Moses Mbye finds unexpected impact after Bulldogs coach Dean Pay switched him to fullback

MOSES Mbye needed only one conversation with Bulldogs coach Dean Pay to find clarity. He was a fullback. Only one problem. Mbye was a halfback. Or a five-eighth.

Moses Mbye is enjoying a new sense of purpose. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

MOSES Mbye needed only one conversation with Dean Pay to find clarity.

His first.

“Yeah, day one chat with Deano,” Mbye says, referencing the new Canterbury coach.

“He called me in and said ‘if you want to play here at the Bulldogs, you’re a fullback’.’’

And that was it. Done.

A short, jarring truth delivered exactly like Pay did tackles in his playing days.

Only one problem.

Mbye was a halfback. Or a five-eighth.

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Moses Mbye is enjoying a new sense of purpose.

At times, even a hooker. Anywhere, in fact, but No.1.

Take his debut NRL season, 2014, where this young Brisbane product arrived as a centre, played the grand final at hooker and, in between, would make five positional switches in the space of nine games.

But the No. 1 jersey?

“Never played it,” Mbye reveals.

“Actually, I had one game there for Noosa Pirates, but that’s when I was 15. So it’s been a while, man.”

Been a whirlwind of positions, too.

Moses Mbye is loving life at No.1.

Indeed, before getting into Mbye’s outstanding new life as Canterbury custodian — a story which, out Belmore way, is running second only to that board overhaul — we must first look back through that history littered with more switches than a Beacon Lighting store.

According to Fox Sports Statistics, Mbye changed positions five times in 2014. Then, nine times in 2015.

A relentless churn continuing right up until last winter, where he was still alternating between halfback and hooker.

“But I’ve always thought he was a fullback,” says Pay.

“He’s a runner. Open field, some broken play, he’s dynamic.”

But as for Mbye?

Pay recognised Mbye’s ability to run the ball.

“Didn’t ever imagine myself as a fullback, no,” he says.

“But rugby league is a funny game. And it’s happening, I’m here.”

While the 2018 season is only three rounds old, Mbye is quickly discovering the type of form that once had him pencilled in as a future Queensland Origin star — including a man of the match performance last start against Penrith which included two tries, 11 tackle busts, three linebreaks and 116m.

And just as importantly, says captain Josh Jackson, “is all the stuff he’s doing off the ball”.

Continues Mbye: “Obviously I get more opportunities to run now.

“But another big thing about the switch, it’s relieved me of being that player who has to organise the side. That’s an area I struggled in, and has been removed from my shoulders.”

And as for the clarity coming from that first conversation with Pay?

“Having everything set in stone, it wasn’t just helpful but motivating,” Mbye says. “Encouraged me to really rip in over summer.

“Since my debut, it feels like I’ve played every position bar prop. But that’s rugby league.

“I knew I just had to keep going until I found a home.”

Originally published as Moses Mbye finds unexpected impact after Bulldogs coach Dean Pay switched him to fullback