Mbye set to become Bulldogs fullback

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Mr. Ditkovich

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http://nrl.com/mbye-set-to-become-bulldogs-fullback/tabid/10874/newsid/113997/default.aspx

Wed, Oct 25, 2017 - 07:00AM
By ‌Michael Chammas‌‌, ‌NRL.com
@MichaelChammas

Canterbury coach Dean Pay has made bold plans to overhaul what has been a predictable attacking structure in recent years, handing Moses Mbye first crack at the fullback jersey for next season.

In what is Pay’s first major decision as Canterbury head coach, the former NSW and Australian forward has moved quickly to try and bring the best out of the enigmatic Mbye, who has struggled to live up to the hype since his breakout year in 2015.

NRL.com understands Mbye has been told he would be given first chance at making the No.1 jersey his own during the pre-season after a couple of years of underwhelming performances in the halves under now sacked coach Des Hasler.

The Bulldogs signed Mbye on a lucrative multi-year deal in 2016, but the 24-year-old admitted earlier in the year that he didn’t know where he belonged on a football field.

Mbye is one of the most naturally gifted ball-runners in the game, which is why Pay is willing to give him the opportunity to make the transition to fullback.

It’s likely to force Will Hopoate back to the centres after struggling to make an impact at fullback for the Bulldogs throughout what was a disappointing 2017 campaign.

The largest criticism of the Bulldogs under Hasler this year was the stifling and sterile attack, keeping themselves in some games largely through their grit in defence.

With Kieran Foran to wear the No.6 jersey next year, Matt Frawley, Josh Cleeland and Fa’amanu Brown will fight for the right to partner the Kiwi international in a new-look halves combination.

Canterbury’s halfback looms as the final piece of the puzzle to solve in the spine during the pre-season after the club changed its mind and decided to re-sign hooker Michael Lichaa.

The Lebanese international, who was farewelled by the club after the final home game of the season, showed his worth with a strong month to finish the season where it became painstakingly clear he had ignored a three-year directive to avoid running from dummy-half.

The club believes it’s on the verge of becoming salary cap compliant in the coming days, which will culminate in the NRL officially registering the contracts of Foran and Aaron Woods.
 

GDR

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Its worth a shot!!.. I'm glad to see Pay at least trying something new .. it's refreshing..

whether or not it works, who knows ?? ... but at least hes trying something new instead of persisting with a failing formula...
 

DoggiesUtd

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if this does happen.... where does hopa play?
who partners foran?
 

Mitch Connor

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Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Hoppa to centre surely means the end of Brenko.
 

Spoonman84

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I really hope it works because he’s getting paid to play a position in the spine and if this doesn’t work we are left with a very expensive centre. He gives us someone with genuine pace in the backline which gets wasted in the halves.
 

Mr. Ditkovich

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if this does happen.... where does hopa play?
who partners foran?
The article says that Hopoate would likely move to centre while either Frawley, Cleeland or Nu Brown would partner with Foran.
 
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c-b-b

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I feel sorry for Mbye. He was stuffed around by Hasler who didn't have the balls to drop anyone. He's played centre, both halves positions and hooker. I don't blame him for saying he doesnt know where he belongs.

Also hopefully Hoppa was re-signed on sensible money, he is best suited to the centres.
 

DoggiesUtd

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The article says that Hopoate would likely move to centre while either Frawley, Cleveland or Nu Brown would partner with Foran.
bit weird considering our best attacking centre Brenko would get shafted?

makes our backline really slow and aging

Edit - yes i know my grandmother could defend better than him, but no doubting he was our biggest threat in attack last season, so i would like to see him have another crack
 
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cookieman909

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Some on here have said he played FB in his junior days? Will be good to see him have a crack. Sounds more and more like this will be our team next season

1. Mbye
2. Bmoz
3. Jmoz
4. Hoppa
5. Montoya
6. Foran
7. Frawley
8. Woods
9. Lichaa
10. Klemmer
11. Jackson (c)
12. Elliot
13. RFM

14. Fualalo
15. Tolman
16. Martin
17. Brown

I personally would chuck Tualalu in for Tolman. But at the same time Tolman is a workhorse and balances out our pack somewhat. He will be crucial next season without Graham.
 

