Worked for Darren Lockyer I suppose

Full back is not a position that generally gets rotated, particularly when you have someone of Hardaker's standard. I'd expect that like this year Golding would get games only in the event of injury.

Yep found it very strange that McDermott post match NZ made it sound like their'd be several games of rotation. If Hardaker stayed injury free how many games would you realistically rotate him out of? 2/3? One every 9/10 games if that? Usually young FB's might get a gig at wing when they first come through but Handley (and Keinhorst) are covering the three quarters.

Very difficult for Golding. Could end up being the first genuine talent we end up letting go from the academy in a while who makes it big elsewhere, but in our defence it's because we have a still very young MOS winner in his place.

Are you are referring to the two times when faced with a NZ breakthough in numbers where Golding was praised on tv for not committing to the tackle and holding off till help arrived. On each occasion his mature action put the ball carrier in two minds and prevented a try making pass. Hardaker has recently been praised for doing the same.

Are you missing the point that a few have made in that Golding could be groomed to additionally cover the SO role? (We could be seeing the beginings of a future triumvarate of Golding-SO, Lilley-SH and Sutcliffe-LF)

Yeah indeed....you are no doubt happily seeing yet another SL playing FB that is better than Hardaker

Not missing the point, but just because some people on here have suggested he could play HB doesn't mean he will.

This^^^

I haven't seen Hardaker often turn his back on the attacker. He has usually backed off while facing him but trying to push him in one direction, either away from the support runner or toward a support runner who is covered by another defender.
Turning his back isn't ideal. He's quick is Golding but he's not that quick that that tactic will always work.

This isn't a criticism of him. He's a young lad still learning the game and crucially learning the huge differences in the game between academy and first team RL.

The situation is as you describe with the ball carrier and support coming at speed in centre field. The fullback either commits to tackle the ball carrier (who can then pass for a try to be scored) or he can try and intercept the pass (but look a fool if he buys a dummy) or he can get between the two with eyes and front on the ball carrier and try and force him away from his support. This means back tracking with his back to the support attacker but ready to change target if the pass is made. It also means making occasional glances to see where the support player is at which time his back is to the ball carrier for a second or two. The idea is to make the ball carrier go on his own and the fullback then accelerates into the tackle or hold him up until help arrives. Not easy and requires skill, nerve and ability to change direction quickly.

Golding did this twice and Hardaker did exactly the same several weeks ago and in each case tries were saved. Young Golding showed great maturity in not panicking in a very difficult situation. Top marks.

Perfectly summed up by JC.
Him i see what point yer making re-ZH but if i'm reading it right that's on a last tackle play when the attacking teams elect to run ZH is already facing the oncoming attack from a lot deeper and more often than not it comes from the side of the field where the kicker normally would kick anyway.

He looks a class player and adds to the rich history of dreadful haircuts amongst sportsmen. So he's definitely a keeper.

The worst of these haircuts seem to be coming from New Zealand. Dewhursts must have moved downunder