One paper from NZ has said Hayne will play fullback, and Dugan will be named on the wing for Merritt. I find that very hard to believe.
I really don't see it happening. I don't think Daley would want to take a gamble on it after seeing how Merritt fared up against not only our best flank, but one of the most dangerous left flanks in RL history. And although I think Hayne is a huge flop there too, Daley would surely think it's the percentage play. Ironically, I think the former makes more sense. I don't see NSW winning with Dugan in the spine with these halves.
I've heard Daley asked twice about it now and on both occasions he said Dugan had played on the wing before and "Jarryd is obviously comfortable in both positions" so there lied an opportunity to to have the players rotate between the two positions. I reckon we could be seeing Hayne on the wing in defence but fullback in attack.
Do you mean: when did Dugan play wing, or when did Daley make the comments? Can't remember Dugan playing wing myself. He might mean lower grades. He might even just be imagining it. But he's said it twice now. He's made the comments on Seven News and/or Fox Sports in the last couple of days. Whatever happens I don't think we'll be seeing either of them play purely as a winger or purely as a fullback, based on Daley's comments.
I meant when did Daley say that. If that's the case then yeah, it sounds very unlikely that Hayne will not spend some time at fullback. I don't think it'll be as clear cut as wing in defence and fullback in attack because that's a very dangerous setup when there are turnovers. You can't really swap mid-set either like centres can. I think we'll see Dugan named at fullback and Hayne may get a cameo there like a few years ago.
Yeah I don't think it'll be a hard and fast rule by any stretch; I think they'll probably line up like that whenever there's a set start though, and just stay that way until the next set start even if there's a turnover.
There are better wing options anyways to revert to that setup. McManus can not do too much more to demand that spot.
NSW team: 1.Dugan 2.Morris 3.Jennings 4.Morris 5.Hayne 6.Maloney 7.Pearce 8.Gallen (c) 9.Farah 10.Tamou 11.Lewis 12.Hoffman 13.Bird 14.Reynolds 15.Merrin 16.Fifita 17.Watmough 18.Woods 19.McManus 20.Cordner
You've got to give NSW credit for actually picking and sticking this year. There's a first for everything.
Daley did say that we may see both at fullback. Dugan won Player's Player in Game II which must've played some part in Daley sticking with him you'd think.
