The main thing a young full-back should learn is pushing up with his props, decision making in a 3-on-2 and passing?

No. A full-back's priority is learning to catch high (and low) kicks, closing down runners and one-on-one tackling. It's primarily a defensive position and a full-back who can't do all that well isn't a full-back. Support and more advanced attacking play can come later when he's comfortable with the basics.

Ask any professional sportsman and they'll tell you, practising the basics over and over and getting them right every time is what makes the difference between average and great players.


Exactly why I chose Wellens. If the lads wants to be a full-back then Wellens plays a simple, textbook full-back game. By watching him you're not so much learning to be Wellens as to be a good, solid full-back. Perfect to learn the basics from and find out if he's really suited to the position.

Best defensive full back is Wellens. If he had the pace of Slater, he would possibly be the best in the world for me.

All round best full back in the world is Slater, read the game so well.

Yes because Billy Slater does all the basics terribly.

slater is probably the better one to look at. his positioning is outstanding the phrase right place right time is said alot when he is involved both defensively and in attack.

he is exceptional at the basics but also has that flair that can create major problems.

Brett Stewart and Billy Slater are the two stand out fullbacks.

Way to miss the point. We're talking about a youngster learning the position. Slater's strongest attributes are his attacking skills, pace and flair. But I've never seen Wellens hurl the ball blindly from the touchline to give away a try, or show real fear and duck out of a tackle when faced with a big runner (as he did when Tony Williams ran at him). A great example for a youngster. Wellens rarely fails to get the basics right and is a very good role model for any youngster aiming at that position. He might not be as flash or exciting, but he does everything consistently well.

Slater is the world's best full-back for his attacking and support play, which is simply a level above. But he's not, and never has been, the greatest defensive full-back. Full-back is a primarily defensive position - especially, and here's the key - for a youngster learning basic skills and the game in general. I'm not say "Wellens is a better full-back than Slater" (frankly I don't care), but he's a perfect example of doing the basics well and a good role model for the position.

A kid learning the position needs to spend his time learning the defensive basics. They're the most important skills by a long way at full-back. He can worry about full-back attacking and support play, etc, later.

Just ignore Cronus, let him wind himself up and throw a tantrum as usual

Where does the original OP say anything at all about his sons age ?

A fullback isnt a defensive position its a attacking position.

A fullback needing good 1 on 1 tackling is a massive myth. There are hardly any instances in games where its simply a 1 on 1 situation between a fullback and the ball carrier.

He hasn't, but it's not unreasonable to assume it's a youngster learning the game.


I'm hoping you're not a coach? It's a defensive position with an attacking aspect. Yes, full-backs should learn to support, and how to inject into the attacking line at the right time. But if they can't do the defensive side of the position they're in the wrong position,


What absolute rubbish. The full-back is the last line of defence. At any level if someone breaks the line the full-back has to close them down and make the tackle. If that's a myth I see mythical things all the time and saw several instances of it yesterday at amateur level. And if I recall, on Friday afternoon at SL level.

FFS, I'm not saying attacking isn't an important aspect of full-back play, but you simply cannot have a full-back who can't catch high balls, recover grubbers, close players down and make his tackles. Those are the skills any budding full-back should master first and foremost. You can live without a full-back in attack, but you can't live with him in defence.

Perhaps the OP's son isn't a youngster and if that's the case then fair enough. But as any coaching manual tells you - practice the basics before advancing. The basics kids should learn at full-back are defence, not hunting for an off-load from your prop. That comes later as your skills improve, your awareness improves and your coach gradually introduces more advanced drills and guidance. Get the simple stuff right first.

Yeah and have had 2 different fullbacks represent their country at amateur level.

The fact you have called the position the last line of defence means we will never agree with what we want in a fullback as I have always viewed them as the first line of attack.