NRL Power Rankings fullbacks: James Tedesco, Lachlan Coote, Cameron Munster lead the charge
WITH each NRL club a third of the way through the regular season, we rank the top five fullbacks so far for 2016. Read on and vote for your No.1.
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THE regular season is a third of the way through so it’s time we run the rule over the players leaving their mark on the competition.
And with Ben Barba regaining his best form and youngster Cameron Munster tackle-busting his way to the top, the leading fullbacks in the NRL have certainly delivered.
Check out our power rankings for the best five fullbacks so far in 2016.
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5. Will Hopoate
Covering for the injured Brett Morris, new Bulldogs signing Will Hopoate has been one of the form players over the opening rounds of the season.
We may not agree with NSW City coach Brad Fittler that he is ahead of the likes of James Tedesco and Matt Moylan when it come to rep footy but we think he’s shown enough to make our list.
Hopoate has scored six tries, had four try assists, five linebreak assists and four linebreaks.
He’s also done a commendable job of absorbing pressure when his side has been under the pump. Hopoate is the safest defender on our list missing only 0.9 tackles on average. He can however struggle under the high ball.
4. Ben Barba
He’s sworn off the booze and the burgers and it’s working for the 2012 Dally M Player of the Year.
With a line almost drawn through his NRL career thanks to a succession of mediocre seasons, Barba has reinvented himself and reignited his game in 2016.
He may not ever reach the dizzying heights of 2012 but all indications point to the fullback clawing his way back to somewhere near the kind of form that made him one of the most exciting ball runners in the game.
The Sharks’ attack has kicked into gear this year with Barba one of the catalysts — in nine games he’s scored six tries, made 29 tackle busts, five linebreaks, four try assists and leads the charge in terms of second-phase play with 16 offloads.
3. Cameron Munster
It’s fair to say Cameron Munster is only on the periphery of the minds of many NRL fans because he plays in Melbourne. We’d probably talk about him in the same breath as we do James Tedesco if he were a Bulldog or a Rooster.
Instead the explosive fullback goes about his business — flying under the radar — and causing opposition defences plenty of headaches along the way.
Despite being only 89 kilograms, Munster is deceptively strong and the most difficult fullback in the game to contain as evidenced by an eye-popping 48 tackle busts so far this season.
When the Storm effectively lost Billy Slater for the season with a shoulder injury after round one, Munster was called upon to take over the role and has done so more than admirably. The 21-year old is one of the most threatening runners in the game. He’s already notched up eight line breaks, eight linebreak assists, three try assists and he is only getting better with each game.
2. Lachlan Coote
The Cowboys fullback isn’t the most powerful of ball runners, he’s made less metres than anyone on this list, but what he lacks in the metre-eating department he makes up for in playmaking ability and in his kicking game.
On top of being skilled with the ball in hand, Lachlan Coote’s kicking has added a unique dynamic to his attacking game.
He’s averaged almost five kicks per game, which is almost double his nearest counterpart — Panthers fullback Matt Moylan. And he puts the ball to boot with pinpoint accuracy, kicking two 40-20s, forcing six dropouts and kicking a field goal.
Coote has even emerged as a third half on the field at times, with the 26-year-old confidently stepping up to pull the strings in attack ahead of Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan — like he did in the Cowboys’ 40-0 drubbing of the Roosters.
On top scoring two of his own tries, so far this year he has also assisted six others, made four linebreaks and seven like break assists.
1. James Tedesco
The Blues fullback-in-waiting started the season in blistering form despite the wheels falling off at the Tigers and his side crashing to six straight defeats. He wasn’t deterred by the lack of results and remained the leading light in the their attack.
He made his intention clear from the start, terrorising the Warriors in the opening round which he followed up the week after by single-handedly sinking the Sea Eagles in a brilliant three-try performance — believe it or not it was his first ever hat-trick.
The 23-year-old’s unassuming acceleration, especially off the mark, and instinctive ability to not only position himself but others around him to exploit try-scoring opportunities makes him the most potent custodian in the game.
The Camden Rams junior has scored nine tries, assisted in six others, made a huge 44 tackle busts, eight line breaks and seven line breaks assists.
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