I need a list of fullbacks, my lad plays there but at times finds himself lost. so a list of the best exponents of the position for him to model his game on. ta .

Billy Slater

Slater for sure, although I've never played fullback so not sure how great he is defensively (we all know hes brilliant in attack). I wonder if he makes up with pace defensively for being out of position sometimes?

Best defensive fullback in the super league era has to be Radlinski.

Is that the best thing for him? To model his game around someone else?

Why not let him play to his strengths and if it means him moving position then why not?

I was a fullback for my local team and we we're the best team in Yorkshire at the time and I never considered changing the way I played to copy the best fullbacks in the league.

Anyways, to answer your question.

Billy Slater
Brett Stewart
Ben Barba
Nathan Gardener
Greg Inglis (playing fb at the minute, and looking good there)
Kevin Locke
Josh Duggan
Matty Bowen
Wade McKinnon

To name a few.

Assuming you may be interested in British full-backs unlike the plebs above, for current players try Wellens.

His positional play is outstanding, his tackling is textbook and Saints have had scored god knows how many by working him into the attacking line out wide - he'll tend to sweep round the back of the line as the ball moves through hands and inject himself into a gap that's been worked by good dummy runners. He also directs the defensive line, watching for weak numbers or someone out of position.

Radlinski was the same (but faster and better ).

Above all, practice catching and one-on-one tackling in space; closing down runners.

As someone else says though, make sure he's suited to full-back and not actually just a lazy prop.

Richard Mathers

Deary me. Two bites without even drawing breath.

Yep, go on, tell a kid just learning the game to be Billy Slater. Don't worry about the basics. Great idea. Great coaching.

Clearly there's been no good, solid full-backs in SL he could look to, has there?

And perhaps it's much, much easier to get footage of British full-backs than NRL?

All defensive things.

The main thing would be knowing when to push up with his props, decision making in a 3 on 2 situation and left to right passing.

Like I said why should he mould his game to be the same as x player? He should play to his strengths and not try and copy someone else's game which he might not be suited to.

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.