My opinion is fullbacks show their tryscoring ability young.. Ponga, Slater, RTS, Tedesco, Barba, Tom Turbo, Brett stewart, Minichiello, etc all showed their try scoring and line breaking ability from early on..
Its other parts of the game that can develop with time and experience, Defence, passing , organising..
I really think Meaney needs time in lower grades to prove himself.. if he does well there then hes earnt his FG spot.. He hasnt dominated reserves yet hes thrown into FG and expected to do something hes never shown he can do - attack break the line and score trys..
At the moment hes had 16 games in FG this year & last year and struggled in attack..
Catching kicks and kick returns arent enough for FG level fullback..
Pay took a gamble, nothing wrong with that, but time to do the right thing and accept he isnt up to FG yet..
Our last 2 experienced coaches like Folksey Des never or rarely brang up players before they were ready for FG..
Folkes eased them in and you hate Des (he made mistakes) but he brang up Klemmer and Finucane and Jackson etc at the right time in their development, he gave Brad Abbey a couple of games at Fullback and decided he wasnt up 2it which was correct..
Pay has been overly patient for FG level rugby league..