CrittaMagic69

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Some on here have said he played FB in his junior days? Will be good to see him have a crack. Sounds more and more like this will be our team next season

1. Mbye
2. Bmoz
3. Jmoz
4. Hoppa
5. Montoya
6. Foran
7. Frawley
8. Woods
9. Lichaa
10. Klemmer
11. Jackson (c)
12. Elliot
13. RFM

14. Fualalo
15. Tolman
16. Martin
17. Brown

I personally would chuck Tualalu in for Tolman. But at the same time Tolman is a workhorse and balances out our pack somewhat. He will be crucial next season without Graham.
Frawley won't be any where near the first grade side.
 

Kelpie03

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Horraa; have been calling for Mbye at FB since I started posting, will happily eat humble if he fails. Perhaps let Brenco play ISP for a while and get the defence coach to drum into him how to defend and tackle for at least a few games.
If Brenco makes it at centre then play Hoppa on the bench. playing 4 forwards on the bench and giving one only 5 minutes ala Hasler is mind boggling stupid (one of Des's big failures) with the number of concussions these days. Carrying a utility back on the bench (Hoppa would make a good utility IMO) may have resulted in us beating the rotters in the game last season when we had to replace two backs.
 

DoggiesBoy

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It's certainly worth a try, hoppa hasn't been that bad at FB but he is kinda a perret style FB, fairly solid but doesn't do anything outstanding and doesn't have much pace. Mbye on the other hand has very good acceleration, could be quite dangerous if he is hanging around looking for an offload (i assume our forwards will be allowed to offload now).
 

ek999

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Mbye
Montoya
Hopate
J Morris
B Morris
Cleeland
Foran
Woods
Lichaa
Tolman
Jackson
Elliott
Klemmer

Fualalo
RFM
Eastwood
Martin/Tualalo/Brown

Shaping up to be a very good side next year and should be a lot more points scored. Biggest issue remains the halves with Forans injury history and lack of experience in any of his partners. Both Brown and Frawley are good cover though if Cleeland does get the first shot
 

Moedogg

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Mbye - Attacking ball playing fullback
Bmoz- specialist winger
Jmoz- defensive centre
Hoppa- defensive centre
Montoya- specialist winger

Really hope Mbye finds his home at FB. If Foran can find some form and with the addition of Woods, we should be able to make the 8.
 

Mitch Connor

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Hope it works because outside Hoppa we don’t actually have a fullback on the books for next year and beyond lol.
 

bulldogsfan_88

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Mbye
Montoya
Hopate
J Morris
B Morris
Cleeland
Foran
Woods
Lichaa
Tolman
Jackson
Elliott
Klemmer

Fualalo
RFM
Eastwood
Martin/Tualalo/Brown

Shaping up to be a very good side next year and should be a lot more points scored. Biggest issue remains the halves with Forans injury history and lack of experience in any of his partners. Both Brown and Frawley are good cover though if Cleeland does get the first shot
Don’t understand people’s fascination with playing Klemmer at Lock!! His best position without a doubt is prop. Him & woods smashing it up the middle & urging each other on is gonna be an awesome sight!!
 

iDoggiesFan

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1. Mbye
2. B Moz
3. J Moz
4. Hoppa
5. Montoya
6. Foran
7. Cleeland
8. Woods
9. Lichaa
10. Klemmer
11. RFM
12. Jackson
13. Tolman

14. Brown
15. Elliot
16. Fualalo
17. Tualau

18. Martin
19. Lee

This leaves us without a noted goal kicker but I see it as our strongest lineup.

As much I'd love to see Tolman in reserve grade I can't see it happening. Play him at lock and get him to hold down our middle third defensively. Minimise his runs and let Klemmer and Woods run the show up front.

Mbye at fullback adds much needed pace to our backline and Hoppa's move to centre gives us a very strong back 5 defensively.

We have the basis of a very strong side and next year will be built off our defense. Pay has identified our attack needs a lot of work and hopefully with the positional changes he implements we can find a way to put more than 12 points on the board.
 
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