Initial impressions of the Fergo fullback experiment

[Insider]

Mitchell is often compared to Inglis at the same age,Inglis was playing FG at 18,of course it wasn't his best season of his career, he got better with age and experience.Im not expecting Mitchell to brain it week in week out year 1. He will have his moments and learn some tough lessons along the way. Playing him now won't affect his future in a negative way it will just speed up his devt. He's 19 in 4 months, he will handle it just as many good players b4 him were making a fist of it at the same age.

[Steakface]

Yep, i'm all for playing him on the wing. Just not a fullback at this stage.

[Insider]

As for Nikorama, as impressive as he was, I'm not sure I'd b starting him in the run on side v Souths. Maguire will have the Burgii running at him every set and quickly wearing him out.Coming off the bench fresh he could really provide an explosive spark against there tiring big forwards.This of course leaves the problem of who does play 5/8.Alternatively, to lower his overall defensive workload could we possibly push him to FB in defence? May b a problem with the bomb due to his height,but not sure either Fergo or Mitchell are overly efficient in that dept anyway.

[2026]

i wouldn't expect Latrell to set the world on fire if he were to start at FB. I'd be satisfied if he could just hold his own which i think he can do. I have no doubt that he will shine and continue to develop as he adjusts to 1st grade.

The upside of that would be Fergo at right centre and SKD on the wing.

[ism22]

Mitchell is often compared to Inglis at the same age,Inglis was playing FG at 18,of course it wasn't his best season of his career, he got better with age and experience.Im not expecting Mitchell to brain it week in week out year 1. He will have his moments and learn some tough lessons along the way. Playing him now won't affect his future in a negative way it will just speed up his devt. He's 19 in 4 months, he will handle it just as many good players b4 him were making a fist of it at the same age.

I think the comparrison is that he's an Indigenous guy who is really tall, athletic, has a mad fend and has a decent step for his height (he had quite a few runs where he was able to weave through the St Helens mob quite easily).

IMO GI has always been a bit 'larger than life' in that... he's not as good as his reputation. He's tall and massive so has always been able to fend off outside backs by sticking his hand out and pushing them over (even if he's standing still and has no momentum). IMO if anything, Guerra's the closest we've got to his style. He also does that unco looking loose carry of the ball (with me thinking 'JUST STRIP THE BALL YOU FOOLS, HE NEVER HOLDS IT WITH 2 HANDS!!!' and has that awkward turn where he doesn't look like he's going anywhere, but ends up shaking a bunch of big forwards.

IMO Mitchell isn't like that. He's more athletic and will take on a different (but still super effective) style over time. I don't think he should focus on trying to be GI though. GI's now a grandpa who plays every game with a busted knee, is a bit slow and isn't amazing when you pluck him out of invincible teams. Whereas, Mitchell's an athletic youngster with the world ahead of him if he follows Robbo.

[TheBigFella]

I had the feeling that Burgess was left out because he knew the environment & Trent wanted to take the young blokes out of their comfort zones. Fergo's only real mistake was that dropped bomb that the poms scored off but I actually thought that Toop's should have been the man to take it.

[Original Stumpy]

Yet to hear a decent reason for not starting with Mitchell at fullback.
We either blood Ferguson there or Mitchell there.
Why weaken the centre position when we have Mitchell ready to step in?