I found myself hoping someone would pull up in the warm up so he would play!. 

[JM2010]

5 hours ago, NRLandSL said:

For sure, 2 years is a long time. Though I’m not sure Welsby will be giving up that fullback jersey any time in the next decade or longer.

Welsby is a great player but there’s going to be some competition for fullback. Think he might end up playing 6 in the next few years

[JM2010]

4 hours ago, Moe syszlak said:

Cai Taylor-Wray is a freak of nature! He was 18th man on Thursday and I found myself hoping someone would pull up in the warm up so he would play!. 

He looks really good from what I’ve seen. Should be a regular starter in the next year or so 

[JM2010]

7 hours ago, Damien said:

Zach Eckersley is pretty much an out and out centre. Sure he filled in at full back last night with injuries but I'd be amazed if he played there in the longer term.

Wonder if he could push himself into the England centre position in the next couple of years. Obviously Farnworth is first choice with Wardle the other centre at the moment. There’s also Lindop at Warrington who looks like he’s going to be a good player in the centre

[JM2010]

15 hours ago, NRLandSL said:

The amount of exceptional young Fullbacks in England right now is absurd.

Logan Moy

Cai Taylor-Wray

Zach Eckersley

Harry Robertson

Alfie Edgell

Fletcher Rooney

Nathan Connell

George Flanagan Jr 

I predict half of those guys will become world class players in the future.

Not to mention Jack Welsby who is already one of the best players and fullbacks in the world.

And also some remarkable talent in other positions not just fullbacks. Very positive signs for future of the English National team and SL.

There’s also Bailey Hodgson over in Australia, although I’m not sure how he’s been going this season 

[Damien]

14 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

Wonder if he could push himself into the England centre position in the next couple of years. Obviously Farnworth is first choice with Wardle the other centre at the moment. There’s also Lindop at Warrington who looks like he’s going to be a good player in the centre

He certainly has all the physical attributes you want at centre. I remember being stood next to him after the Penrith game and knew there and then he had the attributes to be a top centre. For his age he is a man mountain.

That's the really pleasing thing is now we have centre options that have that size and athleticism that the Aussies and Kiwis have and are producing more, for a while that wasn't the case.

[WN83]

It's much needed. Having just Welsby and not much else to pressure/cover him is not a great position. Give it a couple of years and hopefully a couple of these lads will be regulars and I think they will be. In terms of Eckersley, I agree with posts above that centre is traditionally his position but he has played a good few games at fullback in the academy/reserves and he looked really well suited to it last night. He's got a physical presence about him and he can shift and he gets his head up and can pick a pass, so it'll be interesting to see where he ends up. 

[NRLandSL]

5 hours ago, JM2010 said:

Wonder if he could push himself into the England centre position in the next couple of years. Obviously Farnworth is first choice with Wardle the other centre at the moment. There’s also Lindop at Warrington who looks like he’s going to be a good player in the centre

Aaron Lindop is sensational. I believe he is the best 2006+ born player in the world. Along with Coby Black, Casey McLean and Cai Taylor-Wray.

Very athletic and so skillfull and composed for a guy who just turned 18. He could become the best centre in the world one day.

 

[AB90]

22 hours ago, JM2010 said:

Will some of these young players coming through be pushing for an England shirt for the next WC?

 

2026 will likely be way too soon for all these young players. 

First things first, these guys need to cement themselves as starting Super League fullbacks over the next few years which will be challenging enough. I suspect some of them will have to play alternative positions to break into their respective teams starting 13.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

On 13/07/2024 at 11:16, Phil said:

I was lucky enough to coach him in the U/14s 

Taught him all he knows?

[Phil]

1 hour ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Taught him all he knows?

Taught him all I know, took him as far as I could 

[JohnM]

Golden age. Yes, the skills these guys show in catching the high ball, pressure or no pressure, on the 5th is spectacular. 

However the way the fullback is used bring the ball out seems to have changed from the days of Ken Gowers, Gary Connolly , Steve Hamson, 

[Damien]

37 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Golden age. Yes, the skills these guys show in catching the high ball, pressure or no pressure, on the 5th is spectacular. 

However the way the fullback is used bring the ball out seems to have changed from the days of Ken Gowers, Gary Connolly , Steve Hamson, 

This actually made me think, I don't think there is a position that hasn't changed quite dramatically since I started watching the game. Maybe centre and second row are the most unchanged.

[JohnM]

True. Certainly, subjectively maybe, "modern day" full backs are subject to more pressure and more aggression than was the case  30-40 years ago. 

Welsby, though, plays in a way that reminds me of Joe Lydon at his best in running the ball out.

[Lowdesert]

No Davy Litten?

Fortunately or unfortunately, he seems to be in direct competition with Moy, at Hull FC, and may get a run at Centre also.
 

I have a fear that both will be shoved to one side if Hull sign Sailor.