Lockyer being a better defender is a damning indictment, if there ever was one.

Perhaps I'm just a bit old school but I can't comprehend the idea of having a full back who isn't a great defender and solid under the high ball. That should be the key quality of a full back before you even look at attacking abilities IMO.

I share the exact same sentiment. Fullback is the last line of defence.

Whatever happend to that young Mathers chap? He seemed to show promise.

So how do you rate Brett Hodgson?

The situation in question didn't involve the police however, police were involved a few weeks ago with Gleeson.

How can I say it, easy - he's wasted at FB.

Playing FB is an absolute waste of his natural HB talents. You can for all the world sit there and tell me how great he is at this or how great he is at that but IMHO Sam playing FB is a tragic waste. His defence can be suspect, especially against bigger players, and as someone has already said - FB is the last line of defence and its essential a strong tackler is there.

When Sam is occasionally moved back into the halves, he's a sensation. He lifts the team and creates spaces and gaps. He can't do that at FB. As good as TL might be, he isn't the 'off the cuff' creative type which Sam is, nor is Deacs.

Billy Slater? Darren Lockyer? Matty Bowen? Brett Hodgson?

The list goes on!

Sam is no worse in defence than any of these and they're all lightyears ahead of any of our 'traditional' fullbacks because of their attacking ability.

I'm not too bothered if Sam plays 1 or 6 because he's probably the best in the league in either position.

Spot on and it's a shame we don't have 2 of him!

The lad brings so many qualities to the side from 6 but sides can target him a little and try to mark him out of the game. He's that good that they struggle to do so and also creates space for others. Whilst at Fullback teams have really struggle to track his movements and he gets abit of a free role to attack where he sees fit and his threat chiming into the line is unbelievable. His downsides in that position are that he's got work to do under the high ball and his line defence needs abit of work but it'll come in time.

Theres pro's and con's to him in both positions but i'm happy to see him in either as he's our and superleagues best player regardless of the number on his back.

The switch to FB for Sam seems to have come very easily and that’s a true testament to his undoubted talents.

He’s still not the finished article yet in either position and with time and age he’ll get better. A few times this season he’s seemed to take the wrong option and backed himself rather than giving a simple pass and those decision making skills will improve with age which is when I hope he moves back to 6.

I can imagine he’s going to follow the career path of Lockyer in that he’ll be a quality FB and then when he’s more mature and seasoned he’ll be a beast of a 6 as well.

One-on-one tackling has significant scope for improvement, which surprises me considering his Origin and NRL experience.

That is how I see it. Allow him to get experience without burning him out.

just wondering, if this is deacons last season, and if he is injury prone, is it worth a punt on gettin dobbo back? or would people prefer sam to go back to the halves and we get a class full back / put paddy back there and use roberts as a winger?

Could always put an offer to Dobson now as he is officially without a team after being de-registered to get Mason in.