NRL 2022: Why young guns Tyrell Sloan and Xavier Savage have missed out on first grade selection
The Dragons and Raiders have two of the best young fullbacks in the NRL and, while the teams both struggling, their coaches are resisting the urge to pick them. Find out why.
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With just three wins to begin the season between them, the Dragons and Raiders are two clubs desperate to change their fortunes.
As respective coaches Anthony Griffin and Ricky Stuart look to find the spark to ignite their sides, the pair are taking a similar approach with two of the game’s best young players — Tyrell Sloan and Xavier Savage — and it has upset many of their fans.
The pair of 19-year-olds are touted as future representative fullbacks.
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Savage lit up the Raiders backline in his two NRL appearances last season, but so far, he’s spent the year in reserve grade despite the Green Machine recording single-digit scores twice in four weeks.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart rarely discusses team selections. But there’s an element of protection when it comes to young Savage, who the Raiders view as key to their future success.
“Xavier is trusting our judgment and pathway for him,” Stuart said.
“When I play Xavier in first grade, I want to make sure he’s ready for Xavier’s sake.
“Fullback is one of the toughest positions on the field to play from a physical point of view to a game awareness and being accurate. It’s also one position that commentators only look for the 40m tries and the flashiness.
“But the coaches and their teammates see when their goal line defence isn’t accurate, when their defensive line is short, or when they’re not in the right field position on kick reception.
“There is so much for a fullback to get right that you can jeopardise a young man’s career at fullback very quickly. I don’t want to risk this with Xavier.
“Yes, we need his X-factor, but unlike others who only want to see his flashiness, I’m worried about his career. The thing Xavier and I have in our favour, is that we both trust each other. He’s developing well and getting closer.”
Unlike the Raiders slow-burn with Savage, the Dragons were willing to play Sloan to begin their season.
He was given the No.1 jersey, but was dropped before their last-start loss to Parramatta. Sloan has been overlooked for selection again for their clash with South Sydney on Saturday.
However, much like Stuart, Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has found Sloan needs further development and crafting, particularly off the ball. His communication in defence is the major issue.
Ex-Dragons fullback Matt Dufty offered this insight into Sloan, suggesting time — like Savage — is all the Red-V teenager needs.
“I was lucky to have a solid spine when I made my debut,” Dufty said.
“Looking at the Dragons this year, Sloany has all the talent in the world. Ben Hunt is there but all the pressure is there. I trained with him last year and tried to teach him as much as I could. He loves to learn. He has got that much talent – he is a freak.
“It will take time. People have to remember – what were they doing at 19? That’s what you can’t get too caught up in.”
Both Stuart and Griffin’s approach isn’t exactly breaking the mould. Some of the game’s greatest players had to bide their time before they were entrenched in the fullback role.
Anthony Minichiello, Greg Inglis, Darius Boyd, Latrell Mitchell and Clint Gutherson started their careers in other positions before they made the move to the back.
Minichiello spent three years on the wing before he was ready to wear the No.1 jersey.
“One of the most important things is fullback is defensive organisation and not many people focus on that,” the ex-Rooster said.
“Being able to think under pressure takes a lot of energy. I was forever screaming at forwards. In the heat of the battle, it has to be a strong voice. When I was defending on the goal line I was basically grabbing them and putting them into place.
“For a young kid they might get overawed by it.
“You can train for it, no doubt, when you’re doing scrimmage or edge defence. We will train at the Roosters at a faster pace than in the game. You have to think a lot faster and then when you get into the game the natural flow of it is slower.”
Dragons utility Moses Mbye will play fullback in place of Sloan but he has little doubt about who will wear the No.1 jersey at the club long-term.
“He’s going to be the future fullback of this club, no doubt about it,” Mbye said.
“It’s a really good opportunity to learn and improve and become a better player.”
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