Quote: easthullwesty "I just dont get this Horne to fullback malarky. Other than catching the ball hes pants. He offers nothing. He needs to be in the line, not joining it. '"
Exactly. I really can't see what he offers there. Apart from 'safety', obviously, which appears to be enough for most people. I'd like to think we're more ambitious than that though.
Quote: easthullwesty "I thought Motu was superb yesterday considering it was his third game since a year out. Looked dangerous everytime he got the ball.'"
Again, spot on. Fullback is perfect for him, ball in hand. He's very, very good at coming into the line as an extra pair of hands and providing a link (as he showed in the build-up to a couple of the tries and in the passage that, ultimately, lead to Brough's try), with him having very good timing with short, line-splitting passes and with him being enough of a running threat to draw defenders in. It's something that isn't really possible from any other position.
This is in contrast to Horne, who is much more of a threat with a bit of space, a few options around him and someone like Tony running off him wide to keep the defence on the back foot. Horne attacking from fullback doesn't get enough room for his strengths to be used and he doesn't have the game to come from deep, hit the line at pace and pop a little short pass. He needs space to dummy, drop his shoulder and go or look for an offload. He needs space to find a runner, like Tickle, coming back on an 'unders' line. He needs space to hit someone like Tony on a wedge or to throw a cut-out pass to the centre. As a fullback, at third receiver, getting the ball deep as a wedge runner, he doesn't get this space. Tony, however, is much more of a threat when space is tight and a bit of acceleration and power or a short pass is required.
