I agree that Koula's best position is probably fullback. Unfortunately for him, Turbo is (occasionally) there, and Lehi is the obvious backup. Lehi is excellent, a natural fullback in both attack and defence. Tolu is fast as hell and has created havoc in attack when he's played fullback, but he doesn't have the same positional nous and steadiness that Lehi does.
So he's going to have to flourish as a centre.
Unless you make this about what’s best for the team and not the individual.
I like you think Tolu’s best position is FB.
Re Tom, his body is the question, sticking with Tom at 1 has been hurting us year after year, it’s a spine position and we need stability.
In comes Lehi, yep he goes pretty good, but with his skill set can he play elsewhere? More than likely, his speed is the question mark, his no slouch, but his no Tolu either.
We have the perfect opportunity coming up during origin, to give him a shot in the halves (sorry Jakey, keep hitting the weights mate and look to the future as that extra middle, a ball playing 13) this let Koula play 1.
Look at the FB’s that are currently killing it, there all more speed than anything else, can teach the rest, speed is the gift, followed by the space and freedom to use it.
Gray, is quick but hardly looks like a FB, his 5’4 so height isn’t the issue, plus it appears Old Wayne is smart enough to strengthen his side verse playing players in their preferred position, anyone else see Latrell going back to FB anytime soon, especially while Gray is bringing his game to South’s? I’ll answer, not likely.
How about this one, Conner Tracey, who would of thought, but his all effort and again has speed to burn and the dogs take full advantage, would of been easy to say Critter was to gifted to be a centre and offered him the FB role, nope it’s bit like Mitchell, whereby the team is better with Tracey at 1.
No need to say anything about Papy or Walsh, they both take risks, play what they see, follow the ball, pose a risk under the high ball, but both possess the key ingredient, speed and the desire to be involved.
Koula gets his opportunity for space as a 1, has the speed to cause havoc, we have the opportunity to get more from our side, by moving some key players around.
I imagine Rubes is staying put and his improving I believe, we need a bigger body in the three quarter line and we have those in our squad at present, Turbo, yes I know but at least at 4 he wouldn’t be called upon to make 30 tackle a game, can’t see Tom to 6 in any case, need consistency at 1 so that by natural order is working against sticking with Tom at 1, then there’s Talau who would be more suited as a centre, just lacks the pace on the edge, but brings his strength and aggression into a key position, he can ball play.
Talking about key positions, I think the centres are playing a bigger role than ever before in a teams success, it always about the spine players, but the centres are a very big part of the successful sides, too much to dive into, but our centre pair aren’t overly our strong point, just think our team can run out as a stronger side with some positional changes, playing Koula at 1 while giving Lehi a shot in the halves over origin seems like a good opportunity to see if we can improve our side. Might not work, but has to be worth considering, also would save us going to market for a half and top up the kitty to get some young mobile bulls up front, watch the Broncos pack last night, made me cringe thinking about ours.
